StringGrrl sees the World

Essen Catholic Church St. Mariä Empfängnis As with any proper European neighborhood, at least once a week is the fresh market in Essen located in front of the Church of the Immaculate Conception (Kath. Kirchengemeinde St. Mariä Empfängnis) nearby the offices of ESI Germany GMBH. Fresh fish, grilled or fried, served with potatoes and sauces as you like To put any "Nordsee" franchise to shame is the fresh fish you can buy at the local fish seller you might find in any local market. Fairly ubiquitous they are not chains or franchises, but you will find one in most if not all markets. At the office in Essen, the staff there will once a week take the walk to town to have lunch there. Thursdays in this neighborhood. Fried Backfish freshly battered and dropped in the oil to order What appeared to be either Cod or Pollack fillets was dipped in a nice pancake thickness batter and dropped in the hot oil. The fillets we just large enough that they would have swamped...

Fourteen teens set forth from Detroit North Terminal for Germany (yes, there are two kids hiding from view) StringGirl and her Maker IssaK On the Bus tour of Munich Ludwig II "Hunting Lodge" similar in scale to Versailles StringGirl snaps the picture for a change letting IssaK and Dad to have this selfie moment The Hunting Grounds at the royal hunting lodge BMW World StringGirl takes her spot at the grinders for Americas Cup Challenge Oracle Team USA Careful StringGirl if they tack while you are standing up you might go overboard StringGirl 3.0 holds the StringGirl1.0 picture from the Marienplatz The class with Frau at the Marienplatz StringGirl crossing the Eisbach

Arbeit Macht Frei, one of the many lies used to mask atrocities of nationalistic exceptionalism realized as ethnic cleansing On a beautiful day in June, we accompanied a group of High School German Students as they visited the memorial at the site of Dachau Germany. Through these doors would pass countless innocents paving the way to the "Ultimate Solution" But for a few minor shifts in history, this site could have easily been a dark tribute to the victory of the 3rd Reich. Had the NAZIs won, would this site be a theme park to celebrate the victory of the Ubermensch over the rest of the world and all that the Nazis saw wrong with it? That day, the students we were with were respectful, mindful, and saddened by the darkness that is mankind's flawed need to sometimes elevate themselves by putting down others. In some plant, in 1940's Germany a factory proudly manufactured these chutes for poison gas pellet delivery The Catholic Memorial Shrine Chapel...