This sadly is the only pic I have from a socialist country, Cuba (not true, more to come, but I was going on "socialist country").
And here, if they count, a tour our old boss took with us to Magdeburg - my T did not join, he grew up there, LOL.
He grew up there means it was GDR. All the stories he told me, unbelievable - but true, he would never lie to me and Ingo told similar stuff, as my two other T´s from East Germany.
Yes, today - on a Saturday, how crap is that! - we celebrate German Unity Day again.
Ingo´s paternal Grandmother got a letter from her Hubby in WW II: "Leave Dresden NOW, go to Hanover NOW!" - and that they luckily did. Otherwise there would be no Ingo.
Dresden went to the Russian side, Germany was divided. We had West and East (Ost).
Us "Wessies" were allowed to visit the "Ossis" and Ingo´s paternal family was still there and so they did visit. Two different worlds.
"How about a beer?", Ingo´s Dad asked. PHEW, WHAT?! The Uncle went to buy and seemingly stayed away forever. First shop: 3 bottles, next shop 2 bottles... and so on! Don´t ask for a banana or even kiwi.
Cool the beer? Easy: put the bottles in the tub. Turn on the cold water. Go have a game of whatever whilst drinking something else (and I don´t wanna know what!).
The state payed for water and heating, not the person. Too hot inside in winter? Open the window!
Pic above?
Cuban people were allowed to travel to East Germany.
Us Wessies (well we were united Germany already) went to Cuba, stood at the reception and spoke German, wondering what to do this day.
The HUGE dark man behind the counter made suggestions in a very heavy East-German accent, leaving us looking at him as he was not from this world, oh, boy, I felt sooooo sorry, but I just did not expect that, LOL!
And yes. Usually the taxi with it´s driver (first pic) sits in the board to the right and this is the Aussie-section.
The other is the "all and everything" one and you would not see the taxi and the driver. I cheated a bit.
But don´t we all? Is Germany united? Not really. For most the wall is still there, in the head and I really do wonder how long it will take to get it outta there.
Maybe my Nieces´ generation?
Funny
on this: Dress is from ALDI, I met a lady from Germany and she wore the very same one, LOL!
I am happy I have/ have had my T´s.
Wonderful guys, funny, clever and all those weird stories never made it
boring. Well, apart from one T. Soccer. He tried to make me interested
in soccer. Not once, not twice, he even used the white board to explain
what an "Abseits" is. Twice!!! He invited us to a "public viewing", -
don´t get me wrong, no one was dead, Germans call this watching a game
on a public screen.
Ingo sat to face T to talk, hence his back to that boring game and T the next day said that was not polite!! LOL!
Henry 🦁?
He sends a Sibling to make the world one world. Oh, wonderful. I shot myself again, here you go:
21 comments:
I love the Coco-taxi :)
My Dad used to play soccer, I watched a game once and hated the way they would bounce the ball off their heads. How can they do that without having a bad headache later? I never went to another game.
I went to Berlin in 1971, the wall was stil there of course. And I went to Berlin three times after the wall. To me it was completely different. Interesting that you tell me the wall is still there in the head of Germans. I went to Cuba also, after the wall. And I remember thinking it must have been like that in East Germany. Without sun and singing people
I really don't miss the socialist country! As charming as Cuba can be, I think I will feel terrible there! I have lived half of my life in the "glorious socialist era" so no, no Cuba for me!
One thing I can say for sure, in GDR it was 100 times better than in the communist country where I lived! I don't understand how it was possible to divide a nation in two ... but the greed of some leaders is great especially when they are communists!
That Coco taxi is cute!
And Lennon ... it was one of a kind, too! But that was the music of my brother generation!
Have a great German Unity Day! A little BIG hug for my Colonel Hathi 🐘! xoxo 🦋
I do not want the usa to turn into a socialist country and that is what many are attempting to do-is why our country was formed in the first place to get away from socialism and have freedoms I would never want to live in a country where the country controls everything. just my opinion of course. I have never heard anyone say before that had lived in socialism that prefers that way of life
Happy weekend.
That is fascinating about the east and west. Lucky for Ingo his grandmother got that letter. And interesting you spoke of Cuba. I wanted to go this past winter before corinna and found out we are now only allowed to visit with a tour group. Expensive. When Obama was president we could just visit. I was sad. And last night I watched a documentary about Cuba. I like documentaries, and this one was very interesting. I could write more about it but I am sure it would be too much to read. Thanks for today's post. Hugs-Erika
...that pink Chevy is a flash from the past.
Interesting to read about Cuba and East and West Germany. I can't imagine what it is like in Germany with all of those new migrants.
Cuba is a very popular holiday spot for Canadians. My neighbour is Cuban and you hear his car pull in with the great music going and it makes you want to dance.
It saddens me to hear that Germans are still mentally divided. I hope they soon join together again with one mind to celebrate your great country.
I'm not far from Canada and there a lot more socialize in United States. I hope we never become a Nationalism Socialist country. But I can see benefits of being a Democratic Socialist country. I do recall East and West Germany.
Didn't the wall come down in 1989? That is at least three generations and you mean they have not forgotten there was an east and a west? How incredibly sad that some people can't let go of the past and look to the future.
I enjoyed the Coco car and the 59' Chevy. I can tell you OLD cars, but the new ones all look the same to me.
Totally, I Was Really There - Classic
Cheers
I so enjoy the insights into Germany that your blog offers. I often find myself telling my husband my blog friend from Germany says ....
Many Americans are so naive -- someone tells them to be afraid of socialism, and they panic no matter what the evidence.
The Lion Statue this week is especially nice.
be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Enjoy German Unity Day. Strange that after all these years people still feel separated by the wall that is no longer there.
That was funny finding a German speaking receptionist in Cuba.
It is quite sad that after all these years people still feel separated by the wall that is no longer there!
All the best Jan
PS I like the John Lennon video.
River, soccer is a game I´ll never ever get!
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Bertiebo, well, we do have singing, but certainly not a weeeee bit like the Cuban people. I love their music full of joy and that shows you can be happy also in such a concept.
My Ts were happy, too.
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Ella, yes, greed it must have been - and still is!
Cuba is opening up and I don´t know if that´s good or bad. I want freedom for everyone but with that also comes greed.
Why is Lennon your Brother´s time? I think he´s timeless
A little BIG hug to you! 🦏🦋
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Kathy, no, no socialism, it does not work! But sadly, here at least, people stop thinking! Too many, at least. It´s frightening.
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Erika, please share! There is never too much text in blogging!
Sad you couldn´t go. Last time was 2010 for us, it was still wonderful... Hugs from here 🧡
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Tom, yes. I fear if Cuba opens up the cars will go back to America, which would be sad...
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gigi, it´s not nice. We have "migrants" to whom (not all but most) women are "things"...
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RedPat, yes, we met many Canadians in Cuba - and yes, the music is WONDERFUL!
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Margaret, I think my Niece´s generation will do the trick - I hope...
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Dora, socialism did not work in too many cases. People want to be free.
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Elizabeth, Germans are like Elephants. In that they are a unity. Every Sunday you get Hit#er on TV.
Yes, cars these days are boring to the brim!!
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Padre, three times - cheers to that!
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Joan Elizabeth, you made me giggle! You´re welcome, an article on that I have on paper (yes, that old stuff!)
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Mae, I don´t know. I only saw and heard from my Ts that socialism really did not work.
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Sami, yes, I hope my Nieces´generation is free of that wall!
Oh, even after ten years I feel sorry how I stared at that man, LOL.
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Jan, yes, it is sad.
So interesting Iris. We heard a very little bit about the era from our tour guides, most of whom were college age, but one or two old enough to have lived with the wall. We wanted to go to Cuba when we had a good President (Obama) , but didn’t get there.
Cuba is such a beautiful place in pictures, it takes me back to the old Philippines in the 20's where everything is vintage and classy! But I also know that life is quite hard there. But a friend of mine from college, a seafarer who's been to so many countries, kept telling me Cuba is out of this world beautiful! I have a postcard from Cuba and it is one of my rarest from the 60 countries that I have in my collection :)
Those yellow taxis looks so cute!!!
This is all really interesting, Iris, but what I found most fascinating was when you said "the wall is still there." I suppose years of conditioning make things harder to change but I found that so very sad.
I wish I'd gone to Cuba during the brief time it was easier for us to go. I don't think that'll be happening again any time soon.
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