Doing Errands

Thursday I went to a literature circle for the women's state church group, and then I had to go to the bank, buy theatre tickets, and go grocery shopping. 

I had seen an entry for the literature circle in the church events calendar and decided to go see what it was like, since the building for this is just a few blocks away and the book was by Donna Leon; she writes mysteries set in Venice, and I've read most of them. There were about 20 senior citizens sitting around a long table drinking coffee and listening to a woman explain the plot and read excerpts. None of the women had read the book and they never made any comments or asked any questions for an hour and a half. They clapped at the end. It was interesting in that this novel involves an investigation into a baroque opera composer Steffani, who was choir master in Hannover and knew Handel, Leibniz, and Sophia Charlotte, who built the royal gardens here. The speaker played some excerpts from his operas and talked about the local connection. It was really a lecture, not at all like any book club I've belonged to.

Afterwards, I needed to do errands. It's so fun to be in the middle of this interesting city, so that even going to the bank is a bit of an adventure with lots of surprises along the way. For example, in the first block there was a tent set up with food arranged by color. Students from a local high school were presenting their design projects and this was one. They had arranged food of the same color on top of white rectangles. I thought it might be fun for a party sometime.

 

Food Design

 

I walked toward a big plaza called the Steintor to find the bank. This is a part of town I try to avoid, since it's the red light district and it's creepy, but the nearest branch of our bank is there. I had looked it up on googlemaps, but couldn't find it, and while looking enjoyed these two very different statues.

Little Goosegirl Statue Steintor

Elephant Statue Steintor

 

I gave up on that branch and walked down Georgstrasse in the rain, stopping to take a picture of this building, because I like dragons.

 

Close-up St. George & the Dragon Relief

 

This man grills bratwurst in a little electric grill he carries by a shoulder harness.

Bratwurst Seller Georgstrasse

 

And here's both old and new signs on our street:

Restaurant Sign Kramerstraße

 

 



Sunset Strip 77 (?) & Bob's Big Boy

 

This Bob's Big Boy statue is in front of a shoe and clothing shop catering to teenage boys. I don't know why it says Sunset Strip 77. All over Hannover I see teenagers wearing sweatshirts that say "Hollister, California." None of them know that Hollister is a far cry from the California of Hollywood, surfers, and rock that they are imagining. We saw a man with a sweatshirt that said "North Dakota, Since 1625." Who makes these things up? None of the people we ask know where Hollister is.

 

Finally, it's finally spring here. Daffodils are blooming by the river and I finally shed my winter coat and gloves. Monday afternoon I unearthed my t-shirt and shorts and went for a bike ride around the Maschsee, an artificial lake in the middle of town. It was 75 degrees and everybody who didn't have to work (and some that probably did) was out walking, rollerblading, biking, sailing, rowing, or sunbathing around the lake.

Sailboat on Maschsee in front of the new city hall

 

However, last week it was still pretty cold, but there was a bit of sunshine and Germans are desperate to have the spring finally arrive. On Sat. the ice cream parlor and another restaurant along our street put blankets on each of the chairs beside their outside tables. People were sitting outside in the brief, weak sunshine with winter coats wrapped in blankets eating ice cream.

Outdoor Café with Blankets

 

I hesitate to post this, given the bombing in Boston. I know one soccer buddy is safe, since she and her daughter hadn't quite reached the finish line yet. Horrible.