Meeting the Locals through Airbnb
As many of my friends know, when I travel, I like to experience the local people and way of life. So in Europe, I have used hostels, Airbnb and in the case of my recent trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen renting a one bedroom apartment which allows me to cook.
On this trip, I spent 2 nights in Dresden, Germany and 2 nights in Leipzig, Germany in family apartments. In the U.S. the average home size is 2200 sq. ft. In Germany, it is half that amount. In each place, I had my own bedroom and shared the bathroom with the owners. In Dresden, the young couple was attending the local university. Their English was better than mine, in part due to a gap year where they lived in New Zealand and the U.S. We had some great conversations at their kitchen table over a cup of tea.
My second stop in Leipzig was with Keith and Merel and their 9 month old daughter. Keith is an opera singer from Canada and Merel is from the Netherlands. They were also delightful and with a center city location it was easy to tour the city. When Keith is not singing opera, he has a business selling jam and chutney. So on Sunday night, I sat in the kitchen and we talked for several hours while he made cranberry and cherry chutney. He also gave me a jar to take with me which was delicious!
So what did I learn during my home stays? Of course, my research is not exhaustive but it does mirror my experience living in Belgium. People that I met have a much smaller footprint. They live in smaller homes, many don’t own a car and get around via bike, foot and public transportation. Kitchens are small with the most noticeable appliance - the refrigerator - maybe 5 ft. tall and 2 1/2 ft wide. They shop more frequently and don’t buy in bulk because there just isn’t that much storage.
In each of their bathrooms, there was a small washing machine which looked more like an oversize hamper. No washing extra large loads in that machine! People don’t own a dryer as there is no place for it and I think electricity is more expensive in Europe than the U.S. When I lived in Belgium, I found that the door to my bathroom was a great place to hang sheets to dry. Everyone has a clothes drying rack set up and it is just part of the furniture along with chairs and a couch.
Germans are keenly interested in the U.S. elections and in particular, some of our candidates. I find that Europeans sometimes know more about our candidates than many Americans. One European friend said that Europeans should be able to vote for the U.S. President as they are affected by the outcome of the election as much as Americans. I suppose there is some truth in that statement.
While “living on the economy” is not always seamless, it is a learning experience and a confidence and patience builder. I learn where to buy the tram ticket, how to read the local map so I get off in the correct location and how to use bad German and sign language to ask directions. There is the shopping at the local market, finding the recycling center for bottles and remembering to compost my kitchen scraps.
I like this quote from Henry Miller, "One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” This is how I felt after staying with my Airbnb hosts.
Grainau Schnee (snow) Fest
Grainau, 7 km/5 miles from where I stay holds their Schnee (snow) Fest every December 29. Last year I was able to cross-country ski to the Fest, this year, I traveled by mountain bike. One of the popular foods are the dumplings, made in the top photo and schupfnudel which the man in the bottom photo on the right is making. It is a combination of sauerkraut and a large noodle like gnocci. My favorite photo is the two men making dumplings at one of the booths (bottom left). No stainless steel, no plastic gloves and a bottle of beer on the table while they work. It all just adds to the local flavor!
The Grainau Church is at the foot of the Zugspritz Mountain, the tallest in Germany. In front of the church are grave markers, each has a cross with a slanted roof over it.