Funny story. Years ago, a friend who had been serving as an au pair in Europe told
me she had taken a trip into Germany, just because she was there. She went to
the site of the post WWII trials in Nuremburg, and as she paid her tour fee,
saw a tour group heading around the corner down the hall.
Clerk: The next tour leaves in half an hour.
My Friend: Can’t I just join that group that just left?
Clerk: I’m sorry, no. You must wait.
Friend: Well aren’t you just the tour-nazi! *gasp* I’m sorry! I didn’t
mean…
Apparently the clerk was unoffended, probably used to loudmouthed
Americans. I imagine it’s a uniquely American colloquialism: If someone is
particularly strict in what they do, they get labeled the “whatever-nazi”. We
had a “Dock-nazi” at a marina where I worked. “Hallway-nazi,” “Supply-Nazi”… we
just don’t even think twice!
But that is not my story.
I am German. Actually a 7th-generation American, but with a
well-defined German ancestry. With a deep German history on both sides of my
family, naturally, the tour we embarked on in Amsterdam involved much
time in Germany. What do I recall?
Castles.
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| Not really "floating" but it appears to be because it is actually in the water. |
Like this “floating castle” in a river.
Ruins along rivers.
This was the view from one such ruin.
Food. They drink beer with breakfast!
Did I mention castles? Did you know that the “princess castle” famed by
Disneyland/world themeparks was modeled after Schloss Neuschwanstein in
Bavaria? We took the tour. Technically, this “castle” is too new to be a true
castle. It has running water.
We sought records of births/baptisms in churches in the northern state
of my paternal antecedents. We think, maybe, we found one. But who’s there to
verify? On this whirlwind four-week European vacation, we weren’t going to stay
in one place long enough to seek final clarification. It was good enough to get
a “probably”. We now had seen where we came from, farms – more modern, but probably
in some ways much like – those of my father’s father’s father’s fa…
Mountains and rivers. We even camped by a river.
Moral of the story: It’s pretty cool to see where you came from, if you
can manage it. Even if there's no family left there.
Without some serious genealogical studies, it would be very difficult to do that for my family. I don't have a single strong ethnic heritage of any kind. My ancestry is all over the place. We had ZERO cultural loyalty when it came to breeding.
ReplyDeleteThat just means wider travels to more diverse places. Awesome! I'm in.
DeleteMy late husband did his military service in Germany in the 1950's and I have heard many stories!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you have!
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ReplyDeleteThe castles in Germany must be stunning, and there are so many of them! I'm not much of a camper, though. I need running water. I hear there's a castle that would do...
ReplyDeleteHa! Good point.
DeleteWhenever I think castles I think Ireland, not Germany. I guess I have to change that. That floating castle is something else.
ReplyDeleteI'm not German, but I am a German mechanic because I drive a German car and it goes all of 10 days before falling apart all over again. I thought it would be more reliable. I did Nazi that coming.
*slow claps*
DeleteI read your comment to Brett (Transformed Non-conformist) in the car, and we both groaned.
I am part German, too, Red. And I did get the German-sense-of-order gene. I even prefer driving German cars. For me, they just handle better. Anyway, someone recently described an acquaintance of mine as, when I complimented how well he had organized and carried out an event, as a Nazi. I didn't think he was. "He knows what he wants," I said. I wonder if I could find my ancestors if I went to Germany. What a fun, well-written post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I think my heritage may explain why I grew up with so many rules. Order and organization!
DeleteHere I will say, too, that I have read and commented on all your posts, but the comments vanished into the black hole. Then, genius that I am, I cracked the Blogger/Blogspot code. I had to sign in to Google+ and Blogger -- I didn't know I had to sign in -- then choose either an upgrade (no) or a pseudonym. I chose the latter. I write under the pseudonym Samantha Mozart. My real name is Carol Child, under which I am registered on Google. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteAh! I've had an interesting time finding the comment links on some of the new blogs I've found too. Glad to see your comments!
DeleteWe have a German connection in our family too so some of us are rather houseproud and organised and can be a little bit dictatorial too!! However, we can all agree that the German castles are some of the prettiest in the world - the British ones are built for strength not style! So pleased to come across your blog through the A-Z Challenge - I'll be back for more :)
ReplyDeletePempi
A Stormy’s Sidekick
Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace
Thanks for stopping by! It honestly didn't occur to me until writing this post that my German heritage was the cause for all the rules in our home growing up!
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