Heya from Germany!

[furtech]

Stole Frysco's computer so I could make a post from the con. Despite all the pre-con stressing, the flight was mercifully uneventful: even LAX was a ghost town on Monday (Labor Day). No idea why, either-- should have been a zoo. The Lufthansa people let me slide with grotesquely oversized boxes and got me an aisle seat!

Visited the city of Suhl on the first day: I failed at procuring a coo-coo clock. The entire town-- no coo-coo clocks for sale. If I wanted a fine hunting rifle-- no problem! But coo-coo clocks or nut-crackers: uh-uh. Town was apparently big on arms manufacturing (Sig-Saur arms home). Steve-- you GOTTA come next year: they have a Waffenmuseum here that has a collection of guns and war-stuff you'd enjoy.

I feel strongly that dis'ing one's own country and I won't-- though I wonder why Americans make things so -complicated-! Things are done more simply here. Even the fast food is just simpler and better. I look at how a sandwich shop operates and it's calm and fresh. Apparently the German government dictates how much pollution your car can produce-- meaning that you can't own an SUV unless you can justify needing one. I'm guessing that a lot of this is fewer commercial lobbies.

The convention: fantastic. Not sure whether it's because of the size or cultural differences, but this is the most fun I've had at a con in a long time. The atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly and people are easy to talk to (even if they speak little English!). So far the panels have been very politely received (I hope) and there have been no catastrophic failures. Much gut chocolate! And sausages! And some odd breakfast meat patty called "Filkadellen" or something that is like a raw patty of ground something that is absolutely delicious (and will probably kill me or give me a new "friend"...but it's SO GOOD!).

Great costumes here-- even in the face of -no- resources. As an example: getting a fluffy, white fur is a huge ordeal.

Computer dying...to close: if you ever wanted an excuse to visit Europe, Eurofurence is a *wonderful* reason to initiate a trip!

Comments

[kjaer.livejournal.com]

ITYM "Frikadelle" (@;

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

You need to go to the Black Forest to find cuckoo clocks! And apparently the most famous nutcrackers come from Sonneberg.

Going to a random city in Germany and declaring you can't find nutcrackers and cuckoo clocks is like coming to America and declaring you can't find grits in Michigan or a Philly cheese steak in Alabama! :D

I do remember being in a store in Germany (or possibly Austria) which had a huge wall of cuckoo clocks and nutcrackers. But that was a couple of decades ago.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yeah-- I amuse myself at my ignorant American tourist views! There was one coocoo clock in the only clock store here, but it was "their" personal coocoo clock and they wouldn't sell it!

Would love to get to the Black Forest someday: to walk in the place that spawned all those fairy tales and legends would be sehr cool!

[diadexxus.livejournal.com]

I need to get my passport in order... *pout* :)

Glad you are having a blast!! PICTURES!!!!

-J

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Fantastic con-- save pennies and get to next years! Seriously recommended!

[waynekaa.livejournal.com]

Maybe you can go on the fantastic "friend" diet before needing a deworming.
OUUUUU, too bad you can't import weapons, I heard that mausers were used to make the Han Solo blaster :P (But why do that when you can just resin cast)

[bovil.livejournal.com]

Imperial blasters were based on a "broom handle" Mauser, weapon of choice for bad guys everywhere.

Leia's blaster was a nearly unmodified High-Standard 22 semi-auto Olympic target pistol. Very rare, a dream to shoot, but definitely a princess and prone to stovepipe jams when fed cheap 22 rimfire ammo.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Growing up, I had a friend who had a High-Standard .22 and I -loved- firing that gun. Almost aimed itself!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

See next post!

[brokkentwolf.livejournal.com]

Happy Tapeworming! :)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yes-- now is the time to pay the price for delicious local foodstuffs. But I think I have a few months before I find out...plus, I don't think it's tapeworms...something called trichinosis. Still some kind of worm, tho'.

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

Wow- Germany?!? Glad to hear you're having a good time. Wish I could join you- I could actually drink soda there- all their soda is made with sugar, not corn syrup.
Simplicity is good.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Real cane sugar in the soft drinks...cyclamates in their sugar-free stuff...hardly ANY SUV's to be seen! Plus, the Germans (and all the attendees, really) are really open and nice! Jaegermeister everywhere, yet still in-control! You could probably eat a lot of the stuff here (corn is -not- king!).

[m-o-w.livejournal.com]

Beet sugar, actually.

[spunkywulf.livejournal.com]

Sounds awesome! I hope you're having a wonderful time :) I miss you!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Come to FC! Need my dwarf-tossing fix! Miss you too!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Fun report... I hope you find that clock before you have to leave!