Last weekend

Last weekend I was in Cologne for one day and I really enjoyed the time there.

In contrast to Siegen, for example, Cologne really has "something" and what I liked there is the mixture of very different people you can find there. Well, at least my German readers know what Cologne is also "famous" for... What I can say is that it is at least a very open-minded city.


It was the first time I really spent time in Cologne. The cathedral is impressive, of course, but it is a pity that there are a lot of quite high buildings around it. A big square around it would make the cathedral even more impressive.

Although I knew that the people in the "Rheinland" don't hesitate to talk to you and do that very frankly, it was a surprise to experience that "life". I guess I'm not used to it. In and around Siegen are the complete opposite. As a stranger it is difficult to be accepted in their community. Well, I guess I don't know too many real Siegeners.

Anyway, below some more pictures from Cologne.

Talent in Bludenz

Do you know where Bludenz is? I have to confess I didn't know until some weeks ago. To be honest I had not even heard the name.

At least for some months I have known what the Talent is. I guess most of you don't which is no wonder because it's the name of a train built by Bombardier.

What had been unknown words for me some months ago brought me to my first business trip abroad (even if it was only Austria;-). We organized a part of the "retrofit" for the Talent there which started on Monday. "Retrofit" means that changes are implemented to the already existing fleet of trains. Here it was for the fleet of the Austrian National Railways (ÖBB).

Some people keep joking that I was on holidays 3 days and well what can I reply...? I agreed that it was like holidays but only after 6 or 7 pm. Honestly, Bludenz is a nice place for a holiday. The view there is incredible (especially when the weather is as nice as this week): only mountains around you.

But I have to admit that it is really a very small place. We only found one restaurant in town for example;-)

Fiesta Mexicana

Has anybody heard about the Australian Big Brother and how they caused an outcry among Mexicans living in Australia and also in Mexico? I think in Germany you could only read 5 lines about it in the newspapers; if at all. Here is what happened:

In the Australian Big-Brother house they had a competition called "Fiesta Mexicana". The first game was called "Sombreros musicales". All were dressed in traditional Spanish/Mexican cloths and wore heads of papier-mâché While the music played they had to run around a number of Mexican flags in the middle of the room. When the music stopped they had to grab one and those who didn't get any were eliminated.

Another game was called "Tabasco fiasco" where the competitors had to eat a number of different Mexican dishes.

But the game which the Mexicans didn't like at all was called "Frijoles saltarines" (jumping beans). The competitors where divided into two teams. One group had to throw balloons filled with a red liquid at a Mexican flag while the other tried to prevent that. That group which had the "driest" flag, won the game.

The last part of the competition was a quiz about Mexico. There were questions like "how the Mexican capital is called, the Mexican currency, when was the last soccer world championship in Mexico, how many inhabitants and from which country Mexico became independent. One competitor answered "United States"... and he got the point for that!!!

Something I'd like to say

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty no Safety.

Benjamin Franklin

PBC #7: Nuns

Here is the new Paper Boat Challenge. A real one again. You know the rules: Try to find the solution until Monday next week (9th July). You can ask questions, I'll try to give hints. There are no excuses this time;-) (The cartoon is not part of the puzzle.)

Once there were two nuns. The first one was called Sister Mathematics and the other Sister Logic.

One day they left their convent together and went to the nearby town in order to sell vegetables from the garden of their convent. On their way back…

M: It’s already getting dark and we are still far from the convent.
L: And, my Sister, look, there is a strange guy half an hour behind us.
M: Yes. What do you think, he wants.
L: It’s logical. He wants to attack us.
M: Oh my God! According to my calculations he will reach us in half an hour if we continue at this pace. What could we do?
L: The only logical thing to do is to go faster!!!
M: It doesn’t work!
L: Of course not. He did the only logical thing. He began to walk faster, too.
M: And now? What shall we do? In one minute he’ll reach us!
L: The only logical consequence for us is to separate. You go that way I’ll go there. He cannot follow both of us.

The strange guy decided to follow Sister Logic.

Sister Mathematics got to the convent safely but worried a lot about Sister Logic.

A few minutes later Sister Logics came to the convent, too.

M: My sister, thanks to God you arrived as well. But tell me. What happened?
L: It happened what was logical. The guy couldn’t follow both of us and chose to follow me.
M: And then, what happened?
L: That’s logical. I started to run as fast as I could. He did the same.
M: And?
L: Again that’s logical. He reached me.
M: My God! What did you do?
L: I did what’s logical. I raised my habit.
M: My God, Sister!!! What did the guy do?
L: He also did what was logical...