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Showing posts from October, 2018

Main-hattan Transfer by Five - Bull & Bear

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You needn't visit the Frankfurt Zoo to get a photo of yourself in the company of two attractive animals. They are waiting for you in the inner city in front of the old stock exchange building. Bull & bear, the worldwide symbols of your fortune's ever climbing and falling curve should you be invested in shares, up and down, up and down right as the paternoster of the Fleming's. For this meaningful encounter I put on a sober black dress lifted up by butterflies on a pale pink blazer from Rinascimento , Italy. Often enough the stocks are tumbling like butterflies leaving you clueless about their future direction.

Main-hattan Transfer by Five - Paternoster

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From the bookshop Weltenleser to my favourite place for an aperitif it is just a short walk. Sipping one of Fleming 's inventive, colourful cocktails on their terrace overlooking the sky line of the city in the background and the historic city gate Eschenheimer Tor near by is sheer joy. The modernist hotel has an imposig marble staircase, but we never use the stairs. Sliding to the top floor in their working paternoster is greatly adding to the fun of the Fleming's. Memories of my childhood years when I used to meet my mother at her office building in the centre of Berlin are coming to my mind. I always was late, because I went up and down the paternoster, up and down...  Many an American film of that time had the stars meeting by chance in a paternoster. Right across the Fleming and the city gate is the modern version of a cinema in its hay days. The multiplex Metropolis is citing just that bit of past glamour that makes it interesting without being outdated.

Main-hattan Transfer by Five - Haute Lecture

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My days in Frankfurt coincided with the Frankfurter Buchmesse, the largest international book fair worldwide. Thus, it seemed appropriate to spend my first morning at my favourite bookshop Weltenleser   indulging in literature from Georgia. This small country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia was the guest of honour at the book fair and had brought to Frankfurt a plethora of exhibitions and other events besides their beautiful pavillon at the fair grounds. Their intriguing scripture and their rich treasure of ancient gold took centre stage. No stay in Frankfurt is complete without spending Germany's greatest poet a visit. Goethe spent his childhood in his father's house in the old town centre. The large 18th century house of the wealthy and influential citizen is the greatest tourism hot spot in town. I duly renewed my love affair with Goethe and his poems (see my post of March 6, 2018) in his home town. I thought my outfit should blend in with the cheerful colour

Main-hattan Transfer by Five - Commerce & Art

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I spent a couple of lovely golden autumn days in Frankfurt where my two daughters are living. The European banking capital surprises me every time I am visiting. I love to stroll along the river, to get immersed in the busy streets of downtown Main-hattan or to watch the mostly Asian tourists taking pictures of the medieval town centre. Hardly any other European town of this size can boast of such a concentration of high rises, while preserving the heritage of an old market place. Smart young bankers rub shoulders with newly arrived Eastern Euopean immigrants and tourists from China and Japan. © Oper Frankfurt On my first evening my daughter had invited me to Antonin Dvorak's opera Rusalka. I put on a smart dress from Promod and my daughter's golden scarf. Happily, I indulged in the longing call of the French horn and the silvery drops of the harp evoking the romantic scenery of the water nymph's tragic love for her prince. Her aria to the moon was captivating. Fr

Little Red Riding Hood

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Little Red Riding Hood in the midst of French greenery and no wolf to be seen. The red turtle neck jersey and the knitted beanie are staples of my winter wardrobe. All the fashion gurus advise that you get rid of older items once a year. I confess to be guilty of conservatism. At least the mocassins from Geox are new.  

Hunters and Gatherers

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Last winter a pack of wild boar came close to my neighbour’s house in search of food. The numbers of wild boar are growing fast as they are omnivore and have hardly any foe.  I have no objection that they are kept at bay by the local hunter’s association.  I, myself am more a gatherer than a hunter. I gather the appropriate outfit for the après hunt so to speak where a delicious boar roast will be served. It can get quite cold out there in the woods. Long woollen stockings, gloves and a muff are not out of place. I use to carry the few things I need in my felt cartridge pouch which I will hardly ever put to its original use. If you care for sitting in the wee hours on a perch to wait for game to pass by you cannot do without loden. This densely woven woollen cloth will keep you warm. The real stuff comes from Feller in Bavaria.  I once was invited to a perch hidden in the woods for listening to the rutting cry of the deer. Although I had the privilege to be in the company

Sheep & (Lower) Saxons

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©xbqs42, meadow, pixabay © Antranias, Heidschnucke, pixabay The country side of Lower Saxony in Germany where I used to live can be somewhat rough and the weather unpredictable. Still, it is a lot of fun to do long walks along the fields of sugar beet and herds of sheep in the Lüneburger Heide.  You may happen to look into a black face. It could belong to the Heidschnucke a breed of sheep with long hair and impressive horns typical of Northern Germany. Wide vistas and the bizarre shapes of juniper bushes add to the austere charm. The fun is depending not the least on your outfit. Warm wools and tweed is a must. You wouldn’t think that a rustic tweed jacket with knickerbockers is Made in France, but it is. Gaston Jaunet is responsible - now sadly out of business.

Ricky’s Suede Temptation

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The boots are the stars. Ricky Sarkany is the master of the suede ankle boots and the long, long riding style boots. No wonder, thinking of Argentina is thinking of leather. Ricky may have the material at hand, but it is his genius that produces shoes and boots to die for. © Jorge Royan, Creative Commons The mauve suede ankle boots are too precious for walking the streets of Buenos Aires. I would have to jump across potholes and dog poo. I rather take one of the asthmatic black-and-yellow cabs. There are literally thousands of them roaming the streets in search of customers. In my neighbourhood are some small shoe shops which cater for another sort of customer, for the aficionados of tango. I am always wondering how the women can dance this passionate and complicate dance in those fragile high heeled shoes, but they can. They have rhythm flowing in their veins. Every now and then there are spontaneous dance parties on Avenida de Mayo in central Buenos Aires and everybody