After experiencing a record amount of snow in December, Germany has run out of salt, sleds and shovels. Frau Holle is sometimes the one the Germans blame for this kind of accumulation.
Beginning yesterday, our region had a warm front move in that's busy making a sloppy melty mess. All night long I awoke from the sounds of ice and snow sliding down off the roofs of the steeply pitched houses. Continuous little residential avalanches interrupting my REM. I wonder if anybody has been injured from the huge and heavy chunks of mother nature that have come crashing down.
Today was my nephews birthday. I packed up my little man and drove the autobahn to Nuremburg all by myself. This was a HUGE feat for me. My pace seems to be around 120-140 km. I just looked it up and apparently this is about 75-85 mph. I had no clue. Despite earning my German driver's license, I rarely head out on the autobahn.
It was rainy and foggy and dark coming home. And just when I started relaxing and getting into my zone, the radio busted in and warned the listeners of a particular route to watch out in both directions since people were throwing stones off a bridge. This made me wonder if maybe it wasn't Frau Holle, but instead Frau Hölle.
What's the difference you ask? That one little umlaut creates a whole new meaning of the word. Instead of the name of the pillow shaking fairy tale, Hölle is the word for hell. What is up with the sky falling today?
I dare not venture out in my car when it's snowing, you are one brave girl. After ridiculously low temperatures here for few weeks we are finally back to proper English winter now - it's gray, it's raining and way above zero, just the way I like my winter, snow can go away and stay in continental Europe, we don't want it here! :D
Posted by: Veronika | January 07, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Funny post, yet scary. My you are brave to drive in that! Wow the snow looks crazy over in Germany, that photo is beautiful- oh my. Jeez, we here in the NYC tri-state area are babies!
Posted by: Ivy | January 08, 2011 at 01:33 AM
Welcome to the club! I have been dealing with those avalanches for years... still not used to the awful sound. Nowadays they remind me of the sound of earthquakes, right before everything starts shaking.
Needless to say, I'm quite happy with the big melt. Roof is clear... no more avalanches until the next load of snow.
And actually: yes, people get injured and die from falling ice from the roofs. My street is closed off every winter and the firebrigade shows up to remove the ice from all houses. Big circus-like event.
Stay warm and dry... xo
Posted by: Skytimes | January 08, 2011 at 01:09 PM
I know what you mean about snow, it snows like crazy here in canada, and we dont get any melt in my province till about march. On another note I have been on the autobon and I wasnt driving and I did not like it. So I would not drive on it, either.
Posted by: lee | January 09, 2011 at 05:15 AM
imagine doing this trip, without a navigation system ;)
Posted by: Philipp | January 12, 2011 at 09:22 PM