Bonn Christmas Market / The Microscope

Bonn Christmas Market

On 25^th of November, Mrs. Therese Jungbluth was so generous enough to offer me a ride to Bonn so that I can have the chance to buy some presents to the family back in Lebanon. I was nagging for some time to both Therese and Werner that I am not able to find anything suitable to buy as a present. I had so many problems that stood in my way of choosing the right stuff. I had almost no place in my over-packed bags so that an ant cannot fit in. The second problem was that my bag will be tossed like 100 times before it is reached its destination. Third, the present I should buy should represent Germany in a way or another. So the present I should buy must be small in size, not brittle, and German made or something that would represent this country. Plus it should be acceptable price wise. Well, these conditions made it almost impossible to find a single suitable present.

We decided that we should drive on a Saturday so that we have the entire day to shop. So we drove on a Saturday and Bonn was our destination. I like the road to Bonn. It is not so far and the scenery is great, especially while we cross the Rhein River over a bridge. On our way, we saw some advertisement about a Christmas Market in Bonn. That sounded great to me but then I understood the worry on Therese’s face which pointed out to traffic in the city. If there is traffic in the city’s market place, then there is no place to park. All the signs showed full parking except for one. It is somehow far, but no problem, a little walk does well.

The first thing we wanted to do is visit this place in Bonn where they are agents to a known fabric producer called Zweigart. My sisters wanted a piece of cloth for cross-stitch, and they know that this Zweigart Company makes the best. For me, it is a great present to get my sisters and I would be sure they will like it. Therese was so sweet to accompany me to the place and help me ask for the thing. We were there in no time. The shop window made it so obvious that this was the place for hand stitching works. We got in and saw the lady just finishing serving a customer. Therese started the talking and asked for the fabric of type Aida 14, color Antique White. But we didn’t need to go far as choosing the right color because the lady had so few types of the cross-stitch fabric, and yes, Aida 14 wasn’t among the large variety of choice. After we left, Therese pointed that the lady was not so friendly and I agreed. We had already asked in a small shop in Asbach where an old lady served the place. She was so friendly like a nice old lady at home. She showed us all what she go very happily and had no trouble that we didn’t buy a thing after all the mess. We agreed that maybe it is best to go back to this shop to by the cross-stitch fabric.

After that, we split so that we can freely shop around. I had already visited Bonn several times and I know the streets by heart. But I have no idea about the shops and where to buy what. I had three hours to roam the place as agreed after which we would meet in our meeting place. I started off wondering in the streets among the people looking the shop windows hoping I would find something nice to buy. I finally got to that place that said “up to 50% sales�. “Well, that is my chance�, I though to myself. I went in, and there was a collection of great clothes just waiting for me to buy. I started wondering around like a kid in the park, thinking what is better for my sisters or mother, this or that. Well it took me some time to choose, but I did. Then came the decisive moment. I looked at the price of a thin shirt and saw the price was 120 euros. I said “what, there must be a mistake here�. I looked at another jacket, and it was priced 300 euros. I then realized that I am not in a park, but in a “rob me� institution. So I had a last look at the place, saying goodbye (or shall I say “good buy�), and out I went. I started to realize the high prices of clothes in the shops. Of course there are cheap clothes, but the decent looking ones are certainly not in this category. I started running from one place to another searching for a good thing to buy, but in vain. Then, I got tired from looking for nothing.

While I was in this confusion, I realized the beauty of the Christmas Market what was the attraction of thousands of people, Germany and Tourists. I decided to have a shopping break and enjoy myself in the colors of the Christmas decorated shops. Many artifacts were so attractive and lovely that I wished to get some. Many of them would be a great present to take with, but the ones I liked were made of ceramic, and thus, brittle. Some were also expensive, but a looks around was a great idea. I wished that my family back in Lebanon were with me to enjoy it here. Then, I remembered my camera which was hanging on my waist bag. So I took it out and started shooting. I placed many pictured in the photo album section related to this article.

While I was enjoying the Christmas Market, I realized that I was running out of time, and then Therese would wait for me. So I rushed to our meeting place and waited there. I noticed a nearby a kids laughing and excited. I looked and saw a skating arena built in one of the city center yards where kids took turn in their wonderful skating enjoyment. I somehow wished that I can join, but no time and wrong age. Few moments later, Therese came and offered me to eat at a nearby German restaurant where we had a delicious meal.

Although I didn’t buy a thing that day and Therese thought that I was joking and had my things in the car, but it was a wonderful day to remember.

The Microscope

Two days later, Werner called me while working and showed me an item on ebay that got his attention. It was a microscope with a digital camera that one can attach to a PC. It was relatively cheap because it was as an offer. I like the idea of a microscope in order to see the normal life in a different prospective. Werner was especially attracted to it because he had Noah, his grandson, in mind.

We took the subject to home and we started talking about the thing while having dinner. Therese was also at the table and while we were having a small talk about the microscope, she started laughing. I didn’t understand why and I didn’t want to care. But the she stood up and went outside. After a minute, she came back with a present in her had. She said to Werner “here is your before-Christmas present�. It was a very nice thing to do, and he was surprised. He opened the present, and there it was, the same microscope we saw on the internet. The surprise got bigger and it was exciting how fast Therese was to get the present.

To me, it was another thing to mess up with my computer. I installed the accompanied software on my computer and connected the camera to it. We started to choose slides from the set of prepared set of samples that came with the microscope. I had some idea how the microscope worked, but wished that my sister was around to give us some advises on how to use it or how we can get a better view of the micro world. As if the slides we saw were not enough, so I proposed that we start doing real world stuff with the apparatus, like looking at blood. So Werner was so generous to volunteer to donate a drop of his blood for the sake of science.

Here is the photo album section for this article.

See also:

• Lebanese Nights, Villa Hugel, and the Eudenbach Festival 23 Nov 2006
• St. Martin at Eudenbach and the visit to Cologne Zoo 17 Nov 2006
• Halloween and the Lohengrin Opera in Cologne 03 Nov 2006
• Limburg old city DOM and Bad Ems Russian city 29 Oct 2006
• The Street Feast, Schwarzrheindorf church, and a Walk in the German nature 22 Oct 2006
• Koenigswinter / Unkel 16 Oct 2006
• Pictures from around Bocholt 04 Apr 2006
• From Beirut to Germany 25 Mar 2006
• Photo Gallery 19 Jan 2006
• [View All]