The ugly American

That might look like a big slab of grilled chicken, but its really a delicious sandwich. In the background is a plum tart, and the drink is ApfelSchorle, a sort of 50/50 mix of apple juice and sparkling water. I got to flex my German here, which worked quite well for ordering and paying. The trouble came afterward, when the woman behind the counter let loose a long stream of words, and the only one I understood was "Fork!" Or perhaps it was "Forks!" Hmmm. I believe I may have mumbled the equivalent of "huh?" when a bilingual customer came to my aid, calling me "English" to the woman behind the counter and explaining that I was to help myself to the silverware, then wait at my table outside and the sandwich would be brought to me when it was ready. Ah! Interestingly, we were often mistaken for "English" or British... almost no one thought we were American. In the Scandinavian countries some thought we were Germans who spoke English really well. This seems like a Good Thing, because who wants to be pegged as an American traveler in today's climate, and have to answer uncomfortable questions about our current leadership? On the other hand, I read recently in a BBC article that the British, not the Americans, are now considered the worlds worst (rudest and most "linquistically incompetant") tourists... so... well...hmm.




A last look at Lubeck.






Views of the ferry from Puttgarden, Germany, to Rodby, Denmark. I really like ferries, especially calm, easygoing ones like this one. There were plenty of people on this ferry, though you can't tell from the deck photos. Everyone was inside, eating a quick dinner of fried things from the galley. In the photo of the two of us, Darrin has his anti-motion sickness drug of choice (fizzy soda) and I've got guide books, trying to figure out where in Denmark we might stay that night.