Die Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitansmitze

Yes, that really is a word.  Roughly translated it means the Danube steam shipping company Captain‘s cap.  Our substitute teacher threw that one at us this week.  Mike is an interesting guy and as he told us, he generally teaches more advanced German students.  That means he speaks a lot faster than our regular instructors so we really have to concentrate to understand him.

There was a holiday on Wednesday and it wasn‘t Halloween.  It‘s Reformation Day, marking the beginning of the Lutheran restoration by Martin Luther in 1517.  This is only the second or third year it has been a holiday in Germany and it‘s observed only in Northern Germany as Southern Germany is primarily Catholic.  Most people seemed to treat it just like a regular day off.

The number of people who ride their bikes here is pretty amazing.  There are special children’s seats mounted on the back that prevent them from being injured in case of an accident.  Rainy weather does seem to cut down on their numbers, but we have seen hardcore riders in full wet weather gear who still ride.  So far (fingers crossed) we have avoided being run over by a bicyclist on the sidewalk.  The sidewalks have designated bike lanes and you‘re taking your life in your hands if you walk there.  Even worse is if you are getting off of the bus, or coming out of a store and you inadvertently step into the bike lane.  My head is constantly on a swivel to make sure we don‘t get hit.