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LIVING IN GERMANY

Living in Germany: Airport chaos, creative bureaucracy and Saarland’s French influence

In our weekend roundup for Germany we look at what it's like to fly at the moment from German airports, an intriguing festival and Saarland's cuisine.

The Saarland delicacy Dibbelabbes.
The Saarland delicacy Dibbelabbes. Photo: picture alliance / dpa-tmn | Eike Dubois

Airport chaos – have you experienced it in Germany?

With Covid restrictions easing across many parts of the world – including Germany – many of us are desperate to jet off. But although travellers are raring to go with their suitcases packed full of suncream and swimwear, there is one thing making it harder to get away: airports across Europe have been struggling to cope. 

As The Local reported this week, it’s mainly down to the handling of the pandemic. After two years of restrictions that made travel impossible in some instances, airlines and airports cut back, and got rid of a lot of staff. Now there are debilitating staff shortages just as peak travel season is kicking off. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the staff shortages are worst at security and baggage check areas.

We’d love to know if you’ve experienced airport problems in Germany either when trying to leave or coming back. Drop us an email: [email protected] and tell us what it’s been like.

Tweet of the week

Not sure if we’d like to know what a German creative bureaucracy festival really involves but we are intrigued…

Where is this? 

Photo: DPA/Robert Michael

The poppies are beautiful and blooming – but can you recognise the background? It is Dresden’s historic Old Town with the Ständehaus (l-r), the Hausmannsturm and the Hofkirche (Dresden Cathedral). The photo was taken on Friday morning when the sun was shining ahead of the long weekend. 

Did you know?

Perhaps it’s the French influence, but the German state of Saarland is considered a region of pleasure, especially from a culinary point of view. Lots of menus in Saarland, which shares its entire southern and western borders with France, include French dishes, from Schneckenpfanne (a dish of snails) to Flammkuchen (Tarte Flambé, a flat tart with onions and bacon). The area is also known for having a higher proportion of Michelin chefs than anywhere else in Germany.

But despite the French influence, Saarland is definitely German too, and potatoes are at the heart of many traditional meals. A speciality like this is Schales – a large potato pancake. Another dish that uses the same ingredients but is prepared differently is the Dibbelabbes – a sort of German hash brown created from grated potato, dried meat, onions and parsley.

Rachel and Imogen @ The Local Germany 

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INSIDE GERMANY

Inside Germany: ‘Ampel’ makeover and can Euro 2024 bring Germans together?

From how the Euros are providing a sense of relief in Germany amid heightened tensions to a traffic light transformation in Frankfurt and lucky chimney sweeps, here's what we've been talking about this week.

Inside Germany: 'Ampel' makeover and can Euro 2024 bring Germans together?

Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.

The Euros are bringing Germans together – but tension remains 

Whichever way you look at it, it’s been a turbulent few years. In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sparking forced migration, an energy crisis and fears over war spreading in Europe. 

In Germany, the cost of living crisis has been gripping residents for years, resulting in increased strike action and protests. Meanwhile, the economy has tanked, support for the coalition government is falling dramatically, division remains over war in the Middle East and the the far-right has climbed in the polls. At the recent European parliament elections, Alternative for Germany (AfD) took second position in the national vote. 

READ ALSO: What do Germany’s far-right gains in EU elections mean for foreigners?

With these unresolved issues, you might think that Germany would struggle to come together to organise the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament this summer.

But so far, Deutschland has been a fantastic host.

The scenes of fans from different countries gathering in German cities and mixing with locals have been joyous to see. 

Games and logistical matters are taking place without any major problems (at least most of the time).

Hammering Scotland 5-1 in the opening game may have brought Germans a much needed boost. Seeing residents from all walks of life huddle around TVs on streets or attend fan zones to cheer on their team has felt like something we’ve all needed after such heavy years. 

Perhaps if the German team goes far, it will unite people even more. 

But the tension is still around. 

A recent survey by broadcaster WDR’s Sport Inside, found that one in five respondents would prefer if the German national team had more “white” players, highlighting racist attitudes. 

It comes after German partygoers were filmed singing “foreigners out!” on the holiday island of Sylt. 

The Euros are providing much-needed light relief in Germany right now – but football won’t fix everything. 

Frankfurt Ampelmann gets makeover

Football figures on the traffic lights in Frankfurt to celebrate Euro 2024.

Football figures on the traffic lights in Frankfurt to celebrate Euro 2024. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold

Football fever is gripping the nation – and Frankfurt has updated its traffic lights or Ampeln to to celebrate

Anyone walking through central Frankfurt might spot the Ampelmann (traffic light man) giving a red card or kicking the ball – depending on the colour. 

German cities are known for their unusual traffic light figures. 

The most famous are the Ampelmännchen (little traffic light men) in Berlin. These were first created in what was then East Berlin back in 1961 and now appear on various traffic lights in the centre of the German capital. 

Germany in Focus

In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, we talk about our highlights of Euro 2024 so far, why the German coalition is hanging by a thread, the postal system reform, how offices are preparing for the German citizenship law changes and the German vocabulary you need to watch football. 

Lucky chimney sweeps

My building recently received a visit from a lovely Schornsteinfeger (chimney sweep) to check our boilers were in working order. 

It reminded me that seeing a chimney sweep is meant to bring good luck in Germany. 

That’s because they traditionally came to homes to clean out chimneys, removing soot and dirt, which would help ward off the possibility of fires (as well as unwanted evil spirits). 

A chimney sweep on a roof on Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg in 2023.

A chimney sweep on a roof on Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg in 2023. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Bernd Weißbrod

They may not actually be going into chimneys and getting covered in soot these days but they’re still providing maintenance and checking on various heating systems which can only be a Glücksbringer (lucky charm).

You’re supposed to get even more luck if you touch a chimney sweep – for example by shaking their hand or twisting one of their silver buttons – but you should probably ask them first. 

If you see a Schornsteinfeger on New Year’s Day or on your wedding day it’s meant to be even luckier.

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