Author Archives: Clare Dunkle

Die Tat is a deed or an act, and if it’s done by der Täter, it’s probably a criminal act. Der Ort is a city, locality, place, or site. Put them together, and you have der Tatort, the scene of … Continue reading →

Posted on by Clare Dunkle | 1 Comment

The Last One Standing

It wasn’t the prettiest medieval castle on the Rhine, or the biggest, or the richest, or the most famous. But the Marksburg is the only castle in the whole middle-Rhine region that didn’t get destroyed. All the others had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, German history, Tourist destinations | 2 Comments

Today’s German word comes with a photo: Der Schimmel is a white horse (also mold, but that’s another post). Das Amt is an administrative office. Put them together, and you get der Amtsschimmel, the dreaded beaurocratic mess we Americans call … Continue reading →

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Learning German with Lucky Luke

I don’t just sit around and watch television all day. Sometimes I read books. Comic books, that is–and my favorite is Lucky Luke, the man who shoots faster than his shadow. Television is a great way to learn a foreign … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and reading, Daily life, German language, Recreation | Comments Off on Learning German with Lucky Luke

In a cartoon skit by the famous German comedian Loriot, two grown men compelled by fate and a confusing hotel layout to share the same bathtub are having a genteel conversation (if marred by a certain amount of passive-aggressive behavior). … Continue reading →

Posted on by Clare Dunkle | 2 Comments

My Morning Jog

Jogging through scenery like this does more than tone the body. It heals the soul. I took this photograph today on my morning jog. Now, lest you think that I jog for miles, let me set you straight. The entire … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily life, Recreation, Rural scenery, Texas, Village life | 7 Comments

English just has yes and no, but German has ja and nein … and doch. If ja means yes and carries the idea, “I agree,” then doch means “I know you don’t agree with me, but yes!” Doch is one … Continue reading →

Posted on by Clare Dunkle | 2 Comments

The Sport for Real Men

This is a crowd of over 10,000 people on their feet, holding out their long mufflers as they cheer on Fussball-Club Kaiserslautern, or 1FCK, during their match against Mainz this last Saturday. How do I know these people are on … Continue reading →

Posted in Recreation, Sports | Comments Off on The Sport for Real Men

The other night, I was watching the European Jumping Championships on Eurosport. An excellent German rider was all set to win the gold medal when his horse took down a bar on the very last jump. That bar, said the … Continue reading →

Posted on by Clare Dunkle | Comments Off on gar nichts

Strolling and Nibbling

This Saturday and Sunday, Rodenbach and nearby Weilerbach teamed up to host their annual Kulinarische Wanderung–literally translated, a culinary stroll. This proved to be every bit as enjoyable as it sounds. The three-and-a-half-mile (six-kilometer) route passed nine different tents offering … Continue reading →

Posted in Festivals, Food and drink, Recreation, Sports, Village life | Comments Off on Strolling and Nibbling