May 7, 2011
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Freiburg Tradition : Die Baechle
Freiburg is a small University city in southern Germany, sitting right at the foot of the Black Forrest. (It is in any case the largest city within an hour’s drive from where I live - so I’ve gotten to know it pretty well.) It’s a beautifully city, with a looming cathedral and cobblestone streets. It also has great public transportation and several blocks of car-free shopping. The river Dreisam runs through the middle of the city and feeds a system of canals.
The street canals in the innercity are a central point. They are usually on both sides of the streets, even in the pedestrian zone. In spring, children often race rubber ducks and wooden toy ships down the canals – you can even win money during competitions!
However, the locals are all quick to warn little girls (and young ladies) not to tread in the water. If you wet your feet in the canals, tradition has it that you will marry a man from Freiburg.
Even if it is a bit silly, it adds to the charm of the old city.
And my boyfriend takes care not to let me walk too close to the edge – just in case.
M
Comments (17)
Beautiful top picture. That church steeple- damn!
@ccrider17 - I know! When you stand at the bottom and look up it’s even crazier.
M
@sonnigenmai - the canals- are they for rain diversion? Or were they for sewage way back when, like in some cities in Italy?
@ccrider17 - Rain diversion mainly – but they are extending them and always keeping water flowing through them now just because it’s something Freiburg is known for.
@sonnigenmai - very cool. TY.
That is so cool. I want to go to Germany so bad!!!
I wouldn’t want to come home after visiting either! How long have you Been there?
@shariya21 - A little over 10 months now
And it’s definately worth a visit!
M
@sonnigenmai - o that’s so fun
what did you go there for?
@shariya21 - I was chosen by the government to do a year internship. It’s fun, minus the whole working 40 hours a week with no pay
M
@sonnigenmai - haha that would be kinda annoying lol. But that’s sounds awesome
what do you think you will do when you come back?
very quaint, lovely tradition. wouldn’t work here in ny – there’d be cigarette butts, leaves and newspapers in it.
the cobblestones are amazing, too.
Kannst du deutsch sprechen? However, I’m german and went to freiburg this winter too, mostly for skiing but I visited the city too and I loved it <3
@PerfectionWantedx - Klar kann ich deutsch
Bin doch schon 10 monate hier!
@sonnigenmai - schön
Ich hoffe dir gefällt es hier.
@PerfectionWantedx - Total! Meine Gastfamilie ist ganz nett, mein deutscher Freund ist so traumhaft, und alle die Leute sind lieb. Ich moechte nicht zueruck gehen!!!
Und ja, trinken zu duerfen und party machen zu koennen, das ist auch geil
Woher kommst du?
M
@sonnigenmai - Haha, Freut mich dass es dir gefällt
haha ja die regeln dafür sind in deutschland ja nicht ganz so streng wie in amerika
Ich komm aus dem saarland in der nähe von saarbrücken
@PerfectionWantedx - Ahh cool
Ja ich wohne denn ein bisschen suedlicher. Aber freut mich dich zu treffen! Wusste nicht dass die Deutsche xanga benutzen.
M