This weekend was full of events.

The most important one: Friday evening 5 o’clock: The first quarter final of the FIFA World Cup 2006 featuring Germany and Argentina. Tanja and me went to a pub in Bonn to watch the match. It didn’t look very good for Germany because the Argentinians were playing better and consequently scored the first goal in the 49th minute. Then, however, Germany came back but there weren’t many dangerous situations for the Argentinian goal. I was close to giving up all hope, when, in the 80th minute German offender Miroslave Klose scored the equalizer. In that moment, all the frustration, loneliness, anger and whatever negative feelings I had to suffer since I came back from Belfast were released in a loud, ferocious cry of happiness and relief. (I am still hoarse…).

After that the match had to go through extra time and penalties were finally Germany prevailed. HOORAY!! And after that extremely thrilling game the mood on the streets in Germany was NUTS! The streets were full of people celebrating, singing, shouting, cheering…a happy crowd in black, red and yellow.

I can imagine that the frenzy must have been immeasurble in certain cities that are less posh and quiet than Bonn!! It is very unusual for Germans to display that much patriotism – probably because it was (and is) considered rather strange to be proud of being a German (the reason for that is, of course, to be found in our past and there’s no need to tell you what happened then).

Another thing that I would like to mention and show you here is a monument that I saw. It is not particularly known as a monument but I personally consider it a monument. It is a monument to ugliness, a monument to the haughtiness and pride of the human race and a monument to engineering. It is breathtaking and the photograph (as usual) falls short of reality.

The thing of which I am speaking is one of the highest bridges (at least 200m high) in Germany. It is crossing the Mosel valley south of Koblenz. 

Driving by with the train I could feel this aedificium’s ambiguity: On the one hand it represents a culture that is in favour of movement which means that it enables us to travel and to see beautiful places in other parts of the world. On the other hand it thoroughly spoils the beauty of this magnificent valley although I must admit that at the same time it fills me with wonder and admiration for the engineering, the sweat and the craftsmanship that was necessary to erect it.

Whoever has read You’ve got soul by Jeremy Clarkson knows what I am about: This bridge has got soul.

Whatever. I am back in the Saarland now and I will soon be off for some Squash with a friend. Just one more trivia fact about the Saarland:

While the Saarland is the state that joined the Federal Republic latest (January 1st 1957) it is still the state that is longest existent in its present shape. The reason for that is, that it was created after WW I  in the Versailles treaty whereas the other German states were given their present shape after WW II with the foundation of the Federal Republic (May 23rd 1949).

Enjoy the summer!

Max