As most of you know, I was one of 6 designers/bloggers across the country invited to the design fair at Imm Cologne and The living kitchen in Germany.
This once in a lifetime trip was made possible by Blanco and included two tours of their factories and meeting many key people in the Blanco organization. I cannot even begin to describe this fabulous trip and show in words.
Ok, well I can, but I need to gather more of my thoughts and photos together and also stall a bit because I am still jet lagged and using this as my excuse to not go into work quite yet. I have to do what I must to get a break you know. ( If any of my clients actually read my blog, then I am just kidding and I know my staff does not read it and they are happiest when I am not there anyhow)
In the meantime, I will start my series of posts with some of the fun events and photos from this incredible trip!
And when I say incredible, I really mean it: the country, the hospitality, the people, the show, the hosts. Stay tuned for some of the design trends we spotted, ideas I love and news on the Blanco front! Make sure and check out the blogs of my colleagues who attended the trip as well. Their links are alongside their photos!
Some interesting facts I learned about Germany:
*Obscure: all the toilet stall doors opened out.
Here, they open in. Not sure which is best. Lots more room in toilet cubbie when they open outward. But, you run the risk of whapping someone in the head,which of course I experienced. ( I was whapp-er not the whapp-ee and am not sure what the lady said to me but I do not think it was nice)
*I am a “Damen” not a “Herren” as I learned after a few beers in Bretten. Thanks to Helge, he set me straight after walking into the “herren” bathroom. ( it is very possible since only a few people were dining at the Brettener Hundle, that this man was husband to aforementioned whapp-ee and I am sure I made America proud)
sidenote #1: Emily, my University of Tennessee educated marketing assistant/project manager assistant/personal assistant/ said to me today, “Oh German is the language most like English. It’s easy” yes, well let’s just say I thought for sure “herren” had to mean ladies restroom since it has “her” in the name??
*It took 632 years to build the Cathedral in Cologne….they obviously did not have my team there to manage the project and I most definitely will be informing my clients that if they think we are slow they need to get a grip because they could live in Cologne
*There are almost 300 different kinds of bread in Germany. I am going back and am trying them all. As it was, I brought some home in my carry on and ate it at what was on my German clock 5pm and thus dinnertime but on my American clock was midnight and time for sleep. This was a recurring theme.
side note #2: You have heard of drunk dialing? Well, let me say that jet lagged texting your employees and husband 7 hours into the future is worse and could get you met at the plane with a request for a psych evaluation
*When you tell the man you want a beer, he says “here, take two”. So of course you do not want to be a rude American and besides how was I supposed to know Susan was so freaking disciplined and would make me drink the beer?
Side note #3: And this is how I apparently missed the alarm the next morning and was late to the show the very first day….and will never hear the end of it
*The bedding is different than the U.S. Germans sleep on one sheet with a duvet on top…and the pillows are square. Now I know where the “European sham” comes from….apparently it really is European. I always thought that was something the manufacturers made up to sell to European loving Americans.
*Germany is about the size of Montana. This explains my husband’s pained expression when I said “why can’t WE have high speed rail service all over America?” Ok, so I knew it was small but…Montana? Perspective.
*If you do get to travel on German trains, travel light. Upon the encouragement of my friends who will remain nameless but are referenced later as “Paul” and “Susan” with photos to easily identify them, I checked a bag. A big bag. You know about Pandoras box? Well, they opened it and I filled it. With lots of clothes and jewelry that I did not wear but that Tim Maicher of Blancoamerica enjoyed hefting into the train. In under 12 seconds. This is because the Germans really do not care about your oversized and overstuffed American bag and they will be happy to solve the whole problem by letting it fall under the train. Thank you Tim!
Side note #4: I want to say “for the record” that I have not checked a bag onto a plane since 1992 and did so now under duress. But there will be those who might dispute this.
*Teenagers 16 and over can drink beer in pubs and restaurants but have to wait until 18 to drink anything more potent. I am nervous about Ireland where my eldest daughter is travelling soon….hmmm.
*Germans love their Bier and is 2nd in consumption…behind my ancestral home of Ireland. Guess that interesting fact answers above concerns.
*The tax on consumer items is about 19% but less on food or grocery items. I would say that is a hefty one (but would pay gladly if could get fabo trains here)
*Germany has a sizable population of Turkish people. I found this interesting but you may not.
*The taxi drivers own nicer cars than I do. I found this humiliating and you probably will also.
*I kept seeing the word “schmuck” and you know, wondered what it meant since here it is a “not nice” word ….but apparently has little to do with what we term “shmuck” in the US…in German, means “jewelry, adornment” and that explains it emblazoned across several shops…but the origin is not really known although is surmised to be Yiddish or polish. Interesting ‘eh?
*German customs officials are just as cocky as their American counterparts. There must be an international school where they are all taught the same thing. Let’s be an ass so that we intimidate our citizens in case they were ever thinking about being a terrorist or tempted to bring in some sort of agricultural contraband.
*Germans like a rousing discussion and do not take it personally if you do not agree. Apparently they even do not mind when Americans butcher their name and they happen to be high ranking executives who have hosted your trip.
Side note #5: Jury may still be out on above.
As they say…a picture is worth a bunch of words!
Favorite sign I saw at the show. Whattttts up with that??
Welcome to Germany! First night dinner at “Gilden am Zims” and dancing…this is “Highway to Hell” with 26 countries that sell Blanco represented on the dance floor!
Gilden Am Zims: Highly recommended if you visit Cologne!
Blanco on the Living Kitchen show floor. I won’t say much yet…but KBIS better watch out. I heard they had people there on a scouting mission. I hope they did and took notes.
2nd night dinner was a cooking class at Vintage!! Amazing! Here I am with Jamie Goldberg of “Gold Notes”and Susan Serra of “The Kitchen Designer”
Leslie Clagett of KB culture and Tim Maicher from Blancoamerica doing some cooking!
Oh so cute Chef at Vintage teaching Paul Anater of Kitchen and Residential Design how to do something with a knife…I was taking photos and drinking the most excellent wine
um, yeah, like I said…I was drinking the wine because I heard it is rude not to???
Paul Anater and Susan Serra on the train. I will not even say what proceeded this photo! (But it had something to do with my hand)
Downtown Cologne. We toured the Cathedral and had some time to play….this means drinking more beer and shopping!
We stayed in the lovely town of Bretten near Sulzfeld where the stainless factory is located.
Gorgeous headquarters of Blanco in Oberderdingen where we met with Blanco’s industrial designers. What a treat!
Papa Joes Beer house. I had some time to walk around alone and enjoyed popping into a few places and downing a quick beer and moving on! This was my favorite!
Airport at Dusseldorf. A fresh juice bar and the best breads I have ever tasted. Quite a contrast to the fast foods that awaited in Atlanta!
I will be posting on more serious topics in the next few weeks as soon as I sort the 400 photos I took, the pages of notes and the gazillion press kits. Oh and I am on the hunt for the most primo laminate company I can find….hint hint.
—-Cheryl
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12 Responses
HOLLLAAA TN!! We learn ’em good down here! I guess there was also a “dame” in damen so honestly it could have gone either way. Not your fault. Sounds like you had a drunkingly good time. Awesome!
oh yeah…coming from the saucy “dame” herself! never thought of that…guess I am thinking I am just a “her”…ha! Thanks for reading!!
This is a wonderful blog, Cheryl. I can only write a little, as I have to go to bed early, as I will be getting up early tomorrow morning to go to Toronto as a guest of Blanco. Your trip really brought back some memories. I was stationed in Germany when I was in the Army in the 1960s. I was in Kassel (Rothwesten, actually, but it’s right next to the bigger city), which at the time was only eight miles from the East/West border. After a year I was transferred to Berlin where I served a year and a half before mustering out. Myself, I always liked Germany and enjoyed my stay there. Not, I hasten to add, the Army, but I did enjoy the country. I thought it was beautiful and the people were very nice.
The post in Rothwesten was enchanted. I was an Army cook, and the mess hall I worked in was at the foot of a building that was on one edge of the post. There was a service road directly behind that building, and on the other side of the road a chain link fence. We were atop a mountain, and you could see all the way down that mountain, and across the valley where there was a river and a railroad track on the other side of the river. They used to run a steam engine through from time to time.
For some strange reason they never had whetstones in that mess hall. When you cook in a mess hall like that, the first thing you when you come on shift is sharpen your knives. We used to sharpen them on the stones on either side of the doorway leading out to that service road. Over the years, both stones had a big half circle that had been worn into them from the constant sharpening. Going out there in the summer months to sharpen your knives, with the trees so green it hurt your eyes, and the train passing through on the other side of that river, it was really something to see. It’s been almost half a century now, and I still remember it like it was yesterday.
Hah, I know this group — there are no innocents!
Man, would have loved to be there with you all. Sounds like a lot of fun.
I’m standing firm on this..I’m sure there is proof somewhere that German language is the closest to English!
Sounds like you had a good time. Did you meet any of your relatives. Guess not. What did you learn?
Sounds like an amazing trip!! Can’t wait to see some more follow up posts and photos…I love me some Germany!
How fun! Thanks for sharing your totally excellent adventure! Wild and crazy American girl you!
Been out of town , just got to read your blog… very funny! Thanks and I look foward to more photos and comments.
Emily, you’re right about German and English being close. England was invaded a number of times by people who stayed. Originally, I believe it was Celts on the Island. Anglo-Saxons came from the Germany area, invaded, stayed, and brought the German they spoke at that time. Later the Normans from France invaded in 1066, stayed, and brought their French. English is a combination of those two languages, which is why so many of the words are not spelled phonetically. In German, if you can pronounce it, you can spell it. That is often not the case in English.
I wish I could get more room in my refrigerator! Maybe if I dumped all those 1/2 jars of condiments – I can make room for something great – like imported olives or something.
I love the pictures!