Football, bikes, bugs and birds

It was an exciting semi-final football match last night, with Germany beating Turkey 3-2. Now it's on to the finals, playing against either Spain or Russia. Thankfully, we didn't hear about any riots or major fights after the game, but we did hear plenty of celebrating in the streets.

Now that the weather has turned warm, I understand why my driving instructor had me constantly, and I mean constantly, looking over both shoulders when driving around. Bicyclists are everywhere, at all times of day and night and you have to be extra alert. If you want to make a right turn, always look over your right shoulder. Cyclists or scooter riders have right of way to continue straight, so you need to let them pass before turning.

Helmets are required only for children and most adults don't wear one. We have had helmet safety drilled into our heads back in the U.S., and I can't help but think these people are taking such risks riding along main roads with their craniums totally vulnerable.

You see business men cycling along in their suits, business women cycling along in skirts, children riding their bikes to school and older people riding to the store with their shopping baskets strapped behind their bike seats. The cyclists that make me extra nervous are the little 5-year olds riding shakily behind their parents. They look like they're one moment away from swerving in front of my car. And then the parents riding in the street with a child-trailer behind them. I give them wide berth.

With spring and summer bringing warmer weather, we've started keeping our windows open. German windows don't have screens, so along with the fresh air comes the bugs. We're seeing lots of crane flies, bees and spiders. Some Americans have told us that you can get screens that attach with velcro, but we're taking a wait and see just how bad it gets approach. I remember how often Emilie and Rebecca got bit by spiders when we first moved here, though, so if we start seeing those nasty bites again, we'll get screens.

We started getting woken up every morning at 4:30am by some very loud birds, chirpy away as happy as could be. We don't have air conditioning, so the windows were open to let in the cool night air. David and I groaned and put a pillow over our heads complaining, "Man, they are so loud! They sound like they're right outside our window!"

Well, guess what. They're right outside our window.

The oldest native Liederbacher (as he reminds David every time he stops to chat) pointed out a few days ago that he himself made several concrete swallow houses and put them on the front of our house a few years ago (right below our bedroom windows). He stops to check on the birds every time he rides his bike by our house and informed us that swallows are good for insect control.

The baby birds have apparently hatched and the parents are busy getting breakfast for their hungry, loud babies at 4:30 in the morning. In addition, my car just so happens to be parked under the bird houses. Say no more, say no more.

I didn't take this picture of swallows, but it captures the mood.