Bonn building stands out because of complex layout

If the producers of the American reality show “The Amazing Race” really want to separate the pros from the amateurs, they should make any room in the Deutsche Welle building in Bonn, Germany one of their pit stops.

Exactly one year ago today I first set foot on the headquarters of Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), to take part in an online journalism workshop.

Rhine River area near the DW building

That building is located along the Rhine River, in the western German city of Bonn.

I wouldn’t dare roam the halls of the DW headquarters without an employee accompanying me.

That structure is one puzzling maze!

On the very first day of the workshop, our guide in Bonn actually had to show us how to get to our classroom.

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It was easy to understand why. Simply telling visitors to go to this floor and to that room wouldn’t work there.

But for me, that’s one of the charms of the DW headquarters.

The “complicated” layout sets it apart from the other buildings that I’ve been to. I can never say that it’s “just another building.”

Christmas Market shows similarities between German and Philippine Christmases

Beethoven Statue in Bonn amid Christmas decorations

The first ever German Christmas Market in the Philippines was held on December 4, the Goethe-Institut in Manila has announced on its website.

I missed it because that was the last day of the online journalism workshop that I attended in Germany.

But fortunately, when I was in Germany, I personally saw what a Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) was all about.

Something in common

The Goethe-Institut in Manila said both Germany and the Philippines “share the same kind of fondness for Christmas.”

“Filipino and German cultures surprisingly find the perfect meeting point during the season of Christmas.”

- Goethe-Institut in Manila

After seeing a Christmas Market in Bonn, I can say that Germans, like Filipinos, are really fond of Christmas.

I saw the actual preparations for the opening of the market, and the mood then was festive.

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The opening of the Weihnachtsmarkt on November 20 made me feel that Christmas was just around the corner.

I also saw signs indicating that in Germany, Christmas is for kids. Just like in the Philippines.

The Goethe-Institut in Manila summed it up perfectly in one sentence: “While not immediately obvious, Filipino and German cultures surprisingly find the perfect meeting point during the season of Christmas.”

Algeria soccer win breaks Bonn silence

The car and the Algerian flag

I will always remember Bonn in Germany as the most laid back city I’ve ever visited.

By 9 PM almost no one is on the streets. Most stores are closed.

And yes, it’s so quiet.

However, the day when Algeria won a soccer match changed that, even for just a few minutes.

My Bangladeshi friend and I usually ate dinner at an Algerian restaurant located just across Bonn’s Hauptbahnhof (main station).

The Algerian restaurant. Photo was taken on my last day in Bonn, not the night of the celebration

But that night, we had to eat at another restaurant that offered Halal food because the Algerian one was packed with people, most of them men.

All of them were watching something on television, which both my friend and I assumed to be a soccer match.

After dinner we returned to our hotel.

From my hotel room I heard people chanting something and honking their car horns incessantly, as if traffic had stood still.

I got curious. What was that noise all about?

I went out of the hotel and hoped that another “loud” car would come.

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Fortunately for me one passed through Thomas-Mann-Straße, where the hotel is located.

I was able to film the mobile party.

The following day I found out on the Internet that Algeria had defeated Egypt in a soccer match and qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

I finally knew the exact reason for the Algerians’ celebration.

Félicitations, Algérie.

BBC pictures showing the festivity

Los Angeles Times blog about Algeria’s victory

ESPN story about the win

Bonn und ich

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn

Rudyard Kipling once said: “He travels the fastest who travels alone.”

It could be understood both literally and figuratively.

But on my last day in Bonn, I took it literally: I toured the capital of the former West Germany on my own.

However, I wasn’t completely alone: I was with my camera. I did cover a lot of ground with it.

And even though it’s an inanimate object, it did a great job in “telling” me to say “cheese” for the picture-taking sessions. Just take a look at the photos.

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Along the way, a German guy offered to take my pictures. It was a kind gesture from a total stranger, but I politely told him: “Nein, danke.”

I wanted to be alone WITH Bonn. While I was taking pictures, I felt that no one else was in the city.

Aside from my camera, it was just me and Bonn.

I was about to leave it, and I wanted to make the most out of my remaining time in the quaint city that had served as my home for three weeks.

Germany visit leads to several firsts for me

Bonn University

First time in Europe

First time outside of Asia

First stamp in my new passport

First connecting flight (Manila-Doha-Frankfurt)

First time that I packed more than five jackets and/or sweaters