Easy to confuse, yet very different.

Matt Hampel — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:17:21 +0000

A pannier:

A dépanneur:

A derailleur:

(one of these is not like the others; one of these does not belong.)

(via: tofu swan)

(Shopping) Bags in Germany

Matt Hampel — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:51:47 +0000

Shopping bags are simply different here.� In nearly all supermarkets, you are expected to bring your own. Simple plastic bags cost about €0.09; cloth bags are usually sold for €1.50 or so. The plastic bags aren’t our flimsy Kroger versions; they’re more like the sturdy plastic totes you’d get from the Library. And there certainly isn’t anyone waiting to bag your foodstuffs for you. The odd thing, though, is the lack of paper bags. I’ve only seen them at department stores. Shopping carts also require a deposit, usually between €0.50 and 2.00.

And this isn’t a problem at all, because grocery shopping trips aren’t expected to fill more than two totes. It seems that most people walk or take mass transit to their grocery store (citation required!). Most all neighborhoods have one within short walking distance; I have 2 + a produce store and 3 bakeries within 5 minutes. This means grocieries are bought when they’re needed. I like this system.

Matt Hampel | matth.org » europe

Easy to confuse, yet very different.

(Shopping) Bags in Germany