I had heard of Shiatsu before I met local Shiatsu Practitioner Gabriele Engelke, but it was not until she invited me to try it out for the first time that I found out more.

The session started with an explanation of what Shiatsu is – not the simple facts that can be found on Wikipedia, but more in-depth information about the elements of the body and how they are inter-related.  Each part of the body is in some way connected to these elements so that problems in one area may be connected by way of the element to another.  That other part of the body can then be massaged to relieve the original problem.

After this, we talked about any complaints or ailments that I may have and then it was time for me to take off my watch and shoes and turn off my mobile phone.  I had already changed into loose-fitting clothes beforehand. (more…)

It was only recently that I discovered the Mühlenwanderweg in Oberursel.  It happened quite by chance, as I wanted to walk from the International Scout Camp during the Hessentag into town, and my route took me that way.  Otherwise, I may still not have known it was there.

So when I found out that the local history society (Verein für Geschichte und Heimatkunde) was offering a guided walk along part of the path, I decided to go along and find out more.

The Mühlenwanderweg starts in the woods at the Hohemark, behind the new Taunus Information Centre. (more…)

The Hessentag finished a month ago today, and yet the official events are not quite over.

In the end, around 1.4 million people came to Oberursel to visit the Hessentag, breaking the previous record with the procession on the last day alone having almost 4,000 participants.

Next week (25th-29th July) the remaining merchandise will be sold off in the foyer of the Rathaus.

And then… something typically German happens.  A by-law called the Hessische Gemeindeordnung (HGO) contains a paragraph (§ 8a) which calls for something called a Bürgerversammlung – a citizen’s meeting.  Such a meeting is taking place in the Stadthalle in Oberursel on Monday, 8th August, 2011 at 7pm.

Both supporters and critics of the Hessentag will be given the chance to put forward their opinions of the event, although I hope they do listen to the critics more than they did at the last information evening that I attended in December 2010.

Maybe the last word has not yet been heard…