In preparation for the blizzard that is supposed to hit Germany this weekend, all citizens were advised to get emergency goods (food, water, etc) to last for up to 4 days. This meant that I had to go out to the grocery store in 70km/hr winds with snow falling and get some food. In the process, however, I found an entire section of the store that was, quite simply, odd – and well filled with a series of Lost (gained?) in Translation moments. Luckily, I had my trusty camera phone so I can share with everyone a bit of a laugh.

Starting off – the chocolates – both are dark chocolate. One is written in German and translates to “Black Man chocolate”, the other English, but both seem to go to a different (perhaps more racist?) time:

Then, there’s the alcohol… Some of these you’ll have to use your own imagination for. Others are rather laughable. Explanations below where I think necessary….

20 years of “wall fall” liquor. It’s got arty drawings on the front of the Berlin wall being crashed through by a Trabant – and 4 leaders celebrating on one side of the box. On the other, the same 4 leaders have quotes about their role in the Berlin wall. The bottles? The cartoon of the leader, and it says under them the role each played. Perhaps if someone can better translate this for me, it’d make more sense, but seriously? I don’t want to drink shots that have come from the Berlin Wall 20 years ago. It might just taste like the gas in that old Trabant…..

Now I don’t know about you, but really – Any Vodka that proudly proclaims they’re “the Bum Pocket drink” must taste like ASS. Don’t think I wanna try it. Thank you, but No thank you….

Let’s see… this one has Viagra Blue (with words around it like recipes included, Good, Fun, Helps, Men) and the famed “ampel man” of East Berlin (the cross walk guy) with his “red” for “don’t walk” and “green” for walk liquors. These are sitting RIGHT NEXT to each other in the store. Are the store people trying to hint something about the crossing guard man? Things that make you go hum….

Finally, Unicum herbal liquor next to the goldwasser (gold water) liquor. Let’s just say that if you put your mind in the gutter, you really don’t want to go there….