Dear ,
I was walking along the street at the weekend when I saw something I had never seen before. Because I'm a steaky beak, I stopped and took a closer look. And I was really amazed.
First, I need to share some information.
One of the crazy things I've learnt about Germany is how much the people here love ice cream. I didn't expect people living in a country that isn't known for being super warm to eat lots of this cold treat.
People in Italy eating ice cream for most of the year? Of course! That's easy to understand. Italy is a lot warmer than Germany. It's also famous for making really good ice cream!
The number of ice cream shops in German cities and towns amazes me. Sometimes the shops are only a few metres away from each other.
Some of them are owned (1) by Italians. They make and sell ice cream in Germany for most of the year, but go back to Italy to enjoy warmer weather for the worst of the German winter.
It's easy to see when the German ice cream shops open after the winter pause. There are long lines of people waiting in front of the popular ones. The people are waiting to purchase their first ice cream of the season. The lines are even longer if there are a few sunny days.
I don't understand it.
Although I like it, ice cream is cold - why eat it when the weather's so cold you're wearing a thick coat and a scarf (2)? Personally (3), I don't enjoy it until the days are nice and warm (25°C or more).
So, what did I see as I walked along the street?
A machine that dispenses (4) ice cream!
It's the perfect solution for people hungry for ice cream - choose your flavour and pay (by card or cash) and a little tub (5) of ice cream drops down for you to collect. As long as the machine works, you can have ice cream whenever you want, 24/7.
Have you seen a machine selling ice cream on a street near you? Am I the only one who had never seen one? Have you bought ice cream from one?? Because I'm a sticky beak, I'd love to know...
Have a great week,
Andrea
(1) owned - it belongs to someone. They bought it/were given it.
(2) scarf - long thing we wear in winter to keep our neck warm
(3) personally - to do with me, my thoughts or opinion
(4) dispense - to 'give out' something that you pay/ask for. Most banks have machines that dispense cash. At many train stations there machines that dispense snack food.
(5) tub - a container. In this case, a little 'cup' with a lid.
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