Caution: Wild animals crossing

Today, I was walking the dogs (see right) in the forest. The forest in Berlin is a real forest, in the sense that there are a lot of trees and a bit of wildlife, which you never see. But it's also not like Sherwood Forest with Robin Hood and all 'cause it's pretty domesticated. Lots of paths and roads and in the summer, millions of people heading to the lakes.

Of course there's no way to think of swimming right now, but the dogs and I are toddling along this path that goes right by this road leading to a cozy rsetaurant in the woods (the BMW/Mercedes set doesn't like to walk to see nature). Suddenly, about 10 yards ahead of me, this HUGE (5 feet tall, I swear!) wild boar comes charging out of the woods, across the path and then across the road.

I know from practically living in this forest when I was a kid that wild boars are nothing to kid with. Even though their babies are cute (and their mothers just as protective) and they taste very good, wild boars can total your car (think road block -low and massive) and leave you looking like the victim of a stabbing when they attack you with their tusks. Encountering one almost lets your life flash in front of you while you consider whether you can actually make it up that tree. Thank heavens the dogs were too busy sniffing their friends' and foes' pee to really notice.

And just like that, the thing was gone, with the speed of a Munich BMW on the Autobahn. Maybe off to dinner at the trash cans in the back of that fancy restaurant down the road.