Whoa-oh-whoa, Shake it up / Just like Bad Kissingen

I apologize for the Bon Jovi reference, but it’s time to take a look at the German city that will host the Ecuadorian national team during the World Cup finals. Bad Kissingen is pulling out all the stops to welcome La Tri for the duration of its stay.

Bad Kissingen is located in Bavaria, in south-central Germany. It’s also the capital city of the district of, uh, Bad Kissingen. The town is over 1,200 years old, give or take a month here and there.

Historically, the town may best be known as the site of the Battle of Kissingen, an 1866 skirmish during the Austro-Prussian War. One of the five Schlagintweit brothers (Eduard) died in the battle. But you knew that.

The town is famous for its local mineral water, which is high in sodium and magnesium sulfate (yum!) and is said to aid digestion. In fact, the name of the town is derived from the mineral water. This is probably when I should warn you, however, that Kissingen means “sour bubbly water.”

Bad Kissingen is also way into flowers and flower-related festivals. In fact, I’m thinking of entering the Rosenball pagent myself.

So, Bad Kissingen may not have the urbane sophitication of Frankfurt or the charm of Freiburg. And Henry Kissinger’s family may have taken their name from the town. And the water may suck. But it does look like a good place for the football team to train and live during the tournament.