Rio De Janeiro – Not too far from the Beach Volleyball stadium, on Copacabana, there is a temporary beach hut called 'Germany House'.
There are other popular spots, like Austria House in Botafogo, where the queues are so long that they wrap right around the building, as curious visitors try to get inside.
Apparently, when one gets in, it is an explosion of culture, with continental beer, all the delicacies unique to that country and, occasionally, athletes from that particular country.
Germany House has the clincher though. It is right on the beach, and allows visitors to have sauerkraut with an ocean view.
From there, you can just about make out the Beach Volleyball arena down the stretch, but you can most certainly hear the party.
On Wednesday night, those noises were eerily similar to what was heard during the 2014 World Cup, here in Brazil.
When the Germans broke local hearts, and spanked the hosts 7-1. They have not forgotten, on both sides.
On Wednesday, those dreaded Germans did it again, as they helped themselves to the women's beach volleyball title, defeating Brazil, of course.
The sense of familiarity that the Germans have in Rio must puzzle the locals. Routinely, they are helping themselves to matters of Brazilian pride and honour, making off with braghing rights.
When Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst trumped the fancied duo of Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas, it was met with wistful applause from the capacity crowd, because it spoilt a belter of a night.
Rio was a picture on Wednesday.
In the morning, the sun scorched as if it were summer. By afternoon, after the Brazil men's football had thumped Honduras 6-0 to advance to the final, the beach was beckoning anyone with a heartbeat.
They had a reason to be pumped up, a reason to get merry. And the Beach Volleyball was supposed to be the coup de grace, the perfect end to a stunning day.
And then the Germans happened. Local hearts sank a little, and people remembered that work was in a few hours.
As they made their way down the stretch, they would have heard the party going on at Germany House. They didnt need to see it, probably didn't want to, even.
But they knew that sausages were being grilled, beer being pulled and "Uber Uber Allez" heartily sang, as Germany took over another bit of Brazil.
The only remedy to the plague is if Neymar and tbe Brazil football team win the Olympic title for the first time this weekend.
There is just one catch to that plan, though. Tbrir opponents in that final are an uncomfortably familiar foe.
It's those dreaded Germans again.
Of course, it had to be. - Independent Media