Another pilgrimage to the Fatherland

[Rick Lee]

My wife has never been to Europe and we just booked 16 days there in September. We're flying to Duesseldorf, staying with friends in Berg. Gladbach near Cologne and then headed to a tiny village sort of near Halle (former E. Germany) for a dear friend's 84th and her granddaughter's 31st b-days. I'm especially looking forward to this, as my friend there is from the WWII generation and she always has lots of old friends around for such occasions. I've known her since I was an exchange student in 1988 and got to know her family when I was granted a visa to stay with them back in the old days. What a trip that was. I always make a point to ask her friends about their military service when I visit. They're dying off at a good clip now, so this might be my last chance for some firsthand war stories.

From there we drive via Munich to Klagenfurt, Austria (might stop at the Porsche Museum in Gmuend along the route) to visit some more friends, whom I first met around 1985 when their daughter was an exchange student in my town in NJ. I've kept in touch with a lot of such friends for over 20 yrs. and we've visited each other plenty of times. She's one of the reasons I started teaching myself German before I went to a school that offered it.

Then it's back via Munich to either Karlsruhe or Strasbourg, then Paris and then back to our friends near Cologne. Gonna be a lot of driving, but then driving is a pure joy in Germany compared to anywhere in the US. My wife has no idea what she's in for. She really wants to visit Paris, which I'm not not real excited about, as I've been there several times and struggle with the language. But Germany is not a foreign country to me and that's where I like to hang. Anyway, she'll finally get to feel the way I feel when I'm in China.

Dottore, are you anywhere in that region the first half of Sept.? Any other Pelicans around there then too? Full report coming after the trip. I think we're gonna rent a good car too.

[aways]

DA FAATHALAAAAND!!!!!

I've spent extended periods there too. Have fun and drink plenty of bier.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Dottore, are you anywhere in that region the first half of Sept.?

No. We'll be in California. But it sounds like a great trip. Have fun!

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Gonna be a lot of driving, but then driving is a pure joy in Germany compared to anywhere in the US.

Honestly? Worst traffic & road jams I have ever experienced were on Germany autobahns in/near major cities. Outside the city limits yes fun with no regard for speeding tickets.

[Rick Lee]

Yes, I've sat in some pretty bad traffic in Germany. But I usually avoid it by catching the warnings on the radio and taking the detours. Since I was in high school there, they've had car radios that stop playing your CD or whatever for special traffic alerts in time to take a detour. Once, while on my way to rent a 996 in Leipzig, I got stuck in a jam so bad, that I turned the car off and sat and then just decided there was no way I was gonna spend money renting a Porsche around that kind of traffic. But it's rare for it to be that bad. And I'd rather sit like that for a while than be constantly stuck behind left lane pace cars all the time like in the US.

[Jim Richards]

Fatherland? I thought you were Irish.

[Dottore]

As for autobahn stormers, my favourite rental-ride on this past trip was an Audi A5 3.2 liter diesel coupe. Amazing way to get across Europe at high-speed. Recommend you look into these.

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Fatherland? I thought you were Irish.

Irish?? Then it would have been McLee... no?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Dottore

As for autobahn stormers, my favourite rental-ride on this past trip was an Audi A5 3.2 liter diesel coupe. Amazing way to get across Europe at high-speed. Recommend you look into these.

Last time I was there, I reserved some kind of MB, forget which. When I arrived at Tegel, they said all they had was an Audi 2.7 TD wagon. Darn. When I got to the car, it had a mere 50 km on the clock. It was brand spanking new and had obviously been flatbedded to Berlin from Ingolstadt. I drove the piss out of that car. Was a lot of fun.

[9dreizig]

By all means go diesel Rick.. will save you huge $$ and you'll see what we are missing over here. I'm over there for a couple weeks in Nov.. can't wait!

[kevin993]

Awesome trip. Makes me want to go back again very soon. If you're a WWII buff, we've also enjoyed the area in Belgium around the Battle of the Bulge area. Of course, Spa Francorchamps is nearby, so another reason to the like the area.

[Rick Lee]

Yeah, I've been to Belgium a lot, but was always in a rush to get somewhere. Once, while on the way back from buying pot in Maastricht, headed toward Trier, we stumbled upon Malmedy. I know the story there well, but I didn't know how to look up the exact spot.

[Garp]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Yeah, I've been to Belgium a lot, but was always in a rush to get somewhere. Once, while on the way back from buying pot in Maastricht, headed toward Trier, we stumbled upon Malmedy. I know the story there well, but I didn't know how to look up the exact spot.

It is nice to visit, especially in the snow. Enjoy your trip.

A few pictures from the Ardennes.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

My wife has no idea what she's in for. She really wants to visit Paris, which I'm not not real excited about, as I've been there several times and struggle with the language.

Rick

Is this vacation just for you or do you want her to enjoy it too? Paris is fabulous - if you go with the right attitude. Do a bit of research (other than the best roads) & make it really special for her too. Share a baguette in the Jardin du Luxembourg, get a crêpe from one of the hole-in-the-wall crêperies. Walk along the Seine in the morning. Sit in a outdoor café & watch the world walk by for a hour or two. You actually might enjoy it & she might get all romantic & . . .

Just sayin'

Ian

[Rick Lee]

Oh, I like Paris. It's just that our vacation time is very precious and my wife has a long history of getting into things she thinks she likes, but knows nothing about and then loses interest quickly. She's not a history buff and could not tell you a thing about Paris other than pointing out the Eiffel Tower in a photograph. I've been telling her to start thinking about stuff she want to see and do there, so we don't arrive and then say "now what?" Maybe she'll watch DaVinci Code again and want to track down some of those places.

[imcarthur]

Well, it is obviously up to you in that case. What does she like to do/see? Shopping? Art? Shopping? Fine dining? Shopping? Cute little brasseries? Shopping? Gag-me corny Seine cruise? Shopping?

Ian