Germany Day 25 - Saturday, Jan 31

Here are a couple of pictures of the wall built circa 1340 of this hotel.

Got caught up on emails this AM. Folks back at work are probably noticing that my attitudes are changing. There's depot guys and there's field guy and then there are mixed up guys like me!!

Skipped lunch on account of I was not hungry - one piece of German bread at breakfast apparently did the trick.

I found out there is a hot springs here. The Weidener Thermenwelt right next to the indoors ice skating rink. The hot springs has a big slide with a nice sorta black light section. (Its enclosed, but does empty into the warm outdoor part of the pool.) I went on the slide 4 times -- that was fun. You have to change in a sorta common locker room where they have these tiny changing booths, then you lock you stuff up. Then you go into the men's or women's shower room, then off to the main pool area.

I extra paid for the sauna. For the sauna here you get nude (both guys and girls, so its sorta nudist) then there are various ways to cool off - a luke warm hot top, chips of ice, wacky cave rooms, very cold pool (leading outside), or just walk outside. I just figured the sauna dried me off, and, being a Florida boy, I don't really like the cold, so I just left without getting wet again. Interesting thing though - the sauna was so dry, I got fairly hot without ever sweating. (For those who don't know, my Indian name is "sweats like a pig".

Had dinner at a Mexican restruarant and it took FOREVER. Not that it was that Mexican - spare ribs (no sauce), chicken wings (no sauce), a veggie burrito (sucatash in it - peas, carrots, string beans - yeah, just like the mexicans cook it). Well at least the beer and margaritas are good.

If you want to dress like a German lady, get blue jeans (reasonably tight fitting, but these aren't Italian's), dark boots that come up to your knee, and a dark jacket, preferable leather. I don't really see much of the red German tourist hair, but the hair stylists are very prominent and there is a lot of two tone stuff.

More pictures of hotel and Weiden

Germany Day 24- Fritag, Jan 30

Checked out of the Central Hotel this morning. Continued to chip away at work. Making progress with the product in the field environment is challenging. Most of day we could not get to the system we needed to, so we worked on documentation.

Left at noon to transfer location to Weiden - basically three hours East of where I was and near the Chek border. Apparently Prague is about 3 hours east of hear by car. Long drive as I followed Carl. Ate at a nice rest stop (better than in states). I had spaghetti and pesto for lunch - with a Coke instead of a beer so I would not fall asleep.

Carl lead me right to the hotel and wandered in to get my phone number. Picture is Carl with a flat stanley, which is sorta like taking a picture of the traveling gnome.

The hotel (Klassik Hotel) is attached to one of the gates to the old walled city. I will add a picture - part of the hotel walls date from circa 1340. Definately oldest place I've stayed!! Being a hotel on a wall its long and narrow. It has stairs everywhere and is really pretty cool.

Since this is at the gate to a walled city, it means I'm on the fuzgangerplatz - meaning the central walking place where cars don't go. Think of an open air mall, but built over 500 years ago. There is a church you actually walk underneath (there are shops down there). All cobble stone, really cool. I have to force myself out to the restraunts there to eat.

Friday is alway Pizza night, so I went to a pizza joint. Turned out to be very upscale. The Germans are nice because they let the little kids run around and play - making them easier to keep quiet because they have something to do. I had an excellant 4 cheese pizza - I'm definatly coming back here. (Oh, yeah, the beer was good too.)

Germany Day 23 - Thrusday, Jan 29

Got good sleep last night. Set the alarm for 6:30 but forgot to turn it on. So Mary was knocking at my door at 7:15. Got to the pass office at 7:45 to re-up my base pass until March 15, but no one was there yet. After five minutes we wandered over to the Burger King on base and got some coffee. Finally got the pass straightened out. Then on to the office where they have new orders cut until April 7. So, if I stay that long, it will be back to the pass office again. Arrgh!!

Almost went bowling. Unfortunately, Mary (Carolin's daughter) did not have her passport - just a picture of it. That worked on two different bases yesterday, but not today. So we were turned away at the gate.

Tomorrow I have to check out and go to Weiden supporting an exercise next week. First hotel I picked had a brewery - but it was full. Found a good second choice near the main walking square in Weiden.

Germany Day 22 - Wednesday, Jan 28

SSDD. Laundry day at PHV. I remembered to bring quarters this time. Tried to reup my gate card, but the office was close. So it's up early tomorrow to accomplish this task.

Germany Day 21 - Tuesday, Jan 27

SSDD

Germany Day 20 - Monday, Jan 26

More work, another German lesson, dinner with Carolin & Mary, long walk, ready for bed and shower.

Germany Day 19 - Sunday, Jan 25

Did a lot of German tapes then went and worked out at Patton. Weighed 219 - so I haven't gained weitght. All the walking must be cancelling out the beer. Did 40 minutes on bike and upper body - I need to go to the gym more! Watched German TV while on bike - I can get about every 10th word.

The Alpine fresh milk I bought yesterday is absolutely delicious! Must be those happy German cows. Carolin's daughter Mary has come to spend a week with her - bumped into them walking by the local castle and ice skating rink.

Germany Day 18 - Saturday, Jan 24

Went to the Real (like a Wal-Mart - which it used to be). Got quite a bit lost. Finally got to the right place (it was much closer than I thought - I have no clue how I went right by it), and ate at McDonalds - mainly because I was tired of driving lost. This McDonalds had the nicest interior I've ever seen - more like a StarBucks than a McDonalds. (A German Big Mac tastes just like the American Big Mac.) In the Real, I picked up some figs, milk, and flops for showering on base.

Germany Day 17 - Friday, Jan 23

Network down in the afternoon. Managed to get home during the light. Drove Caroline around central Schwetzingen. This is Earl's last day so I went to dinner with Earl and Caroline at the very nice restaurant across the street. The had the Zsnitzel while I had rabbit. Back a the hotel Earl and I had a brandy and Rich down on his way to meet some folks in the town. Sounded interesting so I went along. Finally met an actual fellow SAIC employee. With a nice HUGE German beer, I decided there wasn't much meat on the rabbit so I had Bratwurst and sauerkraut. Yum!

Day 16 - Jan 22

SSDD

Day 15 - Jan 21st

Nothing too exciting today. Wanted to work out but did not have time.

Day 14 - Jan 20th

Apparently there was some major event going on back home which was on almost every channel over here. Something about obama chasing bush out of the white house...

I went for a long walk with a cigar. Near by are to double line train tracks. I saw like five trains go rocketing by. They have short one engine trains (electric engines with overhead wires) and many single purpose trains. Cool. I stood close enough to really feel the wind and be a little scarred. "Train spotting".

Germany Day 13 - Jan 19

Visted Heidelberg today with Earl and Caroline. Drizzly, misrable day. Cruised up and down the main square where the shops and stuff were. Big purchase for me was a learn German in 30 days book. I need to get a move on.

After we got back, Earl and I went to a PX and I bought two more learn German books. I'll put them under my pillow. My local Popeyes in the US closed, so Earl and I ate Popeyes for lunch.

Afterwards, I walked to the local shops for paper and a cigar. I spoke my first spontaneous German - zu tauer (too expensive) - when she told me the price.

Germany Day 12 - Saturday, Jan 18

Didn't do much. Slept in. When to Gym at Patton Barracks and did stationary bike for 40 minutes.

Germany Day 11 - Jan 17

Today I visited Rothenburg ob der Tauber with Carl, Rich, and Caroline. That's them in the picture.

Rothenburg is the oldest city in Germany and is a walled city. So you have to drive trough very narrow entrances to get in. There is no river or moat however.

This was a 1.5 hour drive from our hotel.

We had lunch at a very nice restaurant - I had Bratwurst and sauerkraut.

Then we toured the torture museum and did a bit of shopping.

Lots of little shops with crystal, steins, swords, Swiss army knives, etc.


The whole town is filled with great German architecture.

Back on the autobahn. Its a bit disconcerting when folks blow by you - there is no speed limit on most of the autobahn. You learn real quick to say in the right lane.













Me with a member of the German military...














The town square

Germany Day 10 - Friday, Jan 16

And a few more from the town...





























German's actually wait for the traffic signals, so its a good idea to push the button!

A few more from the hotel...

Around Schwetzingen

And the outside of the Central Hotel...

Here's the dining room...

The magic mirrored ceiling. There are little lights that light up at night. I wonder what this place was before be became such a nice little Inn?

Hotel room at the Central Hotel.

Germany Day 9 - Thrusday, Jan 15

SSDD

Germany Day 8 - Jan 14

Oh, boy, I'm up to date on posting!! A first!! Easier at work today - boss off on holiday stretching MLK. Chance for me to type of notes and figure out what I did all week. At dinner my main complaint was that everybody had better stories than me. I must be really boring... Of course, these guys rode into Iraq in the first wave so maybe they are above average. My wife said to use opportunities to see things here so I'm planning on going to Rothenburg ob der Tauber with a couple of folks.

Walked to local dry goods start (sort of a pharmacy without drugs or a food store without food) and got shaving cream and a few other items.

Germany Day 7 - Jan 13

Hard job at work - get stuff done for an exercise. Fact that I've never done it and don't really know how is merely a minor inconvenience. Cotinue daily routine of breakfast with the gang at the Inn, bum a ride to work, work, get a ride home, take a walk, eat dinner and drink beer with gang and get to bed.

Walked down to local gas station for a candy bar. They actually sell liquor, so I got a tiny bottle of Jager (its German after all)...

Germany Day 6 - Jan 12

Back to work for real. Learning lots of neat stuff. Lots of folks from work at this hotel, so I bum rides to work. Easier than driving...

Germany Day 5 - Jan 11

Worked on JIBS most of the day. Had a cigar and walked around town. Continued working on my German tapes. Had lunch at a local pub (Beir Garten) ordering all in German!! (Really, dude, how hard is "Ein bier"?)

Germany Day 4 - Jan 10: Schwetzingen

Moved from Darmstadt to Schwetzingen to be close to where I'm actually working at the Hammond Barracks in Seckenheim. Now at the Central Hoetl - a nNice little place you can find at: http://www.central-hotel-schwetzingen.de/

I managed to find my way to both work and the hotel without getting lost!!!

Best thing is this place serves breakfest and dinner.

Germany Day 3 - Jan 9

Managed to find my way on base and through the various security checkpoints. Most of the day was spent getting the tour of the facility and then running out to get base passes and show me where I'd be working for the next couple of weeks in Mannheim. Saw the location and met the boss.

Lunch was a doner (kebab). They seem to have them all over here. US has hamburgers, Germany has doner. Many doner shops also sell pizza. This one was very good and only had doner - first doner I had with some corn in it.

Dinner at the hotel was so good, I had the same thing tonight. It was a clear broth soup and a rumpsteak covered in onions. I splurged and had a desert of "tutti frutti" (fruit on strawberry ice cream) and an ameretto.

Germany Day 2 - Jan 8: Darmstadt

Just a couple of quick shots of the Ramada Inn Darmstadt.

Germany Day 1 - Jan 7

Of to Germany I go for several weeks on business.

Flight from Washington to Frankfurt was not too bad. However there were many rough spots so I didn't get much sleep. Plane was packed - not an empty seat on board. Fortunately I had an aisle seat - I'd hate to be in the middle of the five abreast. Getting off we went through first class where each seat was sort of its on little station that must lay out into a bed. Nice if you can afford it.

Frankfurt Airport was fairly organized. First they check your visa. Then you have to cross the unrestricted areas to get to the restricted are where you get your bags and go through customs. So if all you have is carry on luggage, it looks like you could just walk right out. Not that much happened in customs - they just waived most folks right through.

Now I'm ready to get my car. It's like they have a different word for everything in Germany! Well, no problems getting the car - although with the required insurance it came to almost 3 grand for the month. Oh, well, glad it the company not me.

Zip out to the car and ... its not in the right stall. Fortunately, I could see the lights from the clicker not to far off so no problem. Hop in and ... its a six speed manual shift. No problem, I drove one when I was young - just need a little practice. Actually only stalled once the first day, not bad.

Drive down the autobahn was not so bad, but the way some folks drive on the thing you'd think there was no speed limit!! (er, there isn't) Since the trucks can only do 100kph and the Porsches do way more it make for some interesting driving.

Missed the first planned Darmstadt exit. No problem, there are two and I take the second one. Easy enough, I'll just drive through town. Wow - small windy streets with a different name almost every block and drivers actually trying to get to where they are going. After driving in circles three times, I pulled into a parking lot, studied the map, and got to where I needed to be.

Work wasn't too bad - although they tried to code my access badge which caused it to stop working. Quick trip to get another and off I went. Although, the system was down, plans had changed, nothing to do. Great, I'll go check in, get some sleep and tomorrow will be a day trip to Mannheim to get full access and meet the rest of the folks.

Hotel was nice although the parking garage underneath had real small spaces with a lift for every two to get more room. And you have to ask the front desk to open the gate to get in or out. And you have to pay 8 Euros a night. (Yeah, even the money is different over here. And the weights. And the distances. We have only the French to blame.)

Took a walk - nice town - and ate dinner uneventfully at the hotel. So in the German hotel and on the German radio the German announce seem to prefer traditional American music. Not too many songs in German, and even most of the German singers were singing in English. It seems to be oldies here, but they are not oldies. Oh, well, I suppose for a country whose most famous composers died over two hundred year ago, play 10 year old songs is really up-to-date modern stuff.