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.