15 Aug: Germany Trip Report

Ok, I realize this is a bit too military doing a trip report and all, but I thought it could be useful so here goes.

Packing List: We were very sucessful in packing the right stuff; everyone took a small pack back with everything they needed. We had no carry on luggage to wait for so we breazed throught all the airports. The customs wasn't even checking us....so we may have had some liquids and jells, ok we did. I'll post our packing list later.
- add umbellas and GOOD raincoats

Travel Planning. Did well here too, only a two day delay at Ramstein but we were priority 3 and on the top of the list both at RAM and Dover, that won't happen again. Next time I'll be a low life retiree and a priority 6.

• Plan your trips when school is in session. Its much easyier to get on a flight - less competition when school is in session. We think travel is an education for our kids so they'll be getting out of school early to beat the rush.
• Plan flexibility. Leave your car behind at home and train/fly it to the U.S. departure point. That way you are more free to pick your coming back to the U.S.
• Bring only what you need. Francie said she never used her CD player or read her book because she was so busy so next time she won't bring it. Wally said he would not bring so many toys because now he has too many. Francie also said she would save more money to buy things. Francie was very good at sending out postcards which I thought were well received.

12-13 Aug: Stranded in Ramstein

This is the part of the trip which one must be prepared for...patience and cooperation. Because we fly free on the AMC, sometimes you must wait for plane and in this case, our jet broke in midair. The C5 Galaxy Starlifter while a "giant of a jet" has a bad reputation for hydraulic problems...so about 1.5 hours into the flight ~ and I believe just after flying out over the Alantic ocean, one of the crew stated that we had to return to Ramstein due to a hydraulic problem. Once we landed, we headed back to our hotel. We're all pretty exhausted but at least the rooms are comfortable, cheap, $26 a night at Volegvey an Army and Air Force base. We showed up back at the terminal today at 11am and there are three jets going to Dover today. We stuck with our jet that was broke last night because its guaranteed a spot and it was "supposedly" fixed. If something goes wrong with this jet we can still get on one more jet going out to Dover tonight. The family is hanging tough but we are all ready to come home.

Just to show you how badly a jet can get damaged, notice the nose of the aircraft almost fell off, see it turned up? Ha!, just kidding, thats how they off load equipment! Gotta to love flying military jets!

9 Aug: Mountain Biking in Garmisch

We set out on a gentle mountain biking trip and just stuck to the main trails. You can really go all out here if you want and take a ride up the mountain via cable car and then bike it down. Not for us, our target was the 1936 Winter Olympic site then head downtown for dinner. It was one of the most enjoyable days we had since it didn't rain much on us, it seemed everyone was out and enjoying the change in the weather.

Cars of Germany and Europe

Gas is now over $6 a gallon here so I guess it isn't so bad in the good ole US?? They have some interesting cars here, many cars run on diesel fuel. Here are a few.

8 Aug: Dachau Concentration Camp 1933-1945

Today we paid our respects to those who lived and died at Dachau concentration Camp between 19933-1945, Apr 29. The iron gates read to all those that passed, "Work will set you free" of course, those who could not bear the misery of the camp were really only "set free" by going to the barbed wire fence where the German SS guards cut them down. At the crematorium, there was also a "gas chamber" which was installed in 1943 and for reasons unexplained was never used. It was however used to execute individuals and small groups. Over 230,00 passed through Dachau, records state that over 31,000 died there but it is believed many more died that what was recorded. Punishments were dealt out for the slightest errors or infractions of the rules. One man was caught taking left over food and hung by his arms for hours. Flogging was another punishment along with torture in a "prison within a prison". Everthing was very organized and clean, all part of the trickery that the SS German officers intended to decieve people of what was truly happening at Dachau.

Eating our way through Germany: Zum Wildschutz

Mary and I have decided to eat (and drink too) our way through Germany...

7 Aug: Neuschwanstein Castle

Ludwig the II, the crazy king built this for his summer cottage. I think with a few improvements in Traverse City we could have one too...

We also stopped at a church on the way back. It was famous because it had a statue of a crying Jesus.

4-6 Aug: Three Country Tour

We went on a three country tour to Austria, Switzerland and Lichenstein. It was an amazing bus ride, much like going up Pike's Peak with switch backs and altitude over 10,000 feet. We really got to see the Austrian Alps, as you see from the pictures, these are some beautiful areas.

3 Aug at Edelweiss Resort

Today was our first full day without travelling. With jetlag, Wally woke at 3:30am, me at 4:30 and Francie took the opportunity to sleep in til 10:30. Mary, Wally and I hit the buffet just as the doors opened at 6:30am, it was a small feast. Once breakfast was done, Wally and I hit the pool. It was one of those days where we decided not to do anything hard, just lounge around and take in the scenario. At about 3pm, everyone took a nap for three hours, it was like a ton of bricks hitting all of us. Then as a family we went to the pool, they have a pretty good pool with a hot tub outside. Lots of people on R&R especially from Iraq and Afghanistan, just trying to relax. We decided to take the bus downtown to Garmisch for dinner, one of the gave me some bus use guidance and off we went. It was a rainy day, not a hard rain just a light dizzle. The mass transit system here is very simple to use and very cheap. The whole family went downtown for 3 Euro's or about 4 bucks. Once we arrived, we went to a German Glashaus Fraundorfee for food. The atmosphere was a charming German with music and dancing and lots of good German Food and Beer. Since Wally woke up so early, his eyes started to roll during the meal so it was time to grab him up and head back to the bus. Today was relaxing and tommorow we are taking a 0830 tour of Garmisch and then moving into a luxury cottage. So far we have stayed in a jr standard room which is just a good quality hotel room.