Jul 20, 2012 - Mannheim

hi you guys! well after 7 hours sleep we feel half human again...we were off from Amssterdam to Germany. spectaclar castles on the Rhine! We sight saw on the way to a large boat and cruised the Rhine with lunch onboard..it was great except there was a loud group of asian students on the upper deck, we know..we're grumpy old farts now! Hotel rooms are just lovely..toilets and tubs are in separate rooms! go figure..scenery unbelievable. we're off to Munich and Inusbruck tomorrow.trying wines and foods as we go, hoping to get a few photos up...

Aug 21, 2011 - 3 DAYS LEFT!

I have three days before I leave and I have SO much to do. I just finished my last shift of the summer at the YMCA and cannot wait to get to Germany. Tomorrow I will be holing myself up in my room packing and organizing after all errands have been run so I can have a relaxing beach day on Tuesday, my last full day home!

Jul 23, 2011 - Hotel in Mannheim

Mannheim is a city in the northwest corner of the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany, at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers. The center of Mannheim is laid out like a chess board, with no real street names. Addresses in the Quadrat take the form of a grid reference, such as Q3, 12 designating a block. Mannheim was a small fishing village before it became a city at the beginning of the 17th century. It was constructed on the site of a fortress guarding the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Neckar. Even now a few remnants of...

Jul 23, 2011 - Heidelburg

On the way to stay the evening in Mannheim, the delegation stops in Heidelburg. Visiting The University Old Bridge and the historic center of this enchanting town. Encounter the graceful movements of the impressive birds of prey as you visit a falcon show on the hill above the old town of Heidelberg.

Oct 23, 2010 - Dunke Chen

updated with photos from germany... Sausages, pork knuckles, buttery potatoes, and sauteed red cabbage! Welcome to Germany! We rolled in last night to Mannheim Germany, just a half hour away from Frankfurt..found a hotel super quick and went off for a beer...a big ass beer, eichbaum! We sat at an Irish pub for our first beer and it just felt wrong to be in an Irish pub in Germany...we asked the young waitress for her suggestion as to where we could find some real German food! And so we did....classic German family restaurant... We ate as I...

May 26, 2010 - Visiting the MGMs in Mannheim

We drove to Mannheim from Maastricht with Ben and we quickly found that we were in Mannheim for the people as there is not too much to see. They do have a beautiful water tower though with a huge garden and lawn around it. We found out, however, that you are not able to sit on the grass though. It was a strange concept for us knowing that we can pound drinks in the streets but heaven forbid we sit on the grass to take in the scenery. Kyle let us take over his res room for 3 nights with him. We are so grateful for his generosity and had a...

Sep 5, 2007 - Maastricht and Mannheim

Wednesday 5th September 2007 Weather:-Overcast/sunny 17 degrees There was sadness in my heart last night as we said goodbye to Tante Ellie, knowing that we most probably will not meet again. She has been a constant in Hermans' life; the families always kept in touch. On the other hand there was great joy this morning when we said goodbye to Lisette and Peter, we have had such a fun time with them, lots of laughter and joviality. We had great hugs and with a "if you go to Southern France in 2 years time, we will meet you there". That gives...

Apr 19, 2007 - ***Thursday / Happy Birthday Karleen and Tommy

Today I got back in Porsche for first time in days. There was bird poop and dust so decided to go through car wash. You don't sit in the car in Germany, you get out and the door closes so your poor car is all alone in there getting washed. Lots of shell stations though so everything looks just like home. Drove through Ulm because the Münster is supposed to be tallest spire in world? but it was a busy hectic city and I drove in and out quickly. I saw it if you want to see it you can look it up on INternet! Drove on Autobahn west by Stuttgart...

Sep 15, 2006 - Boats, Buses, Bears and a Black Cat

We were wakened by the boat leaving Cochem this morning and went down for breakfast. The morning was spent on deck watching Mosel villages and vineyards slipping past on both sides, interspersed with castles, nunneries and monasteries, most of which were ruins, though some have been refurbished and put to use as hotels, restaurants and schools. The scenery was very pretty and the weather good, though not as blue and sunny as on past days. In some ways it was a relief to be out of the heat and humidity for a while. We passed through three...

Jul 20, 2005 - Heidelberg

We made sure to come back to Heidelberg on this trip because we only seemed to get started here 19 years ago. Then it was the University of Heidelberg's 600th anniversary. Now it seems Heidelberg is trying very hard not to change...tough to do in the 21st century. The city is an amazing mix of locals(140,000), tourists (3 million) and college students (??,000) all coming together on the longest walking street in Europe. The Neckar River divides Heidelberg from neighboring Mannheim and provides a spectacular setting for much of the city's...

Jul 18, 2005 - Lucerne

Monday 18th July. Lucerne, Warm - hot We were all up bright and early ready for a full day in Lucerne. We had breakfast and headed for our coach. We head to Lucerne and off we go straight up Mt Pilatus. There were a few of us who did not like heights but we put on a brave face. This mountain is 7000 ft. Not nice. I definitely did not want to go. Up we go in two stages. First a cable car for 4 - Tony and I, Kelly and Lynne. Yours truly in between tears and deep fears of falling to the ground - actually it was about 30-40 feet all the way...

Jul 16, 2005 - Mosel Valley Camping

We just got back from a five day camping trip in the Mosel River Valley. Our intent was to work our way down river at various campgrounds. Well, we stopped at Laguna Campground near Burgen and never got any further. We had brought Mikalanne and this place was perfect. There was a swimming pool, (she's afraid of the lake, especially since the River Slithers her Papa told her about may live there), playground, restaurant, fresh bread to be ordered daily, a small store, and a perfect campsite right on the river with a shade tree. Since the...