Willkommen nach Deutschland

[Twiga]

Sorry, this is for Bama. She's probably still in transit right now, but I figured she wouldn't mind a friendly voice for when she gets to a strange country. This is one of the first places she'll check (that I can actually edit...legally) when she actually gets internet access. So don't mind me... 

Hope your trip was a safe one and that you can adjust to the time change in a reasonable amount of time. Also I hope Tamyra and Silver forgive you.

[Bamawing]

Danke. You guessed right.

Weather's good, food's WONDERFUL, and the cats are actually more used to Germany already than I am. More later, promise, but sharing a computer is a pain. (Come on, air shipment!)

[Twiga]

Actually, I know all about sharing computers. Mine got the BSOD last night and is currently having all files pulled in prep for a reformat. I'll have to reset up the share on George when you get him so you can access my system. I'm posting from my phone at the moment...


ANNE-yway, I'm thrilled you made it safely and are doing well. I knew you would be fine once you got there. Just make sure you scout out lots and lots of locals for May.

Laters

[totalfolly]

Glad you made it safely, Bama. 

totalfolly

[andyb]

Glad you made it safely, Bama. 
totalfolly

Yes, me too echoing TF 

Welcome to Europe! You'll have to update the your location in your profile when you get a chance...

Dare we ask for pictures yet?

andyb

[Bamawing]

I took George on the plane with me. No pictures yet... I'm not even sure where Dan packed the camera. I've seen two castles (one up close) and the Nuremberg City Wall, which was simply breathtaking and beautiful and ancient (more or less) that I was rude enough to interrupt the cabby about it. The hotel's wifi is free but I tend to time out a lot if I post too much at a time.

Don't panic, though... today is Sunday, so everything's closed. Tomorrow is our first real weekday in Germany, and I'm sure we'll be all out and about.

[Uncle Matt]

Welcome to Europe!

Home to er.... Real Ale, Continental Breakfasts, English Breakfasts, David Beckham's Right Foot (and his left foot too...), and some of the best chocolate in the world.

Driving, I guess, shouldn't be too difficult for you, as you're still on the right, but.... You may encounter the anomaly known as "roundabout". At first, they seem a bit odd, but you'll get used to them. I don't know the rules in Germany, but a word of caution. DON'T DRIVE THROUGH RED LIGHTS. I know the practice is allowed in the US, but in Germany, it may be different, and you may well be caught on camera and fined.

If you want a good suggestion for a nice pleasant day out, I can recommend going to a city called Speyer. It's on the western bank of the Rhine, and somewhere there is a nice pub with some seating overlooking the river. Of course, when I went over, I was only 17, so I was on soft drinks . There's a huge cathedral there, too, and the arcitecture is amazing. Should make for some good photos.

Matt

[andyb]

If you want to take up some ideas for places to go then Rudesheim isn't too far away from you - there was a wonderfully eccentric music museum there (music boxes, something in a case called a Lorelei (I think) which brought tears to my eyes when it was played, pianos etc) when we went a few years ago - and the local wine is pretty good too.

I agree with you - Nuremberg is an amazing place - don't forget the railway museum!

andyb

[totalfolly]

a word of caution. DON'T DRIVE THROUGH RED LIGHTS. I know the practice is allowed in the US

In case anyone out there thinks we just drive blithely thru red lights in the US, the rule is actually "right on red after stop" which means that if you're turning right and nothing is coming on the street you're turning onto, you may make the turn after coming to a full and complete stop.    Unless posted otherwise, that is.

totalfolly

[Uncle Matt]

Thanks for the qualification on that TF.

It's a rule I shall have a hard time getting used to when I eventually get over there.

In the UK, a red light means stop. No ifs, no buts.

I have, however, updated the Tomtom, and just to see, I got it to plan a route between the office and Miami (somewhere I hope to visit), and it came out at 11 hours 14 minutes, and iirc, over 700 miles. I might take the plane for that trip.

[andyb]

In the UK, a red light means stop. No ifs, no buts.

don't forget Amber means stop too in the UK (unless stopping would cause an accident)  - don't know about other countries...

[totalfolly]

I have, however, updated the Tomtom, and just to see, I got it to plan a route between the office and Miami (somewhere I hope to visit), and it came out at 11 hours 14 minutes, and iirc, over 700 miles. I might take the plane for that trip.

See how long it'd take you to get to Washington, DC, Matt. 

totalfolly

[Twiga]

In the UK, a red light means stop. No ifs, no buts.

don't forget Amber means stop too in the UK (unless stopping would cause an accident)  - don't know about other countries...

We have a different system here in Georgia (the state).

Green = go
Yellow = Hurry up!
Red = One more.

[Uncle Matt]

See how long it'd take you to get to Washington, DC, Matt. 

totalfolly

Unfortunately, I can't plant a route that far north....

Detailed map seamlessly covering US Southeast Region. States fully covered: Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. State partially covered: Louisiana (but New Orleans is fully covered).

However, I'd imagine it's a fair way. If we ever get as far as planning, the plane is looking a better option. Or maybe the train.

[totalfolly]

See how long it'd take you to get to Washington, DC, Matt. 

totalfolly

Unfortunately, I can't plant a route that far north....

Well, Google Maps says it'd be about a 6 1/2 hour drive.  That really isn't bad. 

totalfolly

[Bamawing]

I have, however, updated the Tomtom, and just to see, I got it to plan a route between the office and Miami (somewhere I hope to visit), and it came out at 11 hours 14 minutes, and iirc, over 700 miles. I might take the plane for that trip.

Me (aloud, to Dan): Aw, bless! Yes, he'll want to take a plane.

Dan: Ah, he has a tomtom? That will help immensely. See, Matty's an engineer. He may not fully understand the distances of America until he experiences it, but at least he has the gadgetry to figure it out.

Me: That's pretty good. I'm going to quote you in my post.

Dan: Go ahead.

Actually, we aren't planning on having a car at all... The more I learn about German driving laws, the less I want to drive! I'm very proud of myself... a couple of days ago Dan estimates we walked 10 miles, and it neither killed me nor came close. The only problem was my nose wants to constantly drip due to the cold. And for the longer trips (we did make it to Nueremburg the other night) they have trains, trams and buses.

The trains. Are. Creepy.

Well, not all the trains are creepy. The ICE (the really fast one that travels long distances and is expensive as all heck) is really nice, and not creepy at all... after the doors close. The doors closing is a little odd, and the whistle is downright unnerving. German train whistles don't do a friendly little too-toot like they do in the States (and the UK, I reckon). They are high pitched, shrill, and give one blast... it's like a scream, really. I got very lucky and heard my first German whistle on an ICE that I wasn't boarding. I was still substantially spooked.

On the other hand, the regional trains are something that I am seriously going to avoid, no really. Same whistle, doors that close with a loud locking "click!" a bumpy ride, and yes, lights that actually flicker a little as the thing rolls to a stop. It is... hard to forget that you're on a train... in Germany. They aren't that old... 60s, 50s at the oldest, and believe me, I was repeating that the entire time we were on it. Fortunately, the silly thing broke down (yes, I know) and we had to move to a more modern variety of train.

This second time it was crowded... Dan and I were packed in like sardines with a bunch of other people, standing in the little space between cars. One fella was a German soldier - reminded me of my brother, really. And I'm here to tell you now, that was *still* a LOT less spooky than the first train.

Then it broke down, and we had to take a bus back. I liked the bus the best.

Dan's muttering things about grocery shopping, so I gotta go.

[Wooley]

Wow you're in Germany Bama! I'm so out of touch at the moment, working full time, sorry I missed saying welcome to Europe xx   

[andyb]

The ICE (the really fast one that travels long distances and is expensive as all heck) is really nice,

Here's a cheaper to travel on the ICE - but I wouldn't recommend it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZvm5H4F-aA