The dogs were really pleased to see us home, Cherie has done a super job of looking after them and my plants.
The yard looks fantastic, I think that Cherie does a better job with the plants than I do.
Thank you Cherie from Anne Norm and the boys.
So So Cal
Friday, June 17, 2011
Home
We arrived home yesterday at about 2:30 PM, the flight was on time and there were no problems with luggage or customs etc.
The dogs were really pleased to see us home, Cherie has done a super job of looking after them and my plants.
The yard looks fantastic, I think that Cherie does a better job with the plants than I do.
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The dogs were really pleased to see us home, Cherie has done a super job of looking after them and my plants.
The yard looks fantastic, I think that Cherie does a better job with the plants than I do.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Last Day
This morning we drove from Siegen to Frankfurt, it was an easy ride and apart from road works there were no problems.
We have had a fantastic trip; it is very difficult to chose one thing which stands out more than any other. There were so many elements of this trip that were new and interesting.
Each stop had a great event, in Munich we met up with Erik and Marianne, we went to Neuschwantstein together.
In Dresden we went to the opera and rode a steam boat on the river Elbe.
In Berlin we saw the wall, we went to the We Will Rock You show. We rode around town on the open top bus.
We drove to Poland, and made it back.
We went to Siegen and met up with our friends.
So now we are in the Frankfurt Sheraton, we are checked in for our flight tomorrow and have our boarding passes. After 6:00 PM you can put in your luggage and be ready to go right to the gate in the morning.
We will see you all soon.
Check the pictures.
Anne and Norm
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We have had a fantastic trip; it is very difficult to chose one thing which stands out more than any other. There were so many elements of this trip that were new and interesting.
Each stop had a great event, in Munich we met up with Erik and Marianne, we went to Neuschwantstein together.
In Dresden we went to the opera and rode a steam boat on the river Elbe.
In Berlin we saw the wall, we went to the We Will Rock You show. We rode around town on the open top bus.
We drove to Poland, and made it back.
We went to Siegen and met up with our friends.
So now we are in the Frankfurt Sheraton, we are checked in for our flight tomorrow and have our boarding passes. After 6:00 PM you can put in your luggage and be ready to go right to the gate in the morning.
We will see you all soon.
Check the pictures.
Anne and Norm
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Location:Frankfurt
Siegen
Here we are with friends in Siegen. Some of you will recognize this group, we have Trixi, Rainer, and Felix Dango, Hanne Braach, Juan Camillo, and of course Anne and the guy beside the light which is out!
We were in a traditional German restaurant, and carefully listened to all the wonderful choices and the recipes handed down from generation to generation . . . and then Anne and I both had a pasta dish!!!
Anne and I both had a great day, I worked in the morning and then spent the afternoon at an industrial museum with one of the guys from DDS.
He and I both have a strong interest in the old machines and were happy to spend an afternoon reviewing these things.
Anne had a personal backstage VIP tour( arranged by Rainer) of a theater in Siegen which has just been renovated. That was a big , splendid image
She was surprised to find that they have a 1956 Ariel Square Four with a sidecar.As most of you know, I have the same motorcycle ( and the denim jacket with the Ariel emblem, made specially for me as a gift from Californian friends for my 60th.)
Tomorrow we drive to Frankfurt airport, hand in the car, then spend the
night at the Sheraton adjacent to the airport ready for our flight home on Thursday morning. It has been A BLAST, but I am ready to return to the U.S. and see my boys!!! Thankfully, the flight back is business class and there is going to be a limo waiting to take us home from the airport. ( Am I spoiled, or what???)
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We were in a traditional German restaurant, and carefully listened to all the wonderful choices and the recipes handed down from generation to generation . . . and then Anne and I both had a pasta dish!!!
Anne and I both had a great day, I worked in the morning and then spent the afternoon at an industrial museum with one of the guys from DDS.
He and I both have a strong interest in the old machines and were happy to spend an afternoon reviewing these things.
Anne had a personal backstage VIP tour( arranged by Rainer) of a theater in Siegen which has just been renovated. That was a big , splendid image
She was surprised to find that they have a 1956 Ariel Square Four with a sidecar.As most of you know, I have the same motorcycle ( and the denim jacket with the Ariel emblem, made specially for me as a gift from Californian friends for my 60th.)
Tomorrow we drive to Frankfurt airport, hand in the car, then spend the
night at the Sheraton adjacent to the airport ready for our flight home on Thursday morning. It has been A BLAST, but I am ready to return to the U.S. and see my boys!!! Thankfully, the flight back is business class and there is going to be a limo waiting to take us home from the airport. ( Am I spoiled, or what???)
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Monday, June 13, 2011
Berlin to Siegen
Yesterday we drove from Berlin to Siegen via Gladbeck.
We visited Glama works and were met with the flag flying to celebrate our visit. It's not everyday that you get the Presidential treatment.
We then drove on to Siegen, this was the longest day of driving of the whole trip. We left Berlin at about 6:15 AM and arrived in Siegen about 2:30 PM.
The GPS got lost on our way out of Berlin, the screen was just going round in circles, fortunately we had researched the route on the map ahead of time and were able to find our way on to the correct autobahn. Once on the autobahn, Ms GPS was able to get her head on straight and find the way.
At the end of the trip it calculated the average running speed to be 77 MPH with a top speed of 121 MPH.
We met up with the Dango family at the golf club for a barbecue and of course a couple of beers.
Today Anne has gone to visit a theater and I am going to a tractor museum.
More soon,
Norm
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We visited Glama works and were met with the flag flying to celebrate our visit. It's not everyday that you get the Presidential treatment.
We then drove on to Siegen, this was the longest day of driving of the whole trip. We left Berlin at about 6:15 AM and arrived in Siegen about 2:30 PM.
The GPS got lost on our way out of Berlin, the screen was just going round in circles, fortunately we had researched the route on the map ahead of time and were able to find our way on to the correct autobahn. Once on the autobahn, Ms GPS was able to get her head on straight and find the way.
At the end of the trip it calculated the average running speed to be 77 MPH with a top speed of 121 MPH.
We met up with the Dango family at the golf club for a barbecue and of course a couple of beers.
Today Anne has gone to visit a theater and I am going to a tractor museum.
More soon,
Norm
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Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Show
The show was fantastic and the theater was magnificent, the staging and equipment were the best I've seen outside of Vegas.
I'm sure that Madame will be more explicit in her update of the blog tomorrow.
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I'm sure that Madame will be more explicit in her update of the blog tomorrow.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday
Today we drove to Poland. As you might expect, once you cross the border things change dramatically.
It really was like going back in time. The Autobahn ended at the border; but on the Polish side they were constructing an Autobahn. (I think that they were using some of Obama's stimulus money)
Otherwise why would you be pouring concrete on Sunday?
See the pictures,.
Tomorrow we drive to Gladbeck and on to Siegen, this is the longest drive of the trip,
Stimulus money at work!
I'm not sure what Rosie the Riveter was doing here or what she was saying, but for sure they needed her help.
This was the crossing point from Germany into Poland, there were no problems and you don't need your passport.
This was a small crappy shop on the Polish side, they accepted Euro even though they have not joined the monetary union and still use Slotyzs.
This is the sign showing that you are crossing back into Germany.
(Very welcome)
Here I am back on Unter den Linden enjoying a very welcome beer outside of the Mercedes Benz store.
And here is madame wearing her new cap ready for the show tonight.
More soon,
Norm
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It really was like going back in time. The Autobahn ended at the border; but on the Polish side they were constructing an Autobahn. (I think that they were using some of Obama's stimulus money)
Otherwise why would you be pouring concrete on Sunday?
See the pictures,.
Tomorrow we drive to Gladbeck and on to Siegen, this is the longest drive of the trip,
Stimulus money at work!
I'm not sure what Rosie the Riveter was doing here or what she was saying, but for sure they needed her help.
This was the crossing point from Germany into Poland, there were no problems and you don't need your passport.
This was a small crappy shop on the Polish side, they accepted Euro even though they have not joined the monetary union and still use Slotyzs.
This is the sign showing that you are crossing back into Germany.
(Very welcome)
Here I am back on Unter den Linden enjoying a very welcome beer outside of the Mercedes Benz store.
And here is madame wearing her new cap ready for the show tonight.
More soon,
Norm
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Berlin
Berlin
We spent yesterday touring Berlin by bus and boat.
It was a great way to see the city. See the pics.
We took a cab last night to a cocktail bar in what was the eastern part of Berlin an a bit off the beaten track. Once you get away from the main tourist drag the east has a different feel to it somehow.
The buildings are still reminiscent of the post war communist style.
Brandenburg Gate
Memorial to people who were killed trying to cross into the west.
A part of the wall which has been left intact.
This is the reminder showing the location of the wall, it has a cobble stone line an marker pate set into it periodically.
At least it isn't me with the beer this time!
This is the beach Berlin style, import sand, set out chairs and tables and you're done.
Today we are off to Poland.
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It was a great way to see the city. See the pics.
We took a cab last night to a cocktail bar in what was the eastern part of Berlin an a bit off the beaten track. Once you get away from the main tourist drag the east has a different feel to it somehow.
The buildings are still reminiscent of the post war communist style.
Brandenburg Gate
Memorial to people who were killed trying to cross into the west.
A part of the wall which has been left intact.
This is the reminder showing the location of the wall, it has a cobble stone line an marker pate set into it periodically.
At least it isn't me with the beer this time!
This is the beach Berlin style, import sand, set out chairs and tables and you're done.
Today we are off to Poland.
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Location:Berlin
Thursday, June 9, 2011
A Night At The Opera
Tonight was our big night out in Dresden.
We had a great day out first with visits to several down town attractions including the Rundfahrt tour, which is a 2 hour bus trip around the city. We spent the afternoon at the transport museum (my idea)
There are some pictures from tonight at the opera house shown below, it is the most impressive auditorium I have ever seen. It makes over the top seem like an inappropriate description. The opera however was another story. It was "The Magic Flute" written by Mozart, the music was fantastic and the singing was impeccable. The staging could have been done by Benny Hill after he had smoked a couple of Js. It was seriously weird!
Finally, Madame found some shoes she liked, I bet you can't guess the pattern...
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We had a great day out first with visits to several down town attractions including the Rundfahrt tour, which is a 2 hour bus trip around the city. We spent the afternoon at the transport museum (my idea)
There are some pictures from tonight at the opera house shown below, it is the most impressive auditorium I have ever seen. It makes over the top seem like an inappropriate description. The opera however was another story. It was "The Magic Flute" written by Mozart, the music was fantastic and the singing was impeccable. The staging could have been done by Benny Hill after he had smoked a couple of Js. It was seriously weird!
Finally, Madame found some shoes she liked, I bet you can't guess the pattern...
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Location:Semper Opern Haus
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Pics of our hotel
This is the lobby of our hotel, The Westin Bellevue, Dresden
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Dresden
Wednesday
This is by far my favorite German city! Very sophisticated and just plain cool! We went for a sail down the river ( The Elbe - for those who can't tell their ass from their Elbe!) and saw some fabulous castles and private homes that would put Newport Beach to shame! Also went to a museum called the Green Vault which held spectacular treasures, some from the eighteenth century. I know, British Rail has older sandwiches, but it impresses the heck out of us Americans!!(Anne)
The car is an East German limo, a stretched Trabant, if you can believe that.
We decided to take the river ride to see the city from a different perspective.
The fact that the ship was steam driven was a bonus.
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The car is an East German limo, a stretched Trabant, if you can believe that.
We decided to take the river ride to see the city from a different perspective.
The fact that the ship was steam driven was a bonus.
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Location:Dresden
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tuesday
Today we drove up from Munich to Dresden. Unlike most people think, there are speed limits on some parts of the autobahn. Once we started on a section that was in old east Germany, the speed limit for a lot of miles was 130 KPH (81 MPH) There are only two lanes in each direction and I think that is the reason for the speed limit. Of course once you get to a section with out speed limits, all bets are off, the guys with the big BMWs Audis and Mercedes get back on the gas and off they go.
Speaking of gas, I filled up on the way here for the low low price of only $8.57 per gallon.
The hotel is fantastic, the main part was built in the 1980s and refurbished in the mid 1990s. The area where the restaurant is located was originally a house and was built in the 1700s. The have done a great job of marrying the two parts together. We have a view out over the river Elbe towards the old part of the city.
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Speaking of gas, I filled up on the way here for the low low price of only $8.57 per gallon.
The hotel is fantastic, the main part was built in the 1980s and refurbished in the mid 1990s. The area where the restaurant is located was originally a house and was built in the 1700s. The have done a great job of marrying the two parts together. We have a view out over the river Elbe towards the old part of the city.
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Monday, June 6, 2011
Monday
Today we drove from Munich to Oberammagau and Garmisch .
We had beautiful weather and very little traffic.
We had lunch in Oberammagau (the home of the Passion Play). It's a BMW convertible we have, and here's Anne ruining two hours worth of heated rollers, teasing, and hairspray!!! ( She says it was worth it!)
When we returned to Munich, we decided to walk for a while and buy some leopard shoes, no not for me, the heels were too high. Then we were caught in a rain storm and were soaked by the time we got back hotel.
Tomorrow we drive to Dresden.
Norm.
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