So we're back

A few observations from our brief stay in Germany:

• there are hardly any billboards along the Autobahn
• one rarely sees road kill
• not everyone speaks English, especially outside the big cities (Hungarian would have come in handy a couple times)
• there are speed limits on most of the Autobahn, but the default, 130 KM (about 81 MPH) isn't all that bad

(Val's) Mission accomplished

You are reading the words of a very happy woman who is still quite elated that she drove four pretty decent laps on the Nürburgring (Nordschleife) earlier this evening. I would have been able to do more except that just prior to the touristfahren beginning, a new McLaren that was being tested crashed, and the touristfahren was delayed for an hour for track cleanup. Barely saw the McLaren but it could be heard roaring down the straight near the entry point for the touristfahren. Or was that a jet? 

The trip to date

Highlights of the tour to date:

• Berlin. Didn’t step foot in a single museum but saw a lot, experienced a lot. Great fun being with Mary Jo and experiencing a double rainbow as we had cocktails at the Van Gogh piano bar on Schiffbauerdamm. Especially enjoyed the time in the grittier areas of the former East Berlin and unexpectedly coming up on the Brandenberg Gate the first night we were there. Biking around the city and in Potsdam. The Keen shoe guys.

The winter garden at the KaDeWe

It's been challenging finding free wireless connections, but on our excursion today we found the KaDeWe has it available (made schlepping my netbook worthwhile). However, my traveling companions are chomping at the bit to continue our adventures so this is a short report. I'm already planning a return trip to Berlin, maybe when my daughter decides to move here because this is her kind of city.

Berlin by bike

Had some trouble gtting into blogspot the last couple days, but will provide some more updates and pictures soon. We met up with Mary Jo last night, and today went on a bike tour of Berlin that was an absolute blast. More to come!

Diesel fumes or NOT

(this from Bob)
When I was Last in Germany as a child, Diesel fumes filled the air.  The telltale rattle of Low compression engines could be heard far in the distance.  Today, the sound of Diesel is still present though at a much more tolerable decibel.  Fumes?  Unless you are breathing directly out of the exhaust pipe are non existent.  Even the big trucks that crowd the streets are quiet and Clean.  The United States had better wake up to this technology soon.  When a Diesel Mini Van can burn rubber from a stop, what more can you ask for?
We rented a VW Polo instead of taking the train.  At first I admit a bit of disappointment in not being able to take a ride on the ICE train, However, learning how to drive on the AutoBahn in and under powered car does bring excitement in it's own right!  More on this later.
The Porsche Museum was Beautiful.  Today, off to BMW.

A night at Versailles

Lots to report but not much time this morning -- we need to get going so we can give the Beemer museum its due justice.

We ended up renting a car because yours truly forgot the Bahn pass, and since we had a car (a not so quick VW Polo but what can I say, the price was right), we decided to take a detour and visit Onkel Ernst, Bob's great-uncle, who lives with his daughter Gerlinda in Friedrischalfen by Lake Constance.