Bud Is Not Wiser In Germany
Aug 31 '00
Greetings Epinioneers! Sit right down with a cup of java or one of Germany's rich malt hop beers because I'm going to chat your eyeballs out! The big day arrived for our European excursion and we headed for the airport. Visions of all I would see or do (thanks to my companion's careful plans) were dancing in my head.
Our flight was cancelled to our disappointment so US Air taxied us to the next closest airport and put us on a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt, Germany. From Frankfurt we took another flight to Munich. We were compensated for our inconvenience with two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the United States valid for a year.
The first thing I noticed about Germany was how many people rode bicycles, both old and young alike were up and down the streets just pedaling along doing their daily errands. Many of these people do not own their own bicycles, there are many rental shops there for easy access to one.
We were quite exhausted after the long flights and headed straight for our bed and breakfast located in Bad Aibling which was an hour's drive away. Once there we were greeted by our host and hostess smiling a warm friendly smile with "Gutten Morgen" (good morning) That greeting stayed with me during our stay there and seemed to always slide off my lips like a pro. I couldn't speak one word of German and I learned my first two words.(smile)
Our room was absolutely divine. Beautiful antique furniture and gorgeous puffy comforters on each side of the king size bed awaited us and the windows were dressed with the prettiest lace curtains. We quickly drifted off for a much-needed restful nap and awakened to the sounds of German singing outside our windows.
We rose and had dinner and joined this once-a-year event outside called the Beer fest. The entire town is blocked off before the fun begins. Singers in Bavarian costumes strolled the streets with mugs of beer flowing. If one hasn't tasted German beer then you don't know what you are missing. Much of this delicious beer can be consumed without even getting a hangover.
We didn't understand a word the people were saying but the smiles, cheers and laughter were universal and it was very easy to get caught up in the frivolity of the evening. With life being lived to the fullest made our visit the next day to the concentration camp in Dachou such a drastic contrast. The overpowering images of human suffering will be forever imprinted in my mind. I think I needed the night before to come after that visit instead of before.
After leaving all of that suffering, we made our way to some of the small country towns where the houses looked like little dollhouses with magnificent flower boxes bursting with color and flowers hanging from all of the windows like pretty hems on a skirt. My partner did an excellent job mastering the roads and maps figuring out what the signs on the autoban meant. That, to me, as a challenge in itself, not to mention going at speeds at 100 miles an hour. All drivers are also respectful and courteous.
In Europe we noticed that smokers are more prevalent and all restaurants allow smoking. Also dogs are considered part of the family and are allowed in stores and surprisingly restaurants also. These animals are very well-behaved as they are treated by many families as humans and have been raised that way. It sure gave us chuckles though, eating and shopping with them and I have captured a very nice couple on film with their dog, Bo. (smile)
That night I had my first taste of bratwurst and sauerkrat and I must say that the best part of the meal was the mug full of that German beer. I could still see the dancing and hear the singing of the costumed people at the Beer Fest the night before.
Mud Baths are very common in Germany. In the mid 1880's the first mud bath house was created. Mud was used from the swamps and is said to have the power to restore heat and lose it slowly so your body warms up. This is great for people with arthritus and severe rheumatism. It also relieves stress and clears your mind. So I had my first therapeutic with mud in Germany.
In order not to make this review long as it already is, I have planned on writing two more parts about the other places in Europe we visited. I shall log off now so you can all get started to pack to wherever you are planning to go or do for the long weekend. I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day.
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Lark729_89
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Location: Massachusetts
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Life's not about waiting for storms to pass...it's about dancing in the rain.
Vivian Greene
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