The first days
We bought our round trip tickets to without thinking through too many specific details of our journey. We knew our agenda would consist of three family visits in Germany and looked forward to exploring Amsterdam. After a while a plan came together. Pam found that it was more cost efficient to take the train from Amsterdam to Duseldorf and then take an Air Berlin commuter flight to Munich. This post illustrates some of the highlights of those first two days of our trip.
I don't have many images from the first day. Jet lag, assimilation, and negotiating the train from Amsterdam took up most or our concentration and concern. When we got settled in a fine little hotel that Pam found for Dusseldorf, we went out to seek one of those solid German meals we had been looking forward to. Pam did a nice account of that first day on her blog.
Anyway, this contrast of ultramodern tube sculpture and centuries old church made me feel that yes, we had arrived in Germany.
The Schumacher Alt Braumeisterstube was a most welcome and pleasant experience for these weary travelers. Here Pam is recording some key moments of what we had been up to since landing in Amsterdam that morning. Don't worry, she tore into those wursts in very short order.
The beers will keep coming without prompting until you say you have had enough. Before you think you want another or not, it appears in front of you. The waiter marks your consumption with hash marks on your coaster and tallies your score when you pay your bill. I don't think the liquor control commissions in the US Pacific NW would agree to such a practice at a Widmer or McMenniman's pub.
This image is kind of mundane, but has a story behind it. I wish I could share the soundtrack of our asthmatic cab driver driving at that usual bat out of hell pace that gives tourists that special rush. You wonder in such circumstances that all is going to turn out okay, and of course it always does,
As it turned out, snow in Munich meant a longer wait at the Dusseldorf airport which meant I was goofing around with my camera taking pictures to kill time. Air Berlin to Munich was okay, but a pretty no frills ride. Not exactly a limo with wings like this loading ramp infers.
You can tell how pleased Pam is to have me take her picture at this moment. Note the Karuk sticker on her bag.
We must be in Munich. Beer seems to be everywhere, even left half full on window sills. And you see far more men wearing hats.
Here is where we felt a bit proud of ourselves as seasoned travelers. We bought a Bayeren ticket, took the S Bahn to the Munich train station and then to the local train full of skiers to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. As she has explained on her own blog, Pam loves Nutella. Yes, if I could have figured out a way to bring home this giant jar I saw in Brussels later, I would have probably gotten it for her.
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