Flumserberg Switzerland Skiing (13 Dec 2009)

After a great day at St. Anton the weekend prior, I went with Jock's Sports shop in a 9-passenger van to Flumserberg which is 3 hours from Stuttgart. Van from the outside looked like something you would see parked by an LA beach. The shop owner also rents "caravans" (RV's) which are parked in the snow at the ski area.

Skiing ranked a C- due to poor visibility and lack of snow (some dirt/rocks, hardpack, and many runs not open). It would rank lower, but hey...I can now say I've skied switzerland. I hope to get back there this season when they have twice the snow.

Photos (not so great...)

St. Anton Skiing (5 Dec 2009)

Video had some technical issues. Go here instead...

Click on St. Anton here ---> Ski Video

Photos

The Alps finally got some snow so I decided to do a 1-day bus trip through the army recreation office. The bus left at 4:30 am (!!!) for the 4 hour drive to St. Anton Austria. They only have about 36" of snow so the lower slopes were closed, and only a portion of the lifts were open.

So, for the first ski trip to the alps - it is not a good idea to be living out of hotel, eating out non-stop, and avoiding exercise (other than walking). In other words, I was in poor condition for skiing all day. The morning was an absolute blast skiing the upper area with lots of powder. With the low snow, one german said he was avoiding the "off piste" since there are hidden rocks - maybe that is why I got lots of untracked runs in. I'm used to scraping over the occasional rock when skiing MT, so it was no big deal to me. The best part is the runs are not that steep, so it was easy crusing.

I'm in pain today (day after trip) with aching muscles...but it was worth it even with the long day (back at 10 pm).

Munich

For Elaine's last weekend we did an overnight to Munich. Met a guy in the beir hall that is an actor/writer. He dubs english stuff into German. Some of his work included Woody Harrelson for "US vs Larry Flynt" and "Money Train" He also did years of the soap opera with "Luke & Laura" (name escapes me). He said he got real tired of doing the guys voice over and over. Anyway, he gave us a great tour of Munich.

Esslingen

Very cool christmas market with a Medeival theme. Video here.

Baden-Baden

Hour drive from Stuttgart. Famous for opulent casino and spas.

Ludwigsburg

Very impressive castle 30 minutes north of Stuttgart. Also went to christmas market a few days later.

Nuremberg

Elaine, a guy I met here, and I took the train to Nuremberg for the day. Went to the "Documentation Center" which was in the incomplete Nazi congress hall. The center went through how Germany was taken in by Hitler's. We walked over to the zeppelin field where hitler held his big rallys.

It is kind of weird that kids are now skateboarding where hitler gave his speeches.

Day trip to France

2 hours from "home" and the radio stations change from German to French.

Stopped in Stattsalt to get some maps, then found out they had a "bread museum." Didn't have time for the museum, but did buy some snacks.

















Haut Konigsburg Castle.

My Monty Python moment in the gift shop...

Hotel Area & Stuttgart @ Night

Elaine arrives for 3 weeks to help look for a house...and have fun in GM (Nov. 11 to Dec 1st).

Downtown "winterfest" = Hot wine with "secret" spices that is all the rage this time of year called Gluvine.

A couple of pictures outside my hotel room windows - reminds me of MN with farmland scattered about. Opposite side looks at Merceds and entertainment complex.

A very small restaurant serving local food.

Ulm day trip

About an hour drive from Stuttgart. Super tall steeple that you can climb to the top (700+ steps). You end up about 30 feet below the tippy top (see pics).

Biking

Downtown Stuttgart:

Cog railway

Sunny day - lots of paved trails for bikes even downtown.

Waiting for the U-Bahn (light rail).

Underneath a series of bridges some kids were working on some artwork.

Weekend October 17-18

Mercedes-Benz Museum

Kraut Festival - complete with royalty, the cermonial tapping of the keg (I think that happens for everything around here), and the cabbage queen toasting us with a beer. Those cabbage were huge!

Arrival

10/11/2009

So I spend several years working with Partha from India, and what happens when I get on the plane in Chicago for the flight to Frankfurt? I sit next to Ukbar from the Punjab State in India. Ukbar is bearded, wears a blue turbin, and has a snow white down quilted jacket on. He also has an affinity for whiskey - "whiskey! A cup. Fill the cup...." Anyway, I had to hit pause several times while watching a movie as he shared some thoughts with me like "Americans are very good people. Indians are very good people." "We work, we eat, we work, we eat..." He, being a Sikh, also shared his dislike of a certain group of people. I was aware of this from conversations with Partha.

Anyway, arrived in Stuttgart about 11 AM after missing my connecting flight in Frankfurt (horrible customs line) and without my 2 suitcases (they arrived at hotel 5 hours later). I could not check into my hotel room until 3, so what else to do but head downtown to the Canstatter Volksfest. I lasted a couple of hours before jet lag (& beer?) took it's toll. Check it out...