Stay connected in Germany?

[JR]

If she like this trip, perhaps next year I can take her to Garmish and teach her how to ski. Yeah! Right!

We're probably going to get some time in Bavaria on our trip. We're going to be in Heidelberg and now trying to decide on other destinations. What I wouldn't give for another trip to Garmisch - thinking about it now, I realize that on my last trip there, January '78, I left with a cast on my leg!

JR

[gerti]

I think the taxi's are still mostly Mercedes, but could be wrong there. 87 was 21 years ago.

Still the vast majority, though other brands are becoming more common.

There is one Monastery there where the Monks make and sell their own beer. I don't recall the town, but I'm sure the ex will.

One? More like dozens...

[germdoc]

There is one Monastery there where the Monks make and sell their own beer. I don't recall the town, but I'm sure the ex will.

Exes remember everything. That's why they're exes...

Speaking of monastery beer, would this be Andechs??

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/desti...ny/andechs.htm

[Stytooner]

I have been to a couple of the Monasteries, but one was very nice. The one I am thinking of is not that near Munich. It was within about a 3 to 4 hour drive of Frankfurt. I know. Depending on what you are driving, you could just about be anywhere in Germany in that length of time.

Most of the popular Monasteries seem to be in Bavaria though. I only recall that the beer was dirt cheap, as it was in most places, but if you wanted to buy a mug, it was like $20, but it came full of bier. We did get a mug and she likely still has that.

I am going to get a map, likely online, and plan out points of interest on it. This will help me to see what might be possible to drive or take a train to. We may actually forego Paris I think. At least for this trip. We are planning on only 2 to 3 weeks, so that really isn't much time to take it all in. We'll just hit some high points.

We spent 8 days in Garmisch and I was taught how to ski fairly well. It was in 79. Probably February or March. It was a blast. I didn't break anything then, but I did spend half of my time getting back up off the ground once I finally managed to get stopped somewhere. The thing with skiing is once you decide to get back up, you had better be ready to go, cause you're going.

[jziegler]

Lee,

You might consider a GPS that has both North American and European maps in it. I got a Garmin NuVi 270 before my trip, and I pre-programmed our hotels and some destinations into it. Other places that were already in its database I added to the favorites list to find quickly. It's not the same as planning on a map, but it is very useful. The only downside is that I didn't get as good of a sense of where I was going following its directions as I do when I navigate from a map. And in cities it can be hard to follow at complex intersections.

Somehow we missed all the monasteries, but then I was there with more of a wine group than a beer group.

Jim

[JR]

We may actually forego Paris I think. At least for this trip. We are planning on only 2 to 3 weeks, so that really isn't much time to take it all in. We'll just hit some high points.

It may be worth pointing out there is a high-speed train to Paris that just came on line in the last year. Less than four hours. I'm not sure if it leaves from Frankfurt, Mannheim, or Karlsruhe.

If you haven't taken the ICE trains yet you're in for a treat. Very comfortable seating, nice lounge car, and blazing fast. The first one I was on, going north from Karlsruhe, hit 279 Km right away. The ride is so smooth that you don't notice the speed unless you start counting utility poles.

JR

[germdoc]

I love Garmisch--beautiful place. I love driving in Germany too--I prefer the windy back roads to the autobahns. On our way to Garmisch, we passed a hill of trees and saw the most amazing site I've ever seen--King Ludwig's castle rising from the plains. We had to take an alternate route (long story--Austrians wouldn't let us go through their border because we forgot our passports--let's just say the Third Reich is alive and well among some border guards in Austria) and didn't realize the castle was on our route.

It was like something out of a picture book. And to me that's the beauty of Germany--the unexpected stuff that pops out at you:

[OpaDC]

Must see spots!

Two places you must see if going down to Garmisch area, Oberammergau and Mittenwald. Both towns are renowned for their woodwork. Carving in Oberammergau ( http://www.oberammergau.de/ot_e/arts...oodcarving.htm ) and violins in Mittenwald (http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...481473,00.html ).
Brother of a friend owns the shop in the picture (that's me looking like a beggar on the corner). And the smells, mmmmm, wood, .