Where was I last week?  Germany.  Yes, the country.  In Europe.  With the beer.  And the soccer team.  Yes, that one. 

"But Dave, didn't you just go on vacation to the Grand Canyon or something?"  Yes, I did.  That was excellent.  But you see, Wendy's employer suddenly wanted her to travel to Germany to visit some equipment manufacturers.  And seeing that I have no real plans to travel outside the U.S. anytime soon, I decided this would be my opportunity to do so relatively cheaply.  Hotels were paid for, a rental car was paid for, so all I had to do was buy a plane ticket.  That one plane ticket cost more than our entire 8-day vacation in the southwest -- meals, lodging, and rental car included (our airfare was free -- yay frequent flier programs!).  But despite the cost, it was deemed a worthwhile endeavor, so we went.  Here's what we did: 

Day 1 - Flew through Paris to Hannover, Germany (Wendy flew through Munich).  Walked around Hannover, which, unbeknownst to us, was having its summer solstice celebration (music, food, happiness). 

Day 2 - Picked up Wendy's co-worker from the airport, then drove to Berlin.  Walked around the city.  Took a guided bike tour, which was really cool. 

Day 3 - Walked around Berlin some more, then drove to Bad Salzuflen, which is where one of the equipment manufacturers is located. 

Day 4 - The women went to work while I walked around the town of Bad Salzuflen. 

Day 5 - Drove to Lübeck.  The women went to work while I biked around town.  Watched the Germany-Turkey Euro 2008 semifinal soccer game, which Germany won (celebratory chaos ensued). 

Day 6 - Walked around Lübeck some more.  Drove to Hannover and walked around a little. 

Day 7 - Flew through Paris on the way back to Newark (Wendy flew through Copenhagen this time). 

The following several posts will likely be about Germany, travel, or some other related topic.  Enjoy.  Or not. 

Pictures:

[gallery /img/2008/06/ger01.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger01-150x150.jpg:::Hannover - Trains are the way to travel.:::/img/2008/06/ger02.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger02-150x150.jpg:::Hannover - This is a well-known bank in Germany.  To me, it's a funny word which prompted laughter every time I said it.:::/img/2008/06/ger03.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger03-150x150.jpg:::Hannover - Such detailed architecture.:::/img/2008/06/ger04.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger04-150x150.jpg:::Hannover - What a sad-looking dog-thing.:::/img/2008/06/ger05.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger05-150x150.jpg:::Hannover - A river runs through it.:::/img/2008/06/ger06.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger06-150x150.jpg:::Hannover - Wendy has smaller fangs.:::/img/2008/06/ger07.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger07-150x150.jpg:::Hannover - The cobblestone street, the mini car, the architecture.  A perfect picture of Hannover.:::/img/2008/06/ger08.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger08-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - A public toilet.:::/img/2008/06/ger09.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger09-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - The infamous TV tower.:::/img/2008/06/ger10.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger10-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - A man and his horse, in a sense.:::/img/2008/06/ger11.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger11-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - The infamous wall.:::/img/2008/06/ger12.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger12-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - Victory Column, also affectionately referred to as "Chick on a Stick".:::/img/2008/06/ger13.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger13-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - A view of Brandenburg Gate, a former entrance to the city.:::/img/2008/06/ger14.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger14-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - Those five people in masks were controlling that red stick figure, and they made him climb on top of some guy's head.  Very weird.:::/img/2008/06/ger15.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger15-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - The entrance to the Reichstag, which houses the parliament.:::/img/2008/06/ger16.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger16-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - Atop the Reichstag.:::/img/2008/06/ger17.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger17-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - Atop the top of the Reichstag.:::/img/2008/06/ger18.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger18-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - This proves it.  Wendy and I were officially in the nation of Germany.  See that German flag?  I can't be lying.:::/img/2008/06/ger19.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger19-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - This is the bridge Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) jumped off of while fleeing the police in the Bourne Supremacy.:::/img/2008/06/ger20.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger20-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - Articles of the German constitution.:::/img/2008/06/ger21.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger21-150x150.jpg:::Berlin - Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.:::/img/2008/06/ger22.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger22-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - The bidet in our hotel room.  This was a foreign concept to me.:::/img/2008/06/ger23.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger23-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - A stone spire.:::/img/2008/06/ger24.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger24-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - Looking up at a church.:::/img/2008/06/ger25.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger25-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - Another church.:::/img/2008/06/ger26.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger26-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - The center of town.:::/img/2008/06/ger27.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger27-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - A sign for authentic Czech Budweiser, which is different from American Budweiser.:::/img/2008/06/ger28.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger28-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - A notable thermal spring, which pumps water to the top of the structure and lets it trickle down through a series of twigs.  It's supposed to be healthy and relaxing.:::/img/2008/06/ger29.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger29-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - A simple explanation of the thermal spring process, in German.  Translation:  Little green guys go in your nose, do their magic, then little black guys exit.  Simple.:::/img/2008/06/ger30.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger30-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - Cool pattern on our hotel.:::/img/2008/06/ger31.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger31-150x150.jpg:::Bad Salzuflen - I think it means "End of Prohibited Zone", which to me means everything is now allowed.:::/img/2008/06/ger32.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger32-150x150.jpg:::Lübeck - One of the many cobblestone streets.:::/img/2008/06/ger33.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger33-150x150.jpg:::Lübeck - A church.:::/img/2008/06/ger34.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger34-150x150.jpg:::Lübeck - The most graphic anti-pooping sign I've ever seen.:::/img/2008/06/ger35.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger35-150x150.jpg:::Lübeck - Another cobblestone street.:::/img/2008/06/ger36.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger36-150x150.jpg:::Lübeck - Every single person in this town watched the Euro 2008 semifinal soccer game between Germany and Turkey.:::/img/2008/06/ger37.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger37-150x150.jpg:::Lübeck - A blurry night shot of the celebratory chaos that followed the game, oddly centered around the McDonald's.  Yay capitalism!:::/img/2008/06/ger38.jpg:::/img/2008/06/ger38-150x150.jpg:::Lübeck - Cool architecture.:::]
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