I'm off to Germany to see my son...

[MrBill]

My passport did not arrive as needed so I flew to Chicago this morning and spent all day there getting a passport, but I got one. I just got home and I have a flight at 7:30 Thursday morning to begin my trip to Germany. I have about a 9 hour layover in Cincinatti, then I'm in the air to Germany.

Note: If you plan to travel out of the USA and you don't already have a passport, apply for your passport 6 months in advance or you might not get it on time!

It was quite the ordeal in Chicago today - but I did get my passport. I only have about $900 invested to get it. :(

I would have rescheduled, but my son is deploying back to Iraq sooner than expected and I haven't seen him since before his last deployment.

Be back in a couple of weeks! :)

[RWB]

Have a safe flight and I hope you enjoy your time with your brave son!

[leishi85]

yeah, have fun in germany.

and passport is quiet the bitch, my pages are running out, and if i apply for another one, it will cost me another hundred some bucks.

[LiLbRo]

germany is an amazing place man, you'll have fun

[Leonardo]

If you happen to see this before you leave, please give the heartfelt thanks from this Iraq veteran to your Iraq veteran. My hat is off to your son for picking up the mantle. My hat is off to you for the anxiety you must experience when he is deployed.

Have fun in Germany.

[dragonV8]

Enjoy your well earned trip, MrBill.
My hat off to your son also.

[Jengo]

have fun mrbill! and give my thanks to your son!

[primesuspect]

Have a great trip!

[QCH]

Have a great trip and, like Leo said, let him know we appreciate the courageous effort and dedication. :respect:

[Sledgehammer70]

Have a safe flight, and make sure to bring us back pictures :)

[Nomad]

Be safe.

[MrBill]

I arrived safely in Germany! I'm sitting here with my son right now. He said to tell everyone he appreciates the thank you messages. I plan to take many pictures that I'll share when I get home.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

[Clutch]

Glad you arrived safely. Can't wait to see the pictures. Many thanks goes out to your son, he is a very brave man. *cheers*

[Lincoln]

Great! Hope you have a good stay :)

[MrBill]

Alright - it's going take a few days to post pictures from all the places we visited. I have way too many pictures to post them all, but I'll post a couple from each place.

Day 1 - Koblenz, Germany

We went to where the Mosel river meets the Rhine river.

[MrBill]

I stayed at my son's apartment (Military housing - off base). My oldest brother also visited at the same time, thus the beverages. Mine is the Beck's alcohol free. :)

[MrBill]

Day 2 - Koeln, Germany (the second largest cathedral in the world - second to the Vatican?) A few pictures taken from the top of the two towers (not sure what they're called). It was 509 steps to the top.

[MrBill]

More of Koeln...

[LIN]

Great pics, MrBill. :) - Enjoy the time you're spending together! :)


LIN

[MrBill]

Great pics, MrBill. :) - Enjoy the time you're spending together! :)


LINThanks LIN. We had a GREAT time! I got home last Monday and now I'm in Houston this week. Working long days here, but I'll get a few pics up each night. :)

[Clutch]

I love the picture of the thumb, that made me laugh pretty hard, great poses.

[Bio-Hazard]

Good that you got to visit with your son and see a bit of Germany, they brought back lots of good memories for me. I was stationed there for over 15 years of my 20 years service in the Army. Like your son I was stationed there when I got deployed to the Gulf, the first Gulf war, not this one, I'm retired now.

[MrBill]

Day 2 - Butzbach, Germany (end of the day)

Hessentag (a big festival) was winding down. There were 20 hot air balloons and at one time they were lighting them up to the beat of the music. It was pretty awesome! They also had a fantastic fireworks show that would rival most 4th of July shows in the U.S.

[MrBill]

Good that you got to visit with your son and see a bit of Germany, they brought back lots of good memories for me. I was stationed there for over 15 years of my 20 years service in the Army. Like your son I was stationed there when I got deployed to the Gulf, the first Gulf war, not this one, I'm retired now.Glad they brought back good memories for you. Thanks for your service and enjoy your retirement! :)

[MrBill]

Day 3 - Butzbach, Germany

Final day of Hessentag (it lasted 10 days). The concert stage was just outside the gate of my son's military housing area, so we got to hear (barely see) an Aerosmith concert. My first rock concert! :)

The pre-concert gathering:

[MrBill]

Day 3 - concert cont'd:

1) The stage
2) It was getting cold, so I put the carrying cases for the chairs on my legs
3) Not sure what was going on here, but it must have been funny!

[MrBill]

Day 3 - Day cruise on the Rhine river (this should have come before the Aerosmith post and there will be several posts)

1) The boat
2) Random photo from the boat
3) A castle (we saw several of these)

[MrBill]

Day 3 - cont'd

1) Castle
2) Statue
3) Castle

[MrBill]

Day 3 - Rhine cruise cont'd

1) Castle
2) Castle
3) Castle

[MrBill]

Day 3 - cruise cont'd

1) Random city shot from the boat
2) Passing time on the boat by flipping and catching coasters
3) City of ASSMANHAUSEN ;D

[MrBill]

Day 3 - cruise cont'd

1) Dock in ASSMANHAUSEN (some strange guy I don't know)
2) Castle

[MrBill]

Day 3 - St. Goar Castle

This was the last stop on the cruise we took. All these pictures were taken at the castle.

1) St. Goar Castle
2) My brother, me, my son
3) Me down in a stairwell that I wasn't supposed to be in (I climbed over the rail to get into it)

[MrBill]

Day 3 - St. Goar castle cont'd

1) Me, my son - the bottom half anyway
2) Rocks for the catapult
3) Statue of St. Goar (something just doesn't look right about this statue)

[MrBill]

Day 3 - St. Goar castle cont'd

1) Supposedly the world's largest hanging coo-coo clock
2) My brother, me, my son
3) One of the dark narrow tunnels in the castle

[MrBill]

Day 3 - St. Goar castle cont'd

1) Me in chains
2) My son, me from atop the castle

[LIN]

Very nice pics, MrBill. :)


LIN

[Keelhaul]

Those castle ruins look creepy =o I'd like to hike there.

[MrBill]

Those castle ruins look creepy =o I'd like to hike there.Most of the castles were destroyed in 1689 (I think). Some have been rebuilt since then.

[MrBill]

Day 4 - Friedburg, Germany - Inactivation ceremony for the 1-37 Armour division. It will be reactivated in the states (Texas, I think)

1) Parade field
2) Parade field
3) Me, my brother, my son (National Anthem being played)

[MrBill]

Day 4 - Friedburg cont'd

1) Casing the Colors
2) Colors cased

[MrBill]

Day 4 - Frankfurt, Germany

1) Flo Markt (Flea Market)
2) Go Cart track - these things were fast and fun!
3) Irish pub in Frankfurt

[MrBill]

Day 4 - Frankfurt cont'd

1) Outside a pub in Frankfurt
2) My brother outside some bong shop ;D

[MrBill]

Day 5 - Darmstadt, Germany - Frankenstein's Castle

1) Back of castle
2) Me, my son in front of castle
3) My son, me looking out an opening (yes, we climbed over that bar and it's fairly high in the air)

[MrBill]

Day 5 - Frankenstein's castle cont'd

1) My son, my brother, me - near the top of the castle
2) Me, my brother, my daughter-in-law, my son
3) Me sitting in a chair carved from a tree

[MrBill]

Day 5 - Frankenstein's castle cont'd 2

1) My son & me - just lookin'
2) Me, my son, my daughter-in-law, my brother
3) Rear view of castle

[MrBill]

Day 5 - Frankenstein's castle cont'd 3

1) Me in a window
2) My son & me
3) Me, my son

[MrBill]

Day 5 - Frankenstein's castle cont'd 4

1) My son, daughter-in-law, me
2) My daughter-in-law, son, me, my brother in the chapel at Frankenstein's castle

[MrBill]

Day 5 - Mainz, Germany

1) A big cathedral (don't recall the name)
2) Inside the cathedral
3) Courtyard - old coffins

[MrBill]

Day 5 - Mainz, Germany cont'd

1) Inside the cathedral
2) Inside the cathedral
3) Old coffin inside the cathedral

[MrBill]

Day 5 - Mainz, Germany cont'd 2

1) Inside the cathedral
2) My son, brother, daughter-in-law - Mexican dinner

[MrBill]

Day 6 - Koeln, Germany

After reviewing this thread, I realize I mistakingly posted Koeln as day 2. I can't delete those posts and some of these are duplicates - crap!!

Home to the second largest cathedral in the world - second to the Vatican

1) Cathedral from stairway from parking garage
2) In front of the cathedral
3) In front of the cathedral

[MrBill]

Day 6 - Koeln, Germany cont'd

1) Gold box - said to contain the gifts of the 3 wise men
2) Coffin inside cathedral
3) Coffin inside cathedral

[MrBill]

Day 6 - Koeln, Germany cont'd 2

1) One of the bells in the tower of the cathedral
2) From atop one of the cathedral towers
3) From atop one of the cathedral towers

[MrBill]

Day 6 - Koeln, Germany cont'd 3

1) From atop one of the cathedral towers
2) Cathedral
3) Stained glass windows

[MrBill]

Day 6 - Koeln, Germany cont'd 4

1) Statue inside cathedral
2) Carvings on the front of cathedral
3) Chalk drawing in front of the cathedral - was very cool!

[MrBill]

Day 6 & 7 - Amsterdam, Netherlands (Holland)

1) Our hotel in Amersterdam
2) The Heineken Hotel
3) Us on the boat for a canal cruise

[MrBill]

Day 6 & 7 - Amsterdam cont'd

1) From our canal cruise
2) From our canal cruise
3) From our canal cruise

[MrBill]

Day 6 & 7 - Amsterdam cont'd 2

1) Chinese restaurant from the canal boat
2) Clock tower from the canal boat
3) Brick Houseboat we saw from the canal cruise....LOL!

[MrBill]

Day 6 & 7 - Amsterdam cont'd 3

1) My son and me on canal bridge
2) Building / canal
3) BOTEL (floating hotel)

[csimon]

great pics mr bill ...who's taking the pics when all 4 of you are in them?

[MrBill]

Day 6 & 7 - Amsterdam cont'd 4

1) Store with cows on ceiling
2) Bicycle repair man!! (there are a lot of bicycles in Amsterdam)
3) A building

[MrBill]

Day 6 & 7 - Amsterdam cont'd 5

My brother and me having a Heineken (made in Amsterdam) Prior to my trip to Europe I had gone 11 years without a drop of alcohol but I had 6 beers while there.

[MrBill]

Day 6 & 7 - Amsterdam cont'd 6

You just can't go to Amersterdam and not visit the Red Light District. The view was fantastic....LOL!! :D

1) My brother and me
2) Moulin Rouge
3) Prostitutes in the windows - some of those women were HOT!

[MrBill]

Day 7 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg (we were in 5 different countries on this day - no pictures from France or Belgium)

The site of all the crosses was very moving and makes one appreciate the sacrifice of life for our freedom.

1) Entrance to the American Cemetary and Memorial
2) Memorial building
3) General George S. Patton, Jr. grave site

[MrBill]

Day 7 - Luxembourg cont'd

1) Cemetary
2) Cemetary
3) Cemetary

[MrBill]

Day 7 - Luxembourg cont'd 2

1) Cemetary
2) Cemetary
3) Cemetary (panoramic view)

[MrBill]

Day 7 - Luxembourg cont'd 3

1) Map of advancements WWII
2) Map of advancements WWII
3) Memorial building - inside

[MrBill]

Day 7 - Neunkirchen, Germany

HOOTERS!!!!!

[MrBill]

Day 8 & 9 - Schwarzwald (The Black Forest)

1) The guest house we stayed at
2) Trieburg, Germany (in the black forest)
3) My son "playing" with the condiments

[MrBill]

Day 8 & 9 - Schwarzwald cont'd

1) Squirrel carving
2) Wood carving
3) Fuel prices (per litre)

[MrBill]

Day 8 & 9 - Schwarzwald cont'd 2

1) Pamphlet for waterfall
2) Entrance to the waterfall
3) View from entrance to the waterfall

[MrBill]

Day 8 & 9 - Schwarzwald cont'd 3

1) Waterfall
2) Waterfall
3) Waterfall

[MrBill]

Day 8 & 9 - Schwarzwald cont'd 4

1) Black Forest clocks
2) More clocks
3) More clocks - my brother bought the big one in the middle

[MrBill]

Day 8 & 9 - Schwarzwald cont'd 5

We found a roller coaster in the middle of no-where. The only thing that would slow it down was a hand brake. It was fun!

[MrBill]

Day 8 & 9 - Schwarzwald cont'd 6

1) Live band at the festival
2) We happened upon a festival at a little town
3) Our primary mode of transporation for the whole trip (VW Jetta). I did get to drive it about 150 KPH on the Audobon (sp?).

[MrBill]

That concludes my trip to Europe. We probably took over 1000 pictures but I can't post them all. The ones I posted are a fairly good representation of my trip. With all the fun we had, the best part was just getting to see my son and daughter-in-law.

My wife didn't go this trip, but we are planning a trip together in December as our son will likely be deploying to Iraq near the end of December.

[MrBill]

great pics mr bill ...who's taking the pics when all 4 of you are in them?
Chris, they were taken using the timer. I think we had one picture in Amsterdam taken by a lady who asked if we wanted her to take our picture.

[Keelhaul]

We did that boat cruise through Amsterdam as well. Did you tip the captain afterwards? =)

[LIN]

I remember visiting the Schwarzwald when I was a kid. :)

Great pics, MrBill! :cool:


LIN

[MrBill]

We did that boat cruise through Amsterdam as well. Did you tip the captain afterwards? =)Yes, we did tip the captain. :)

[TBonZ]

Wow, your son's a splitting image of you back in the day, but, without the curly fro. :D

Great pics Bill, thanks for sharing! Glad you had a good trip. :)

[Lincoln]

Thanks for sharing all the pics! :cheers2:

[SPIKE09]

Thanks for sharing all the pics! :cheers2: Ditto reminded me of my one visit to Germany a beautiful country with many beautiful frauliens, the DOM/cathedral you visited is very similar to one in Limburg had to double check on a German site to get the differences.

[MrBill]

Wow, your son's a splitting image of you back in the day, but, without the curly fro. :D

Great pics Bill, thanks for sharing! Glad you had a good trip. :)Hi Terry. He has heard so much about looking like me that it makes him sick....lol. :)

[Thelemech]

Awesome pictures Mr B! I have always wanted to travel to those places (someday hopefully will) ; and I must agree that some of those woman do look pretty HOT!:D

:thumbsup:

[Keelhaul]

Ditto reminded me of my one visit to Germany a beautiful country with many beautiful frauliens, the DOM/cathedral you visited is very similar to one in Limburg had to double check on a German site to get the differences.

Please don't use words you cannot spell..

[SPIKE09]

Fraulein, Fraulein, Fraulein, Fraulein,I must not try and post in foreign languages everyone must use English , a member of the spelling bee perchance.

[Keelhaul]

So when I use English I can misspell any foreign words I use? Good to know!

P.S.: It's 'Fräulein' =P

[SPIKE09]

I forgot the KB code for umlauts though ;)

[MrBill]

Just purchased my tickets for another trip to Germany in December to see my son. My wife is going with me this time. We'll be flying into Munich instead of Frankfurt. Can't wait! :)

[Leonardo]

I forgot the KB code for umlauts thoughdoesn't matter at all: it's perfectly legitimate to use 'ue', 'oe', and 'ae'. That's all the umlaut is anyway - an abbreviation for those vowel combinations.

[MrBill]

Countdown t- 14 1/2 hours to lift off. The wife and I are headed to Germany tomorrow to see our son. :D

[Trinityx]

Even though im new, i wanna say... Have a nice trip and enjoy it.

[SPIKE09]

Moar piccies please MrBill the winter markets are supposed to be stunning :bigggrin:

[MrBill]

We made it to Munich safe and sound. No snow in sight and temperature around 40F.

[Thelemech]

Good to hear! Enjoy your trip and visit with your son.
:cheers:

[MrBill]

We have had a good time in Germany, but now it's time for bed as we have to get up in 6 hours to head to the airport for our trip home. We leave Germany at 3:00am CST and get home about 8:30pm CST. It's going to be a long day, but it has certainly been worth it! :)

[MrBill]

It was a long trip home, but we got here safely. :) Just in time to go to bed and get some rest before work tomorrow.