A visit to Germany

[Onkel Neal]

I will be going through Germany next week, and I have a couple days to see the countryside and visit. I am trying to arrange a rental motorcycle in Wuppertal so I can ride to Berlin Friday, then back Sat. So, if the plan works, I will be in the capital Friday afternoon. If I cannot get a bike :wah: I will take a train.

Any suggestions as far as what to see in Berlin?

Danke!
Onkel Neal

[Kongo Otto]

Check Point Charlie museum :03:
http://www.berlin.de/orte/museum/haus-am-checkpoint-charlie/index.en.php

Other interesting sites:
http://www.berlin.de/mauer/orte/index/index.en.php

[Herr-Berbunch]

A visit to the Reich

Discretely whispers *I think they've stopped calling it that, for now!* :yep:

[Onkel Neal]

Oh? :oops: Sorry!!

Thanks for that, and for the museum suggestions!

I think I have a motorcycle rental (http://www.moto-k.de/)and the fellow agreed to come by the shop after they close and let me return it Sat!! Woot, Onkel Neal turned loose in the Rei...err, lovely German countryside on 2 wheels!

[Skybird]

kurzer...! :D :know: :sunny:

What's your interests when visiting a city of that size?

The mayor of Berlin - a very incompetent and arrogant man, btw. - says Berlin is "poor, but sexy". I am not convinced that it is that sexy, but I am damn sure that it is poor.

If you use public transportation, try to avoid the "S-Bahn". Too many problems with that, it is impossible to make a statement on whether or not it will work reliably the day you use it. It is a disaster story since several years now. Could as well let you wait three hours for the next train. Subway worked fine last time I was there, it was always my preferred transportation method. But better do not travel by subway ("U-Bahn") alone in the night. Assaults take place quite frequently now.

Prepare for some extraordinary unfriendliness if you happen to run into a Berliner original. "Kodderschnauze" is part of the old Berliner's way of life.

Where else do you go in Germany? The "Spreewald" is not far away, if it is countryside you look foor, that might be a good target mark. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spreewald (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spreewald) If you crisscross the country, as usual I recommend the old town of Lübeck, also that of Wismar close by. Both towns belonged to the famous Hanse alliance and you see it in architecture: Wismar looks like a smaller copy of Lübeck.

[Penguin]

We've had a Berlin thread with many suggestions some time ago, here it is: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=190487

If your bike rental doesn't work out, here are 2 alternatives: Yamaha (http://www.yamaha-duesseldorf.de/Vermietung.htm)
Honda but very good and service oriented (http://www.dresen.de/dresen-gruppe/standorte/duesseldorf/honda-motorradcenter/honda-rent-a-bike/)
Both are located 20 minutes by train from Wuppertal, in Düsseldorf - our state capital, with much more to see than in W-town.


Discretely whispers *I think they've stopped calling it that, for now!* :yep:

only if foreigners are around :03:

[HunterICX]

I think I have a motorcycle rental (http://www.moto-k.de/)and the fellow agreed to come by the shop after they close and let me return it Sat!! Woot, Onkel Neal turned loose in the Rei...err, lovely German countryside on 2 wheels!

Nice find, though could use a bit more XT660Z's :O: (Pengiun's link has them :D) To be fair she's not build to eat 520ish KM on a big straight road to Berlin. but her big sister the Super Tenere 1200Z does :shucks:

HunterICX

[Dan D]

@Neal

“Wuppertal”, why on earth Wuppertal?

Well, I guess I better don’t ask.

Wuppertal-Berlin that is 323 miles one way; or 6h 41 minutes.

If you really want to do that, please be careful, keep in mind: basically no speed limits on the Autobahn, watch out for those überfast drivers who approach you from behind on the speed lane, don’t underestimate their speed.

No need for you to call for asylum in Ecuador like Assange: If you get into trouble with the authorities, give me a call, I will try to help. My mobile phone number is still the same as it was last time (Subsim meeting Copenhagen).

Berlin, places of interest: Oranienburger Straße, Museumsinsel, Reichstag.

If you decide not to go to Berlin, then a short meeting at Düsseldorf with a couple of subsim members from the North Rhine-Westfalian chapter of subsim (Penguin?) could be an alternative. I think I could make it.

[PhantomLord]

Watch out for crazy drivers in Berlin.

We 4 wheelers tend to ignore 2 wheel drivers.
We change lanes without using turn signal.
We do the above without any warning and when you dont expect it.
We will call you names for that because 2 wheelers are bad in general.

Fasten your seat belt and enjoy your stay :D:D

Penguin mentioned the other thread...

[Penguin]

If you decide not to go to Berlin, then a short meeting at Düsseldorf with a couple of subsim members from the North Rhine-Westfalian chapter of subsim (Penguin?) could be an alternative. I think I could make it.

:yep:
Skybird also lives in our state, Schroeder not too far away.
I certainly could make on Saturday, if work goes smoothly probably on Friday too.

[Dan D]

Wuppertal, I guess it is because of Tuffi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuffi) the female elephant who jumped off the the world's only Schwebebahn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwebebahn_Wuppertal) in 1950.


http://www.werner-steinbach.de/wuppertal/historie/tuffi/big/tuffi-01.jpg

[Skybird]

:yep:
Skybird also lives in our state, Schroeder not too far away.
I certainly could make on Saturday, if work goes smoothly probably on Friday too.
No-no, don't count on me, sorry.

Ironically, I possibly will be in Berlin two weeks later. And probably for the last time ever (my last contacts there are fleeing from the city, finally, then this chapter of my life will close, too).

[andwii]

Is the bunker still around? Can't remember if they destroyed it or not.

[Onkel Neal]

Nice find, though could use a bit more XT660Z's :O: (Pengiun's link has them :D) To be fair she's not build to eat 520ish KM on a big straight road to Berlin. but her big sister the Super Tenere 1200Z does :shucks:

HunterICX

Ah, I'll be renting an XJ6 (http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moto-k.de%2F), probably, gotta save $$ and it should be good on your expensive petrol :ping:

@Neal

"Wuppertal"why on earth Wuppertal?

Well, I guess I better don't ask.

Wuppertal-Berlin that is 323 miles one way; or 6h 41 minutes.

If you really want to do that, please be careful, keep in mind: basically no speed limits on the Autobahn, watch out for those überfast drivers who approach you from behind on the speed lane, don't underestimate their speed.

No need for you to call for asylum in Ecuador like Assange: If you get into trouble with the authorities, give me a call, I will try to help. My mobile phone number is still the same as it was last time (Subsim meeting Copenhagen).

Berlin, places of interest: Oranienburger Straße, Museumsinsel, Reichstag.

If you decide not to go to Berlin, then a short meeting at Düsseldorf with a couple of subsim members from the North Rhine-Westfalian chapter of subsim (Penguin?) could be an alternative. I think I could make it.

Thanks, buddy! I appreciate that. PM me your number, if you could, I cannot be sure I can find it again on my phone, I think all my 2009 numbers are gone.

I'm actually staying in Dusseldorf, the closest MC rental I could find was Wuppertal. It's only 15 miles away.

I am not sure of the timing of my trip inside Germany, I think I will be free to explore Friday morning, until Sat evening, then I have to be back in Wuppertal. It will take me 6 hours to get to Berlin, so I won't be able to see much :( Maybe I should just make a trip within a couple hours of Wuppertal? :hmmm:
:yep:
Skybird also lives in our state, Schroeder not too far away.
I certainly could make on Saturday, if work goes smoothly probably on Friday too.

If your bike rental doesn't work out, here are 2 alternatives: Yamaha (http://www.yamaha-duesseldorf.de/Vermietung.htm)
Honda but very good and service oriented (http://www.dresen.de/dresen-gruppe/standorte/duesseldorf/honda-motorradcenter/honda-rent-a-bike/)
Both are located 20 minutes by train from Wuppertal, in Düsseldorf - our state capital, with much more to see than in W-town.




How did I miss those dealers?:o In Dusseldorf? They rent MCs?
Hey, send me your mobile by PM too, if you could.

[McBeck]

I will be going through Germany next week, and I have a couple days to see the countryside and visit. I am trying to arrange a rental motorcycle in Wuppertal so I can ride to Berlin Friday, then back Sat. So, if the plan works, I will be in the capital Friday afternoon. If I cannot get a bike :wah: I will take a train.

Any suggestions as far as what to see in Berlin?

Danke!
Onkel Neal
On your way to Denmark?

[HunterICX]

Ah, I'll be renting an XJ6 (http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moto-k.de%2F), probably, gotta save $$ and it should be good on your expensive petrol :ping:

Yeah I would imagine for an American to go :timeout: at the petrol station.
Even in Spain for a Liter of Petrol you pay $1,70 (if I'm correct that would be about $6,20 for a US gallon)

Good choice of bike in that regard the XJ6 is a nice all rounder if you want something easy to handle and that brings you from A to B.

Dang, why is Europe so bloody big :O:
Anyway best of luck Neal, enjoy :up:

HunterICX

[SquareSteelBar]

Is the bunker still around? Can't remember if they destroyed it or not.There're many bunkers (http://berliner-unterwelten.de/fuehrerbunker.328.0.html) in Berlin.

You mean the 'Führerbunker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%BChrerbunker)'? It's destroyed to prevent pilgrimages...

[Karle94]

Places to see:
- Jewish-museum
- Berliner Fernsehturm
- Reichtag/Bundestag
- Berliner Dom
- DDR-museum
- Sachsenhausen concentration camp

[Oberon]

Don't forget the Brandenburg Gate, and what's left of the wall. IIRC there's an aircraft museum not far from Berlin too, let me look.

Yes, there's the Luftwaffe museum at Gatow:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftwaffenmuseum_der_Bundeswehr
http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/Germany/Berlin-Gatow/Militarhistorisches_Museum_der_Bundeswehr.htm

Looks like quite a nice collection there of aircraft from both sides of the curtain.

A bit more sinister is the Stasi Museum:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi_Museum
Or The Memorial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin-Hohensch%C3%B6nhausen_Memorial

The Glienicke Bridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glienicke_Bridge

DDR Museum:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR_Museum

Obviously, I defer to those with more local knowledge as to whether these museums are worth the visit, but certainly there is a lot of history in Berlin itself and the surrounding environs...that which survived it that is.

[Wreford-Brown]

Neal,

I'm an Englishman living in Germany and have spent a couple of long weekends in Berlin and love the city. I also have friends in Wuppertal and was down there a couple of weeks ago. Not too much to do (we spent most of it in their place) but the hanging train is definitely worth a go.

As for Berlin, in my preference order:
Boat trips. They run regular boat trips up and down the river/canal system which the story of Berlin in WW2 and the Cold War. Check the notice boards and they'll tell you when the trips are being run with an English speaking tour. Trips range from 60 mins to 2 hours and are a great introduction before you walk round the city.

Reichstag (Bundestag). The queues can be long but you can pre-book yourself in for lunch at the restaurant on the roof. You jump all of the queues and go straight to the restaurant, eat lunch then can look around all you want. The lunch itself is not too expensive - about what you'd expect for food in the city. Good for 2 hours (including lunch)

Berlin Wall Memorial. They have revamped a section of the Berlin Wall so it looks like it did during the bad old days, plus there's a high building next to it so you can look over and see into the area. Good for a couple of hours.

Topographie des Terrors. This is a relatively new exhibition which is based around the old SS HQ in Berlin (which was bombed to the ground, although you can see some of the old foundations). It outlines the atrocities committed by the Nazis during their reign and is a bilingual exhibition. Well worth a visit, and one of the longest unbroken stretches of the old Berlin Wall is right next to it. Good for a few hours.

Brandenberg Gate. Definitely something to see while you're walking around.

Check Point Charlie. There's a small museum dedicated to escapes over the years including some of the more innovative ones. If you don't want to pay for the museum, try looking on the billboards which run along the line of the old wall in that area - they contain most of the history and are bilingual.

Alexanderplatz. The centre of old East Germany. For great views across the city go up the TV tower (with a decent camera). Good for a couple of hours.

All of the above you can cover in a (long) day on foot. If you have more time and want to see something outside the city centre:

Sachsenhausen (Oranienberg). We found out about this by accident. Oranienberg was an old SS garrison town with the Berlin concentration camp in it. It's not a death camp but originally held all of the political prisoners from Berlin before being expanded towards the end of the war. It was in the old Soviet sector and the Russians used it for their political prisoners and put a large war memorial in it, so you get WW2 and cold war history together in one place. We intended to go for a couple of hours but spent a full day there - it's about 1 hours drive from the city centre. It's a part of Berlin that fewer tourists get to see.

Luftwaffe museum. About 45mins west of the city centre (but within the city limits) the Luftwaffe museum is on the airfield that serviced the Berlin airlift. Mixture of aircraft - a few WW2, a number of Cold War and quite a few eastern block aircraft that I hadn't seen elsewhere. Quite a few helicopters including Hind and Hip, which I've seen in action but never been close enough to almost touch. Good for a few hours.

Schloss Charlottenburg. The largest palace in Berlin. Great building and gardens but it was bombed in WW2 and most of the internal furnishings and paintings were destroyed / stolen so it was a disappointment. If time is tight, avoid the disappointment.

The best way to see Berlin is to walk around it - we walked everywhere and found some real gems, from small hidden-away public gardens to walking around a corner to find some serious bullet holes in buildings where the area was obviously hard fought over. The best places for this are along the old Berlin Wall demilitarised zone.

If you're travelling Wuppertal to Berlin I'm at about the halfway point around 30 mins off the motorways (about 2 miles from the old Bergen-Belsen concentration camp). If you need a rest stop, PM me for my phone number and address. I've also got my Berlin map with all the tourist locations marked on it, so if you've got an address I can mail that to you (or try and scan it?).

Enjoy your vacation!

[Onkel Neal]

Very very cool, thanks for all the info and tips. I have to decide if it's a good idea to squeeze in a long ride, but I don't want to miss the opportunity to see such a historic city.

Edit: For any Subsim members wanting to meet up, perhaps we could assemble on Sat evening in Dusseldorf, around 6 or 7pm? Any ideas where?

[Jimbuna]

Wuppertal is twinned with my home town South Tyneside and all road entries into my town have a roadside welcoming board stating the fact.

I should imagine Wuppertal act similarly...see if you can get a photo :cool:

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/5538/90935393.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/151/90935393.jpg/)

[Penguin]

Very very cool, thanks for all the info and tips. I have to decide if it's a good idea to squeeze in a long ride, but I don't want to miss the opportunity to see such a historic city.

Edit: For any Subsim members wanting to meet up, perhaps we could assemble on Sat evening in Dusseldorf, around 6 or 7pm? Any ideas where?

The Altstadt (Old Town) is the central go-out district here, with tons of pubs and restaurants for any budget and taste.
If we'd meet a little earlier, we could visit the Schlossturm, an old tower located directly at the Rhine and one of Düsseldorf's landmarks. They have a little museum in it about inland waterway transportation (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schifffahrtsmuseum_(Düsseldorf)). That's about as naval as it gets here ;)
The museum closes at 6pm, so if we want to visit it 5pm should be alrigh, it's not that big.

For later there are the traditional brewpubs here, mainly Uerige (http://www.uerige.de/en/start/) and Füchschen (http://www.fuechschen.de/). Both also offer non-alcoholic drinks and traditional Rhineland food - if you are daring you can try warm blood sausage :huh:
In both facilities you can sit outside, depending on the number of people we may have to book a table in advance.
My favorite beer garden in D-town is this one (http://www.galerie-burghof.de/), located in Norther Düsseldorf, about 20 minutes by tram from the Old Town or Central Station. It is located directly at the Rhine with an awesome view, sitting right next to some cool 8th century castle ruins (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiserpfalz_Kaiserswerth).

I'll write down some interesting places to visit in a reasonable distance around Düsseldorf (3,4 hours max) later, in case you want to skip the trip to the capital of the Reich. Gotta go now, my guests will arrive soon for the football evening. :)

[Catfish]

Dang ! Couldn't you land in Hannover ?! :hmph:
Duesseldorf is a bit away, but will try :)

[Herr-Berbunch]

if you are daring you can try warm blood sausage :huh:

You know that in the UK that is part of the world's greatest breakfast! :yep:

[TarJak]

You know that in the UK that is part of the world's greatest breakfast! :yep:

Also well known as a Northern weapon in the ancient martial art (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJxGi8bizEg)

[Schroeder]

I'm afraid Düsseldorf is a bit too far for me...

@Neil

A little advice for American drivers in Germany:
If you want to overtake somebody here, you have to be left of him. Never overtake someone on his right side, that'll cost you 100***8364; IIRC, and will get you a lot of "driver's salutes" (straight middle fingers...).:salute:

[Onkel Neal]

Thanks for that advice, I will try to remember that. Of course, I expect the local motorists will understand that I am a tourist because
I will be wearing a shirt with the big letters saying "BUSH IN 2012!!"

:D

[Schroeder]

"Motorist" and "understand" are two words which you can't put in one sentence when travelling on a German Autobahn. ;)

BTW I wanted to say that overtaking someone on his right side will cost 100 Euros. No idea why the forum turned the Euro sign into that strange stuff....:hmmm:

Do you guys see a Euro sign or this strange stuff?:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/54/1012554/6138363838336330.jpg

[Oberon]

No, I get gibberish with it too.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

"Motorist" and "understand" are two words which you can't put in one sentence when travelling on a German Autobahn. ;)

BTW I wanted to say that overtaking someone on his right side will cost 100 Euros. No idea why the forum turned the Euro sign into that strange stuff....:hmmm:

Do you guys see a Euro sign or this strange stuff?:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/54/1012554/6138363838336330.jpgNope. Same problem is with many other signs. Annoying part is that sometimes you get what you want, sometime else you get puzzle for GT folks.

[Onkel Neal]

So, what's the weather like there, now, and the forecast? Nice and sunny? I know, I could check online but I like to hear from the people who live there and get their view. :sunny:

[SquareSteelBar]

Mixed - sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy but warm -> have a look here (http://www.daswetter.com/wetter_Berlin-Europa-Deutschland-Berlin--1-26301.html)

Helmet duty and always headlight 'on' for MC drivers in Germany!

Training course (http://www.gettingaroundgermany.info/regeln.shtml)

!!! One of the most important right-of-way rules when you're off the main roads where no signs are indicating the right-of-way:

http://www7.pic-upload.de/thumb/24.06.12/xjaqy9oob.jpg (http://www.pic-upload.de/view-14807306/000.jpg.html)

Have a good trip!




.

[Onkel Neal]

Thanks for the traffic tip, I believe it is the same here in the US.

Of course, it's a 60% chance of rain while I'm there :(

[Penguin]

hey Neal,

Like Square already said: the weather's a mixed bag atm, temps are in the late 60s, cloudy and rainy. However the weather frogs claim a rise to 80 at the end of the week. So besides your fur Stetson you can also bring along the regular one :D

Here are some places to visit in case you want to skip Berlin:

Technikmuseum Speyer (http://speyer.technik-museum.de/en):
3 hours to the South, huge, probably worth a whole day trip, sub-related they sport a type 205, and some small boats like Biber, Neger and Seehund, scenic route (for an Autobahn)

Rheinmuseum Emmerich (http://webmuseen.de/rheinmuseum-emmerich.html):
The closest submarine from here, a Biber, tiny museum about Rhine shipping but only 1h away

Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung, Koblenz (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wehrtechnische_Studiensammlung_Koblenz)
(link to the wiki page because the museum's website is too horrible ;) - mosly focused on Bundeswehr weapon systems, they have a Seehund, 1.5h, beautiful city


Liberty Park (National War and Resistance Museum), Overloon, Netehrlands (http://www.oorlogsmuseum.nl/en/):
no subs here, but tons of stuff about the Allied efforts in WW2, also only 1h

Marinemuseum, Den Helder, Netherlands (http://www.defensie.nl/marinemuseum/english_information/)
The Tonijn (Potfis-class) lies here, 3.5 hours, located at the coast, many ships there, they call it Museumharbor

Deutsches Marinemuseum, Wilhelmshaven (http://www.marinemuseum.de/index.html)
3.5h to the North, about the history of the German Navy since the 19th century, A Seehund is there. Special exhibit about Schellboote (PT-boats) atm

Not far away, on the other side of the bay:
Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum, Bremerhaven (http://www.dsm.museum/)
This is the one where the Wilhelm Bauer, the last Type XXI, is located, also 3.5h

Hürtgenwald Museum (http://www.huertgenwald.de/de/kultur-bildung/museum-huertgenwald-1944-und-im-frieden/)
about the Hürtgenwald Battle in 1944, small museum, 1.5 h, scenic route to ride, only open on Sundays (?)

If you are into industry culture, there are many places to visit in the Ruhrgebiet, which was built on coal and steel, half an hour North of here http://www.route-industriekultur.de/

For WW1 history, there are tons of places, mainly in Flanders (belgium), with Verdun about 4h away.

If you just want to take a bike tour to the countryside, I'd recommend either go to the Eifel region, or very pittoresque, take a ride along the Mosel river. The road goes just along the river, several hundred feet above it, with great views just at very corner

2 more driving tips: Be aware that we have an insane amount of trucks on the roads nowadays, many in shabby conditions (vehicles and drivers). Another nuisance any American driver notices are the billions of traffic signs - they grow here like kudzu in the Southern States :03:

[Hawk66]

hey Neal,


Technikmuseum Speyer (http://speyer.technik-museum.de/en):
3 hours to the South, huge, probably worth a whole day trip, sub-related they sport a type 205, and some small boats like Biber, Neger and Seehund, scenic route (for an Autobahn)


->if you wanna visit this, just send a message, I do not live far away from it ;)

[Onkel Neal]

Penguin, Hawk,

Technikmuseum Speyer (http://speyer.technik-museum.de/en):
yes, this may be a better destination than Berlin. I would love to make a 6 hour road trip to Berlin but with only 2 days to spend, plus being a foreigner, and a Texan at that, I don't wanna get in the situation where I could miss my flight, get lost, or end up in Russia. I will go over some options tonight and tomorrow and try to come up with an itenerary, where I will be Fri and Sat.

Hawk, if I add this to my Friday schedule, I would be very happy to meet with you. I will post the schedule tomorrow.

Penguin, Dan, if we set up a meeting in Dusseldorf for Sat evening, what would be a good place? Is there a good German restaurant you could recommend? Maybe we should set a place and time for Sat evening, say 19:00, that will help me plan. Plus maybe someone can post this in the other German subsim sites.... :hmm2:

[Penguin]

Penguin, Dan, if we set up a meeting in Dusseldorf for Sat evening, what would be a good place? Is there a good German restaurant you could recommend? Maybe we should set a place and time for Sat evening, say 19:00, that will help me plan. Plus maybe someone can post this in the other German subsim sites.... :hmm2:

I think you may have overlooked post 23 (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=1900187&postcount=23) :03:

D'town lacks cheap rents, sane local politics or a traffic concept, however it has hundreds of dining facilities.
You can have any ethnic food you like, even authentic American - or fake American :). Restaurant-wise you can go from rags to riches within walking distance, with everything in between. You can even have our favorite fast-food, the Currywurst (curry sausage) covered in leaf gold in some venues. :huh:

For real Düsseldorfian food the brewpubs are the best choice. Our traditional cuisine is not fancy, but tasty and filling. For some examples you can take a look at the English menu of the Füchschen here: http://www.fuechschen.de/flashblocks/data/speisekarte/Speisenkarte_GB.pdf My recommendations would be to either try the Düsseldorfer Senfbraten (mustard roast) or the Sauerbraten (marinated 'sour' roast) - the latter tradinionally made of horse meat, however today most restaurants use beef.

[Onkel Neal]

Aye, I saw post 23, I am going to let you call the shots, boss. Where would you like to meet. I'm happy to follow :) But no gold leaf stuff :D

Düsseldorfian food the brewpubs are the best choice

Sounds like a winner, find us a place where we can get a table for 10, in case we get a few guys to show up.

Neal

[Onkel Neal]

Reading the German rules of the road
http://www.usareurpracticetest.com/germany/qi/mc/q87.gif



Question: Whose position is incorrect for the left turn?

Vehicle 1
Vehicle 2
Vehicles 1 and 3


http://www.usareurpracticetest.com/germany/qi/mc/q80.gif
Question: In what order may the vehicles proceed?

2-1-3
3-2-1
3-1-2
Gulp!




http://www.usareurpracticetest.com/germany/qi/mc/q79.gif
Question: In what order must the vehicles proceed?


2-3-1
2-1-3
3-2-1
Lol, I'll just wave at the tractor and wheelie down the sidewalk!

[SquareSteelBar]

1c

2c

3c

:hmm2:

[Wreford-Brown]

This looks a bit like a Canadian '4-way Stop'. Whoever has the biggest vehicle goes first!

[Penguin]

Well in pic 1 and 3 we have trams, weighing several dozen tons, so they have the right of passage ;) - unless you're Darth Vader:

http://www.einslive.de/bilder/mediendb/1live/magazin/extras/2012/02/17/120217_vader_alisa_privat_g.jpg

Traffic info for Neal: The pic was made in Düsseldorf btw, and it shows one of the nuisances when riding a bike here. The tram tracks often run on the road and can be quite slippery when wet, especially when they run across cobblestones.

[Penguin]

Aye, I saw post 23, I am going to let you call the shots, boss. Where would you like to meet. I'm happy to follow :) But no gold leaf stuff :D

Boss, no, I am just a little guy, paid by the city to lead unsuspicious visitors into tourist traps :O: I know it all here, so it's your call what you want to see.


Sounds like a winner, find us a place where we can get a table for 10, in case we get a few guys to show up.

Neal

Alright, so then I suggest the Füchschen. Traditional food, good beer, and they follow the German concept of 'Gemütlichkeit'. I can call them, and book a table there for Saturday.
So at what time do we want to meet?

For a meeting point, the Schlossturm at the Burgplatz would be a nice spot for subsimmers, we have a nice view of the mighty Rhine from there and can guess the angel on bow and the tonnage of the passing vessels. You can see in the next pic, that the tower is as close to the water as Bud Light:

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/3194/nealddorf.png

There is a webcam, so we can also wave to the subsim community: http://www.duesseldorf.de/cam/index2a.shtml
And for any historical interested, the tower is from the time D'town was founded in 1288 – the little bump on the lower left of the 'a' in that pic:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Düsseldorf_um_1288_zur_Zeit_seiner_Stadterhebung.j pg

So for anyone intered in checking out the museum inside the Schlossturm (http://www.vth.de/fileadmin/mw_museum/Duesseldorf/duesseldorf.htm) , we can meet there at 17, if the weather is good, one could also consider go up the Rheinturm TV tower, the tallest building here and watch the view from there. It is 5 minutes by tram, or 15 minutes by foot from there, which would lead us through the marina.
The Füchschen is about 6 minutes by foot from the Schlossturm.

Here is a map:

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3220/map2s.png

When coming by train, take the subway from the Central station to Heinrich-Heine-Allee (all subway lines go there). In the station, take the exit Bolkerstrasse. Just walk straight up on Bolker till you come to a statue with a guy on a horse (at the Rathaus/townhall). Head right and you see the tower.

For people who come by car, I suggest to use the garage at the Grabbeplatz, it's close and reasonable priced (for this town:dead:). Do not park illegal there, Düsseldorf loves to tow away vehicles on a Saturday night. Walk straight up the Mühlenstrasse towards the Rhine: voilá!

[Skybird]

Neal, racing to Berlin one day, and back on the next sounds like horror to me: stress pure. I would skip that or would not plan a big program there. If museums are your interest, then pick one, or two at best. I personally have no interest in tourist "attractions" at all, and certainly not in mueeums, instead I would check for the "centre of gravity" in a city, of which there can be several in a big city, and then simply stroll around there, inhale some of the ambience, look for a restaurant that seems to invite me, and observe the flow of life, and how the locals are moving, maybe following the unexpected sidestreet suddenly opening to my eyes... Many historic places have been mentioned in earlier posts, but believe me - they look for the most very ugly, and not really interesting. The Brandenburg gate for example is tiny and boring and hopelessly overestimated, so is the Alexanderplatz, and the Fernsehturm really only is interesting if you visit the restaurant and enjoy the view from up there - but do not be mistaken, from up there you see a huge panorama of small details that will not give you a real impression of how Berlin looks like when you walk its streets. Checkpoint Charlie and remains of the wall are okay if you think you owe that to your tourist diary, but a great experience they are not. Monuments and museums - don't you have that in Houston? You cannot get the atmosphere of a foreign place by walking around in monuments and museums.

Honestly, I would not recommend Berlin at all. It is beyond me why foreigners always want to go there. There are more beautiful places in Germany. Also, places that are not as dirty as Berlin.

Relax. Keep it easy, don't pack too many dates into your organiser. Do you want to enjoy a travel, or do you want to set records for marking checkpoints on a list? If you realise that you have to hurry to keep up with your plans and time checkpoints, then you have planned something wrong, I would say. I mean you do this for private enjoyment, not professionally, yes? ;) So: no hectic!

[Onkel Neal]

Well in pic 1 and 3 we have trams, weighing several dozen tons, so they have the right of passage ;) - unless you're Darth Vader:



Traffic info for Neal: The pic was made in Düsseldorf btw, and it shows one of the nuisances when riding a bike here. The tram tracks often run on the road and can be quite slippery when wet, especially when they run across cobblestones.

Oh, so that red thing is a train?? What's it doing on the road with the cars?

I totally don't get this one:
http://www.usareurpracticetest.com/germany/qi/mc/q87.gif

Only vehicle 2 can turn left? How's he gonna manage that with vehicle one in his way, going straight? :hmm2:

This is gonna be exciting!
http://www.bldgroup.co.uk/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/super_funny_hilarious_pictures_crazy_fun_laughing_ motorcycle_accident-18591.jpg


Relax. Keep it easy, don't pack too many dates into your organiser. Do you want to enjoy a travel, or do you want to set records for marking checkpoints on a list?

Yeah, I think you're right, I will try to make the riding local, within 3 hours of the city. Are you SURE you won't join us Sat night? :stare: It would be terrific to finally meet one of the most active and prolific Subsim forum members.


Alright, so then I suggest the Füchschen. Traditional food, good beer, and they follow the German concept of 'Gemütlichkeit'. I can call them, and book a table there for Saturday.
So at what time do we want to meet?


Good deal, if I return the bike in Wuppertal at 18:00, I should be able to make it there by 19:30, right? I'll be taking a train back to Dusseldorf. Let me make sure I have this straight: we meet first at Schlossturm at the Burgplatz (in your map) and then we will go to Füchschen and see who can out eat the Texan? Right?

This is my hotel,Grand City Börsenhotel http://goo.gl/maps/1noe
I think Dan D is joining us, who else?

[Onkel Neal]

Yo, it looks like I get on the S8 Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn train at Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof and take it to the Wuppertal Barmen station...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S8_(Rhine-Ruhr_S-Bahn

Is it as easy as it looks?

And I guess the S11 train from the airport to the hotel is cheaper than a cab, right?

Düsseldorf Airport S-Bahn service http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S11_(Rhine-Ruhr_S-Bahn

[SquareSteelBar]

Oh, so that red thing is a train?? What's it doing on the road with the cars?...That red thing is a streetcar [like in Frisco].

The three vehicles are three examples of behavior when turning left. Only vehicle 2 behaves rule conform, vehicle 3 has chosen the wrong lane for turning left, vehicle 1 constrains the streetcar.
Avoid constraining streetcars!





.

[urfisch]

if you are in dusseldorf...i dont have any special places. but in general, i would suggest you to visit:

military and technical spots:

- the museum of the final berlin battle "seelower höhen 1945" in seelow
- westwall bunkers, hurtgen-forest, near aachen
- technical museum speyer
- german war archive in freiburg
- the german museum in munich
- the tank museum in munster
- the v2 museum in peenemunde, rügen island
- uboat u-995 in kiel
- uboat u-2540 in bremerhaven

general spots:

- the brandburg gate in berlin
- the "reichstag" in berlin
- medival town center of lübeck, the well known "hanse city"
- medival town center of lüneburg, the "salt city"
- medival town center of weimar, the "city of goethe"
- the old university from 1516 in marburg, lahn (or similar)

nice countryside:

- countryside behind berlin, brandenburg
- countryside in thuringen, sachsen at the elbe river
- countryside in south-west germany, the wine-route around the "kaiserstuhl"
- countryside around the rhine and ruhr river near essen
- countryside at the north-west coast of germany, the "wattenmeer".
- countryside north of hannover, the "lüneburger heide"
- countryside in mecklenburg, the "mecklenburger seenplatte"
- countryside in northern germany, the "holsteiner schweiz"

some food tips:

- try some regional food in the countryside restaurants, with "spätzle", "klöße" or "bratkartoffeln"! also the different soups might fit your taste!
- try some white and red wine from "baden württemberg"
- try a "wurst- und käseplatte (sausage slices & cheese)" with different german bread types!
- try regional cakes!
- try regional beer! (like "kolsch", "pils" or "weizen")
- get a good liquor, brewed private by farmers

...so far my tips for you, have a good journey!

[PhantomLord]

- uboat u-2540 in bremerhaven


and dont miss the nearby national german maritime museum... its round the corner.

National german maritime museum (http://en.bremerhaven.de/experience-the-sea/objects-of-interest/museums-adventure-worlds/german-maritime-museum/national-german-maritime-museum.11354.html)

[SquareSteelBar]

...- the v2 museum in peenemunde, rügen island...Not Rügen Island but Usedom Island (http://maps.google.de/maps?oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:de:official&client=firefox-a&q=peenem%C3%BCnde&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x47ab04e8a8a86ebf:0x4251ae8ad84cdd0,Peenem% C3%BCnde&gl=de&sa=X&ei=w6LpT9aKHoWMswaYjYGDDg&ved=0CA8Q8gEwAQ).
Wernher von Braun constructed here the V2.



.
(http://maps.google.de/maps?oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:de:official&client=firefox-a&q=peenem%C3%BCnde&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x47ab04e8a8a86ebf:0x4251ae8ad84cdd0,Peenem% C3%BCnde&gl=de&sa=X&ei=w6LpT9aKHoWMswaYjYGDDg&ved=0CA8Q8gEwAQ)

[Onkel Neal]

vehicle 3 has chosen the wrong lane for turning left, vehicle 1 constrains the streetcar.
Avoid constraining streetcars!



Ah! That makes sense now, thanks! :up:

[Dan D]

Oh, so that red thing is a train?? What's it doing on the road with the cars?
http://www.usareurpracticetest.com/germany/qi/mc/q87.gif

I think Dan D is joining us, who else?


Very good question!

Indeed, car 1,even if it is allowed to turn left there, has to make way for the tram train that is approaching from behind because trams have such a long breaking distance, and thus car 1 must continue straight on even if the driver wanted to turn left there.

In case of an accident the damage is shared 50:50. So the driver of car 1 will get only 50 % of his damage compensated and has to compensate 50 % of the trams damage, including possible medical treatment costs for injured passengers.

Even when trams share the road with cars, think of them as if they would use their own lane which is not your lane as car driver.


Yes, I am coming. So it is Penguin, Neal and Dan D so far.

I will phone Penguin later the week about the meeting and plans.

[Paco]

Hi all,

It would be great to meet Neal and the other ones here from Subsim, but Düsseldorf is about 3 or 4 hours one way by car and I'll have no time this weekend. :wah:

@Neal: Have a nice trip and be carefull on the german autobahn.

Greets,
Paco.

[Hawk66]

Hi all,

It would be great to meet Neal and the other ones here from Subsim, but Düsseldorf is about 3 or 4 hours one way by car and I'll have no time this weekend. :wah:

@Neal: Have a nice trip and be carefull on the german autobahn.

Greets,
Paco.

+1 Düsseldorf is a little too far away, unfortunately; but have fun :)

[Tchocky]

Sorry guys, I'd love to but I'll be working all weekend :wah:

Neal, where are you flying in and out of? I may be looking after you ;)

[Dan D]

Being overtaken at 300 km per hour (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFfQGIkNw2A&feature=related)
Porsche Panamera Turbo (S) meets Suzuki B-King - GoPro HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkBf5ebNIYc)
Fastest high-speed overtake you have ever seen! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IibcmOyXBZ4&feature=related)

[Penguin]

@Paco, Hawk, Tchoky: :cry: - too bad you can't make it. I'm sure there will be another opportunity to meet.

Neal landed safely in D'dorf and even survived the ride to the hotel with trams on the road :) - although the German gods did all to keep the Pengu-mobile from moving:

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/9421/0062gc.jpg

[Onkel Neal]

Landed safely, was kindly picked up at the airport by Penguin. He also gave me my first chance to be arrested at the ruins. :)
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=655&pictureid=5754

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=655&pictureid=5755




Autobahnm pfft, I got me a fast motorcycle, get outta my way!
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=655&pictureid=5756

[Catfish]

Have fun :)

I'm not able to make it to Duesseldorf unfortunately, wish you a nice stay ! We are going to Fuechtorf near Muenster, but will have no car there for three days - it's a horse farm lol

All the best,
Kai "Catfish"

[HunterICX]

So you went for the FZ800N?

Nice bike, currently using the one of our shop FZ800S to go back & forth from home to work and yes she's fast alright :D

HunterICX

[Sailor Steve]

Landed safely, was kindly picked up at the airport by Penguin.
Well now I'm jealous. We've talked on the phone, but I've never met him in person. :sunny:

[Onkel Neal]

So you went for the FZ800N?

Nice bike, currently using the one of our shop FZ800S to go back & forth from home to work and yes she's fast alright :D

HunterICX

Yeah, the one I resevred was in the process of being sold. Got the bigger bike for the same price.

[HunterICX]

Yeah, the one I resevred was in the process of being sold. Got the bigger bike for the same price.

:yeah:I don't hear you complain :D
Well you might at the gas station...she's not very economic :O:

HunterICX

[vienna]

Is the bunker still around? Can't remember if they destroyed it or not.


The Bunker is a memory; the Soviets did everything possible to obliterate it. The site is now a parking lot and some buildings with a modest plaque describing what was once there. The plaque also has a photograh of Hitler, one of the very few official places with any depiction of the Reich...

...

[kurfürst]

Hi Neal,

this might be interesting for you:

http://berliner-unterwelten.de/home.1.1.html

the tours are often booked for weeks in advance, but maybe you´re lucky and there´s a chance to pop in. Those "Berliner Unterwelten" tours are very, very interesting and full of history, from WW2 to the cold war.

Viel Spass, Kurfürst

[Herr-Berbunch]

Onkel Neal, to my knowledge, hasn't actually said why he is in Deutschland - specifically the Dusseldorf area.

I think I know. :D

[Onkel Neal]

I haven't, have I? Well, we can discuss that tonight at Burgplatz :smug:

I made a run down to Speyer, the weather was great most of the day. Got the Yammy up to 215 on the bahn but people kept getting in my way. :stare: See, in west Texas you can drive as fast as you want and there's hardly any traffic.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=655&pictureid=5762



http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=655&pictureid=5763




Also made a stop in Worms to see the famous cathedral.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=655&pictureid=5764

[Tchocky]

Is that the Technik Museum in Sinsheim?

[Hawk66]

@Paco, Hawk, Tchoky: :cry: - too bad you can't make it. I'm sure there will be another opportunity to meet.



Hope so^^

Maybe, you get a chance to make a picture of Neil after he's consumed too much beer ;)

[Onkel Neal]

Haha, that will never happen :shucks:

[Penguin]

haha, we'll see! :haha:
Nobody expects the Spanish inquisit... eehhm I mean the good taste of Düsseldorf Altbier! :D
@Neal: everything's still fine with 7:30pm? I might meet up a little earlier with Dan, but we'll be at the Burgplatz then.

[Schroeder]

Is that the Technik Museum in Sinsheim?
I made a run down to Speyer, the weather was great most of the day.
:salute:

[Onkel Neal]

haha, we'll see! :haha:
Nobody expects the Spanish inquisit... eehhm I mean the good taste of Düsseldorf Altbier! :D
@Neal: everything's still fine with 7:30pm? I might meet up a little earlier with Dan, but we'll be at the Burgplatz then.


I am free now, I will be there early too, say 6:30. Great weather! You have my cell number, call me when you get there.

What does this sign mean?
http://t2.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/31/21/63/400_F_31216360_t3F6hjGZJ0oQTFNMuvgZ3dffQthobgFK.jp g


Local residents only? No bikes or cars? If so, then what can go down this road, just walkers and horses? Boy, I broke this one a lot, lol.

[gandalf71]

Welcome back to Germany Neal :up:

That sign means that only residents of that road are allowed to enter by car or motorcycle. It's very common in the countyside, but don't worry too much, most likely the cops will turn a blind eye to a tourist.

Enjoy your trip!

Cheers,
Michael

[SquareSteelBar]

...what can go down this road, just walkers and horses?...Bicycles, skateboards and ignorant tourists, too. :03:

[Jimbuna]

Onkel Neal, to my knowledge, hasn't actually said why he is in Deutschland - specifically the Dusseldorf area.

I think I know. :D

Check Facebook and all will be revealed.

[Sailor Steve]

Hope so^^

Maybe, you get a chance to make a picture of Neil after he's consumed too much beer ;)
NEIL? Who's that? :O:
:rotfl2:

[Herr-Berbunch]

Check Facebook and all will be revealed.

To my knowledge that was posted several hours after my post, I was spot on with my assumption - after filling in the survey for SHO I visited Blue Bytes website and noted it was in Dusseldorf.:D

[Onkel Neal]

Bicycles, skateboards and ignorant tourists, too. :03:
Hey, watch who you're calling ignorant. :D

[Sailor Steve]

Hey, watch who you're calling ignorant. :D
I would think "tourist" was the greater insult. :O:

[Onkel Neal]

I'm not sure which is the insult and which is the modifier.

If they wanted those rules to be enforced, they would print the signs in English, too. :smug:

[Onkel Neal]

Home again!

Whew, those long flights are brutal.

Germany was fantastic, I really enjoyed the trip, even though it was short. I'm sorry I didn't give much notice on the trip, and Hawk, sorry I missed you, I read your suggestion to contract you if I went to Speyer, but after the long day Thursday, I guess it slipped my mind.

I want to say thanks so much to my good friends Dan and Stefan for taking the time to meet up with me Saturday. I respect you guys so much for your hospitality and friendship. :salute:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=655&pictureid=5768

[Sailor Steve]

So who's who? I talked to Stefan on the phone last night, and would like to put the face with the voice. :sunny:

[Onkel Neal]

Stefan is Penguin, the guy in the middle.

I thought it would be appropriate to wear the famed lighthouse shirt :)

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks. I knew he was Penguin, I just didn't know what he looked like.

And I don't care what everybody says, I think the shirt is fine. :D

[Xajorkit]

It was nice to finally meet Neal in person.
\o/

[Jimbuna]

Top marks to Dan and Stefan for the hospitality :sunny:

[Herr-Berbunch]

I think there would be a warm welcome, and cold beer, for almost all subsim members throughout the globe.

:Kaleun_Cheers:

[Jimbuna]

I think there would be a warm welcome, and cold beer, for almost all subsim members throughout the globe.

:Kaleun_Cheers:
Well I'd certainly put Neal at the top of that list....his fathers BBQ and moms banana pudding are awesome :sunny:

[Herr-Berbunch]

Well I'd certainly put Neal at the top of that list....his fathers BBQ and moms banana pudding are awesome :sunny:

Booking flight to Texas as we speak! :D




I wish. :cry:

[Hawk66]

Home again!

Germany was fantastic, I really enjoyed the trip, even though it was short. I'm sorry I didn't give much notice on the trip, and Hawk, sorry I missed you, I read your suggestion to contract you if I went to Speyer, but after the long day Thursday, I guess it slipped my mind.



Can happen ;), anyways there might be another chance to meet with a little luck. Glad, you had a nice stay here in Germany and have mastered the 'Autobahn' :D

[Onkel Neal]

Thanks, appreciate your understanding. I guess my planning was sloppy, originally thinking of Berlin, then changing...then the fun and fast German Rule of Rightaway study. I lost track of what we had planned.

I took a short clip of the Burgplatz fesitval (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rdk0PAl9KY&feature=youtu.be) while meeting up with Dan and Penguin. That crazy song has been stuck in my head for 3 days, so beware. :88)

[Penguin]

I took a short clip of the Burgplatz fesitval (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rdk0PAl9KY&feature=youtu.be) while meeting up with Dan and Penguin. That crazy song has been stuck in my head for 3 days, so beware. :88)

I am 99% sure the song is by "Heavy Gummi" - a pretty great live band. Check out this song, it sounds similar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoCQuBdnj88

And here's Neal in Krautland with red kraut on the plate :):

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6043/nealfood.jpg

[Onkel Neal]

Yum!! :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up: