In Germany

I am back from my trip to Europe.

I will write about it in 4 parts (Traveling to Europe, in Catalonia, in Germany and Coming Home.)

In Germany

Since I spent 11 days in Germany I won’t go through each day, but will give a generalized account of the different aspects of my trip.

Wuppertal

My flight from Barcelona to Dusseldorf had no issues and since I was tired I deiced to take a taxi to my hotel in Wuppertal rather than 2 Trains.

The Taxi dropped me off at the furthest part of the Pedestrian-Only Area from my Hotel (of course I didn’t realize that until later) and I had to walk down many stairs  - Wuppertal has a lot of stairs – with my suitcase and tried to find my hotel.

I found the hotel, after a lot of walking, only to see that the door was locked. I had to figure out how to call a German phone number from my American phone and spoke with a woman who came right to the door.

The hotel door was closed to non-checked in Guests until 3 pm and so I asked to leave my suitcase with them so I could get something to eat before they opened. I was allowed to and so then walked around to see what there was.

During the day I toured Wuppertal by myself while my Friend worked.

I took the Floating Train, went shopping, went to the Floating Train Museum and took a lot of pictures around the City.

Hotel Astor

The Hotel Astor doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it was nice inside. It was clean, the room had everything I needed and the Breakfast, which cost extra, was good – your food was waiting on a table with your room number on it.

The first day there was one other person with me, but the last 2 days it was just me eating alone.

All in all I would recommend the Hotel Astor.

Christmas Markets

In my 11 days in Germany I went to 10 different Christmas Markets.

I went to 3 Christmas Markets in Cologne, 1 in Dusseldorf, 1 in Dortmund, 2 in Wuppertal, 1 in Kusel, 1 in Ramstein and 1 in Trier.

I have always loved going to Christmas Markets  - ever since I lived in West Germany as a Kid and in Germany as a Teenager.

In fact, we made several trips back to Germany around December just for the Christmas Markets.

The ones I went to this year (some with Friends and some with my Brother and his Wife) did not disappoint. I couldn’t have the Gluewein, but did have Hot Chocolate, Kinderpunch, Curry Wurst and Potato Pancakes.

 

Dortmund

After checking-out of the Hotel Astor and staying at my Friend’s House for an hour or two we took the train to Dortmund.

I checked-in at my new Hotel (Base Camp) and we went to my Friend’s Parents’ House.

I had met my Friend when they worked at the Overnight Summer Camp for the Mentally and Physically Disabled in New York. I worked there 4 Summers and my Friend worked there 2 Summers.

I then visited them in Germany in 2006 and 2014 and they came and stayed with my (along with their Parents) in 2016.

It was great to see them again.

We had a fun time together, we talked, we had delicious food – including Pumpkin Soup (which I had never had before) and looked at pictures.

Also, while in Dortmund I met-up with another Friend (they didn’t work in New York) but I met them there and visited them in 2006 and in 2014.)

We went to their house and made Christmas Cookies before going to eat at a local Italian Restaurant.

I had a great time visiting them all again.

 

Base Camp

My Hotel in Dortmund (Base Camp) was nice and centrally locally.

The room was large with a Kitchenette and the Breakfast Buffet, which was extra, was a real Buffet.

I would recommend Base Camp.

 

My Brother and Sister-In-Law

After visiting my Friends I took the first the ICE Train and then the RE Train to visit my Brother and his Wife -  my Brother was stationed in Germany a few months ago.

I haven’t seen them since they were in New York in 2019 so it was nice to see them again.

We went to the Christmas Market in their Town, to Trier,  to the different US Military Bases in the area, to a Castle Ruins and to a really nice German Restaurant.

We also just hung out and had a good time.

US Military Bases

I haven’t been to a US Military in Germany since I was a Teenager and I went to 3 different ones (2 Army and 1 Aur Force) while I was there.

I have to say I didn’t like that at the 2 US Army Bases they had German Security (not even German Military or German Police) guarding the Base Gates and saying who could and couldn’t not enter the American Base.

I had to go to the Visitor’s Center to get a Base Pass (at each different Base) and the Germans inside the Visitor’s Center barely spoke English. They also used my picture from when I was a Teenager on my Base Pass  - not a very up-to-date Security System.

It was nice to see how much the Bases had changed. The PX was now more like an American Mall with stores and food places from the US.

Germany Conclusion

All-in-all I had a really great time in Germany with my 4 Friends and my Brother and his Wife.