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Background: As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.

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By Paul and Sara
November 6th 2008

Danube Daze

Europe » Germany » Bavaria

Ride in the Rain!
We pause for a picture despite the rain on our ride out of Kelheim.

For the past week we've been pedaling along the Danube River, through nearly freezing rain and warm sunshine, making our way from our wonderful hosts in Kelheim, to Paul's equally hospitable family in Waidhoven, Austria. Here's a recap of our journey between: After saying our goodbyes to the Anzinger family in Kelheim, we rode off through the drizzle of rain down the Danube. It was cold that day. The light rain and cold air kept us from stopping. When we stopped we got cold. As long as we're on our bikes we're warm. At least until the wetness soaks through, that [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
November 5th 2008

Leaving on "Holiday"

Europe » Germany » Bavaria

Hallo!!!! Today, WEDNESDAY (day 8?), Beth and I are leaving for "Holiday"!!!! She has 6 days off from work and we're going to Dresden und (and) Berlin. So you all will just have to wait on pins and needles for updates and photos until we get back next week. =) Lots of love from both of us!!!!! April [View Full Entry]

By Kaitlin Bailey
November 4th 2008

Many, Much, Munich.

Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Munich

Clock Tower

It felt so good to step off the train into Munich after a long 9 hour train ride from Paris. There were five of us in a compartment trying to comfortably sleep. We arrived early in the morning and our hostel was located just two blocks from the main train station. We stayed in the Jaeger's Hostel, appropriately named after Jaagermeister, a popular German alcohol because upon checking in we received a ticket for a free drink ticket! It was early in the morning, so we dropped off our bags and had the entire day to explore Munich. We walked to [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
November 2nd 2008

A long walk, a fabulous dinner, and SKYPE! =) (oh yeah, and emoticon!)

Europe » Germany » Bavaria

Sun-set over Hofheim

SUNDAY -- Day 5 Another day off for me! Beth was out of the house by 5:30 am to go do rounds at "The Big Farm"; I stayed in bed and slept as if I were on vacation. In the afternoon we went for a walk on the path beside the road going away from Hofheim, then cut over, went through another little town, then made our way back home. Today wasn't as sunny as yesterday, but still warm enough. Some of the trees are holding their fall yellows and reds beautifully! And then we got to see the sun [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
October 31st 2008

More Cows

Europe » Germany » Bavaria

This is was our favorite
He was completely white with super curly hair. Must have been part sheep! lol ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!

Day 3 Another early day ... we left at 5:30 am, arriving at "The Big Farm" by 6:15. This farm has the clinic do all their cow checks, shots, etc. Most places can administer their own penicillin, oxytocin, etc. But this place is so big that they have a vet from the clinic come in each morning to do "the rounds". I joked that Beth reminded me of a nurse as she went from cow to cow with her cart of meds and card file for the history of each one. I wondered the barn a bit, feeling sorry for [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
October 29th 2008

Ich bin in Deutschland!! (I'm in Germany!!)

Europe » Germany » Bavaria

Ich und Beth in Deutschland!

Hallo! Well, I guess I just can't stay in one place for too long! I'd only been in Michigan for little over two months and already I'm traveling again! Actually I got my ticket for Germany last Spring while I was still in Honduras. My super-good friend, Beth, has been living in Germany and working as a veterinarian here since last Summer. She came down to visit me in Honduras last May, so I wanted to do the same for her. (really I'm just using it as another excuse to travel ... he he he. No, just kidding. The only reason [View Full Entry]

By Paul and Sara
October 28th 2008

Our Week in Kelheim

Europe » Germany » Bavaria

Resting or Posing?
Albert, Sara and Paul sit above the Danube as it churns and turns through the high cliffs near Kelheim.

After 8 days or so in Kelheim it's about time we share what we've been up to. The Anzinger family, being so kind to offer us a room in their house, have been exceptional hosts, and we can't begin to share our experiences here with them without first thanking them for their hospitality. It's been so great staying here with them. Thank you so much Albert, Rosemarie, Albert, Anna-Lena, Matthias for welcoming us into your home for the last few days. We also have to thank Antonia, Albert's girlfriend, for showing us around Kelheim as well, and for making us a [View Full Entry]

By Dewz
October 27th 2008

Oktoberfest!

Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Munich

Oktoberfest Entrance!

Hi!! Okay so I'm going to try and get caught up with all my blogs! OKTOBERFEST in Munich was simply wild. We caught an 8AM bus to Munich. It is around an 8 hour bus ride to Munich. We actually almost missed the bus, we had to run for it, but we made it! On the bus, we had one stop - Katie and I went to the bathroom. We also stopped to buy a snickers, so we were walking towards the bus, and it went a little something like this: Susan: Do you remember which one our bus is? Katie: [View Full Entry]

By EuroKen
October 26th 2008

Southern Baveria

Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Munich

Junkerschule
This Junkerschule building was taken over by the Americans (General Patton) after the war and renamed Flint Kaserne. It was the home of the 10th Special Forces Group and the 7th Army NCO Academy.

Living in Bavaria was a fantastic experience. Most Americans just visit there; I got to spend a couple of years there. Learning to ski was a skill that I could take back to the states with me and turn it into a business! Munich is the technical capitol of Germany and the capitol of Bavaria. I lived south, down the Munich-Saltzburg Autobahn about 30 miles. During the 1960's, the country had just rebuilt itself from the war. Most folks didn't have cars so I was the exception. In 1936, the Nazis built a school for the SS called the Junkerschule; that's [View Full Entry]

By Paul and Sara
October 24th 2008

The Isar and The Rolling Hills of Bavarian Farmlands

Europe » Germany » Bavaria

Sara at Lunch
Lunchtime on the Isar just north of Munich.

We left Munich following the Isar river on its journey toward the Danube. This was a surprisingly beautiful ride. After passing through the heart of Munich our path brought us to the Englischer Garten. A giant public park right near downtown. The Englischer Garten is huge. Covering 3.7 square kilometers it is larger than Central Park in New York. As we rode we passed vast expanses of grass and beautiful wooded areas, all right along the Isar. After the park, the Isarradweg (Isar bike path) continued through a very large nature preserve. With no cars and just a few other cyclists [View Full Entry]

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