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Published: December 22nd 2006
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(June 10 to June 16 2006)
Mönchengladbach is a town in western Germany. The center of town is nice, and the buildings are beautiful. The town is small, however the population is surprisingly +260,000, and we found little to do during our time. A NATO or British Armed Forces base (Pilar told us differently everytime) is set up there, and is where we spent most of our time--we spent most of our time at our friends place, bored. The main attraction is the football stadium, and many locals told me they were very disappointed it wasn't selected to host a match for the 2006 World Cup.
June 10
We left Düsseldorf late afternoon and arrived in Mönchengladbach early evening. The town was quiet and the streets were empty. We walked up the hill, where the main stores are, left of the main entrance to the train station. A forty minute hike to the square, and feeling miserable from drinking and taking that walk, we sat at a bar to drink some more. The beers were good, and reasonably priced. The salad I got was great, and it was worth it. We sat and enjoyed the early evening and watched the
Mönchengladbach
Our cook-out at the military base. highlights of the day on the big screen they set up in the square. My impressions of the town were that it was quaint. And that the few days we would be here resting with Pilar wouldn't be so bad. We left, and headed to the NATO base to get some rest.
June 11
We woke up close to noon, and relaxed all day. Pilar was living in a dormitory with two other teachers, one that was teaching English, and the other teaching French. We had a nice cook-out and lots of Belgian beer. Great food and good company, and along with the world cup matches, it turned out to be a relaxing day on the base. Specially since we were leaving early the next morning.
June 12
The USA game was at hand. We woke up at 8 am and headed out of the base. The bus ride into town took 40 minutes, and we got to see much of the town. Again it looked nice and quaint. We got off at the train station, ate breakfast, and headed to Gelsenkirchen for the match. Our friend Tron was coming in on that day as well, and we
Mönchengladbach
Our cook-out at the military base. were to meet up with him at the train station.
We arrived at Gelsenkirchen, and the atmosphere was magnificent. We headed to the supermarket, bought the cheapest bottles of wine we could find. Had some bratwursts and beer, and talked with all the fans, Americans and Czechs.
We met up with Tron, and tried to find a place to drop of our bags.
The information desk said the following--All our lockers are full, but we are setting up buses to put bags in. Follow this road, and go up the escalators, head straight and when you see the policemen turn left. Don't talk to the policemen, they "play angry". You will see World Cup volunteers in front of some buses and you will be able to check your bags there--We did. We partied in town with fans, and rallied before the game. After a while we headed out.
From what I remember the city was very nice, and unfortunately we were there for only a handful of hours. We took a taxi to the stadium; however, halfway there traffic wouldn't let us continue, so we had to walk. Good thing we were drunk. The atmosphere was fantastic. The fans were
Gelsenkirchen
Getting a bite to eat before the match wild, and the US was ready to show the world that it was ready to be part of the world's game. The Czechs had other ideas. They won 3-0. An embarrassment. The American crowd was loud and behind the team to the end. It dominated the stands. However, it didn't translate to the pitch, as they got shut out.
We left the stadium sad, but ready to have some fun. The traffic was terrible, and the tram's line to get in was long. We walked into town. Halfway, we stopped at the fanfest, had more beer and enjoyed the highlights they were showing. We spoke to some of the American fans, and some Germans that suggested the cool places to go and party. We decided to head back to Mönchengladbach.
It's almost midnight by the time we arrive at the station. We make the same trek, and eat at the same restaurant that we had on Saturday, along with some more delicious German beer. We talk, remember the game, and then plan out the rest of the week, and head back to the base.
June 13
This base is extremely boring, and we find that out quickly, especially when
Gelsenkirchen
the field for the USA-Czech game everyone is at work. We decided to take the bus into town, and walk around. It was a beautiful day, and the town is nice. However, just like the military base, we soon find out that there isn't much to do. A Turkish restaurant is open, but empty, and we have a bite to eat. Delicious. We head to the internet cafe. And finally head to a bar to watch the first match of the day. With nothing to do in the town we go back to the base to watch the France-Swiss game with the French teacher. We were drunk, and we had decided to buy two bottles of wine each. By half time, I had already finished one, and was wasted. I finished the second by the end of the game, and had to go to bed by ten cause I was out of control. My brother and Tron caught up without me there and caused some mayhem in my absence.
June 14
We recovered all day, and went once again into town. This time the town square that was set up with the big screen was lively. We drank beers at a Caribbean restaurant, owned by
Gelsenkirchen
the field for the USA-Czech game an old man who spoke perfect English. Watched the first half of the German and Poland game and headed out to the square to join the crowd and disappearing rain. Drank beers with the locals, and enjoyed the festivities as the host nation had beaten Poland. We walked around and decided to head into a night club that was around the corner from the square. Very expensive, and the crowd was alright. Some Germans didn't believe that I was Colombian because I wasn't dark enough (Apparently, since Colombia had played Germany two weeks earlier in a friendly for a warm-up for Germany in Mönchengladbach--and most of Colombia's players are black or very tanned--the people I talked to concluded that everyone from Colombia must be the same way). Quite sad when no one believed me, but oh well. The bartender was extremely nice, and poured away when we asked. A Polish girl stole my beer, as she first 'accidentally' spilled some of it and as I was looking at what she spilled, she walked off with it. Quite strange. Early morning, we head out, and try to find a cab. The streets of this small town are still buzzing, and almost
Gelsenkirchen
Final 3-0 Czech everyone is going for a snack after a night of drinking. We talk to some locals, very nice, and tell us that Germany is going to win it all. We also discuss American football, as many are fans of the American side because Kasey Keller, the American goalie, plays for Mönchengladbach. We get into a cab, I roll the window, and not knowing that the guy had a German flag on the window, it falls. He becomes irate. Screaming, hollering, and telling us, we owe him money. My brother at this time gets irate as well, and we walk off. The next cab, is quite different. The lady is extremely nice, apologizes for her colleague's outburst, and genuinely, not because we are tourist to the country and wants us to see the good side of Germany, says that he was wrong. We go to bed.
June 15
We relaxed all day. Take it easy. Watch movies. Watch the matches on TV at the dormitory, and spend time with Pilar before we leave the next day.
June 16
We say goodbye to everyone and thanked them for a great time. Mönchengladbach wasn't all that great. The town is quaint
Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen in the background and has nice architecture in the center of town. For the most part the people were nice and welcoming, especially the immigrant population. The military base, however, was boring in my opinion. Not much to do. We got into the train station around 10 to start an 8 hour train ride down to Constance.
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Tron
non-member comment
You forgot about that intense tournament of shirtless ping pong that we played where the ball kept going out the window, now that was a highlight.