JerrysJourneys

We left Austria for Germany with Amberg as our destination.  Larry and Glenda Ray were there the week prior to our arrival and recommended it to us as a place we need to see.  So we went there. Amberg is another German city that saw its origins with the Romans.  Amberg is ancient, beautiful, and one of Bavaria's hidden gems.  It is located in the Upper Palatinate, between Regensberg and Bayreuth. It was an important trading center in the middle ages.  After WWII it was the site of a U.S. Army post, Pond Barracks, until 1992 when it was turned back to the local government. There are many buildings dating back to the 13th century.  The Stadtbrille, a bridge with 3 arches was constructed in the 1600's.  It replaced a 1400's structure.  It was also part of the wall that surrounded the city.  It was one of the best defended cities in Germany.  Certainly worth a day trip. Linda, in front of Stadtbrille Amberg Main entrance gate This stream runs through the town Bridge over stream...

As I am writing this blog entry, we are listening to the Georgia - Missouri football game on the computer.  1st Quarter, Ga 6 - Mo 0.  Just waiting for Auburn to start.  It is 6:45 pm, Austrian time. Today was another interesting day.  We drove back into Germany to Berchtesgaden and found out what we had missed on our first trip.  The first time we visited the Eagles Nest, we came away feeling like we missed something.  Today we found out what it was.  Berchtesgaden, the Eagles Nest, and Obersalzburg are 3 separate locations.  Berchtesgaden is a pretty little mountain village in the valley below Obersalzburg.  The Eagles Nest is a "tea room" set on the very top of the mountain above Obersalzburg and Berchtesgaden. Unfortunately for the residents of Obersalzburg, Hitler chose to visit Obersalzberg while on vacation in the late 1920's.  Unfortunately for the residents, he loved it there.  As he grew in power and stature, his financial bottom line increased.  He then bought ...

Today was an education for me.  One of the highlights of this trip, so far, has been the "Sound of Music" tour.  I am sure I was not aware of the  following that exists with the fans of the movie.  I think that it was the biggest event in the modern history of Salzburg, Austria.  I believe, also, that I was the only person on the tour bus that did not have an intimate knowledge, not only of the actors, but also the songs and scene locations.  I felt like I was taking a test in school with a group of A students and I was struggling for a C. Great tour.  Beautiful scenery and very interesting background information on the production of the film itself.  Like I said, big business in Salzburg.  The company we took the tour with has 2 tour busses twice a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, just on this tour.  Every bus is full.  This movie was filmed 50 years ago.  A tremendous amount of interest. Julie Andrews, 50 years ago Jerry & Linda, 2014 Old Town Salzburg Official Soun...

This morning we left our hotel for our final leg to Salzburg, Austria.  Our route took us through Stuttgart, Ausburg, and Munich.  We had a beautiful drive through Bavaria.  I know there are road building projects in the USA, but what we do can't hold a candle to the massive construction projects throughout Germany.  If it is 2 lane, they are making it 4 lanes, if it is 4 lanes, they are making it 8 lanes.  Goes on for miles and miles.. Back to the trip...when we left the hotel, we put our destination in both GPS's, the German GPS (that speaks English) in the car and the American GPS we brought with us.  When pulling out, both GPS's said go 3 miles then turn right.  A few minutes later, the German GPS said go straight ahead, there was a traffic problem, and I was being rerouted.  The American GPS said turn right.  I turned right.  The German GPS was correct.  I had the opportunity to reflect on my decision, while stuck in traffic. Well, we worked through this dilemna and ma...

After a good nights rest in quarters at Spangdahlem, (I got up at midnight, played on the computer for a couple of hours), had a cup of coffee, and went back to bed. A taxi picked us up at 10:00am and took us to Bitburg to pick up our rental car at Avis.  The car was not there.  It was in Trier, but someone else had it leased and had not turned it back in.  Mark, the Avis representative, found us another car in Prum, DE.  Mark then drove us there on the autobahn.  Life is a series of experiences.  I have never had an experience like this one.  I know you have all heard about the German drivers on the autobahn.  I did not take any pictures, because I was holding on with both hands.  Ever how fast the VW would go, we went.  Over 220 km's ph.  Exciting, terrifying.  I did not even turn around to look at Linda.  We made a 30 minute trip in about 12 minutes.  Harry would have loved it.  Later, after we picked up our car and headed for Bavaria, I was on the autobahn, doing pretty well I ...