Heidelberg Dec. 23

I arrived around lunch time in Heidelberg.  It could be considered either a large town or a small city.  The main tourist attractions in Heidelberg are the buildings themselves, this is because the city was never bombed and offers a pristine glimpse into pre-war Germany.  In fact, Heidelberg is the largest non-bombed city in Germany.  During my only day in the city, I visisted the castle ontop of the hill looking down over the city.  Besides being an impressive castle, it also offers an impressive vantage point from which really good photos can be taken.

Day trip to the Massif du Vercours

The international office organized a hiking event.  The original intention was to use snow shoes, however, there was not any freshly fallen snow so it was slightly icey and not powdery.   We walked a distance of about 15-20 km (9-12 miles).  What made the trip even more entertaining was that a large percentage of the perticipating students were exchange students from Quebec.  So they were accustomed to a North American culture and yet French was their native language.

A cabin for picnicking and camping

Friday Lunch

Porsche Museum (Stuttgart, Germany)

The other main attraction in Stuttgart is the Porsche museum.  The Porsche museum was just as well assembled and maintained as the Mercedes museum, and yet was still different.  It represented the brand well, almost all of the cars were either sports cars or race cars.

The bridge between factories. Every Carrera 911 has passed through that bridge.

Before Porsche was Porsche, he worked for other manufacturers.

Some classic race cars.

The "speedsters".

Early 911's.

The first Carrera to be a 911 Carrera.

The first Carrera RS.

A completed F1 car for 1947.  The team which ordered them ran out of money just before delivery. Considered a technological marvel for its time.

The first Carrera (356, 911's came later).

This one is actually street legal.

1962: The only all-Porsche F1 car ever (the 1947 model was never raced).

The American exhibit. Celebrates the importance of Porsches sent to America.  The only market with enough money to buy Porsches after the war.

Mercedes museum (Stuttgart, Germany)

One of the main attractions of Stuttgart is the Mercedes museum.  The museum is right in the heart of the Mercedes corporate area of the city.  I saw many cars on the street that were covered in plastic. These were prototype cars being tested on the road, but covered to prevent people taking pictures of the future models.  The Mercedes museum itself was very large, clean and well organized. It started with the first engines built by Daimler and then proceeded to explain every generation of cars produced by Mercedes up to current models.  There were way to many cars to take pictures of, so here is a sense of the museum.

Some of the very first models.

The 1920's.

The 1930's and first uses of supercharging. 

Rebirth of Mercedes after the war.

One of the most coveted cars of all time, the 300SL gullwing. 

The original Silver Arrow which was stripped of its paint to meet weight requirements for racing.

The behind car still holds highest speed on a public road (autobahn).  Its successor (foreground) never was finished because of the war.

Ringo Starr's Mercedes in front of a car used in Jurassic Park.  Also saw the Pope's Mercedes and one owned by Princess Diana.

Skiing again

I went skiing today, first time in about a month.  I didn't have any problems and was actually better than I was last time.  I no longer really fall down.

Just got off the bus, 9 AM.

On top of one of the mountain peaks.

View from one of the lift stations.

Looking down into the valley where many people rent a lodge for the week.

A view in the ski town.

Lunch yesterday (Monday)

Its good to be back eating at the cafeteria.

Stuttgart Dec. 20-22

After walking around Zurich, I was on a train to Germany.  Stuttgart supposedly has the longest pedestrian street in Germany.  It is a really long road with stores, my hostel was at the end of this street.  Stuttgart is very new.  I did not really see any old buildings except for a an old theatre and a few governmental buildings.  Stuttgart is very industrial and important economically.  Both Mercedes and Porsche come from Stuttgart.  Also, the christmas markets completely filled several streets.  Most of my meals were eaten at the Christmas markets, although one night I decided to go to the groccery store and just eat fruit.  I also saw three friends from my american university cycling team on the large pedestrian street; what a surprise.  Two of them are related and have a German mother so they spend Christmas in Germany, nonetheless, what are the chances of that.

A government building today, apparently the "new castle"... residence of wealthy family at one time.

Opera house/ theatre

"Old Castle" and Christmas markets.  The Germans really love to go all-out for Christmas.

Christmas market.

And again...

Inside look of the "Old Castle" courtyard. Now an art museum.

Zurich Dec. 20

I began my day with a train at 6 AM to Stuttgart, Germany.  The train passed through Geneva, Bern and Zurich (all in Switzerland).  There was only about 5 minutes in Geneva and Bern so I stayed on the train and ate my breakfast of cheese and a baguette.  In Zurich however, I had almost a 45 minute lay-over.  I thus had enough time to get out and walk the old part of the city.

View of Switzerland from train. Between Bern and Zurich.

Walking along the main road from the train station in the city center.

View of the old town along the river.

On train to Stuttgart from Zurich, near German border... possibly in Germany.