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a warm welcome

It was a long trip, but I finally made it back to Dallas Saturday evening (5/13/06). Unfortunately, my trip was extended by about 6 hours when I missed a connecting flight and another hour to wait on my bag to arrive. What a mess!! I had specifically booked an early morning flight to be back in time for Amy & Trent’s wedding, and I totally missed it — sorry guys!!

But it is great to be home! As you can see, I had a sweet welcome home picture fom Emily waiting on me when I arrived. I also had a beautiful wife and daughter to greet me at the airport! Katherine had really changed in 2 weeks. The most exciting change is that she will now smile in response rather than just randomly!!

I have now posted all my pictures from Germany on our website http://samandchristybroyles.com/ Please go check them out. I labeled almost all of the pics, but I will try to add some more comments too.

town mascot?

On thing that really began to puzzle me last week was how everyone knew I speak English rather than German, even before I speak. I would walk into a restraunt and the waiter would either say “hello” or get this look of dreak on his face before trying to communicate with me in broken English. It made more sense to me when Christy & I came to Europe on vaction. I just assumed that we looked like tourists from our bags and camera, but that doesn’t fit on this trip. I don’t think I look very different than the locals. We have about the same skin color and hair color. I don’t think I walk differently or look around differently.

Sometimes people get it wrong and assume I speak German. I try to politely say that I don’t speak German, but I think we usually both end up feeling a little awkward. The funny part of this story, is that during my second week here in Freising, this awkward situation is happening all the time, even here in the hotel, where you think the staff might begin to recognize me!! The big difference — I haven’t shaved in a week!!!!

By the way, there are bears all over Freising! For some reason businesses paint a fiberglass bear like a sign and put it out front. Munich had Lions everywhere — you’ll see more when I post all my pics on our main website.

can't find the laundry mat?

Every business, other than restraunts, in Europe seems to close at 5pm. When do people shop? I don’t know.

I also don’t know where to find a laundry mat. TI will foot the bill for “reasonable” laundry expenses when traveling, but I don’t think 5 bucks for a pair of unders would qualify. I think there’s some confusion about dry cleaning VS laundry — I don’t need or want my skivies pressed and starched!!!

So I do what any engineer would do… (Read on …)

Cherub VS Chicken Dragon

One thing that’s always fun about visiting old monuments is seeing the crazy artwork — this pic is from a monument in the Marienplatz in Munich. It makes me wonder if the artist had a fear of chickens. Did he have chicken dragon nightmares? Does the chicken dragon represent something deeper? Perhaps the cherub is about to free the chicken of his evil dragon!! Perhaps we are all chicken when it comes to letting the cherub cut off our evil dragons!!!

church at night

Schnitzel Weiner Art pan frittes does not include weiners and has nothing to do with art. Unless flattened pork that’s been battered and fried then served with a mount of fries is art….. oh wait…. THAT IS ART!!!!

 I had to add another picture of the church in this plaza!

luxury cruiser?

“Sir, would you prefer a general motors or a mercedes?”… I’ll take the mercedes…. DOH!!!

I think America is the only place in the world that assumes a mercedes is a luxury vehicle. Everywhere else mercedes sells a full line of vehicles, from compact to luxury to work trucks.

This is a good little car. It’s easy to drive and park — now I just need to figure out how to navigate with all the German signs!!!

view from my room

This picture is the view from my hotel room window towards the town center. I’m staying in the Marriot in Freising, Germany, located just a block North of the historic downtown area. The hotel and my room is pretty nice, but the only English on the TV is on CNN, CNBC, and MTV during the American songs or shows like ‘Pimp My Ride.’ That may not seem like a big deal, but when I’m traveling alone and have no one to talk with as I eat dinner or explore the town, I really start to miss having a conversation or just hearing English! Parking and breakfast cost extra, but TI is buying, so I don’t mind!

Freising central

I just came back from dinner. I walked about one block and ate in the plaza pictured, just to the right of the church. My tip for visiting Germany — order anything that ends in schnitzel or wurst!! I had a Jaggerschnitzel — pan fried chicken smothered in mushroom gravy with a side of noodles. TASTY! (Read on …)