Zurich So Rich

This past Friday night consisted of a huge 1000+ person annual IMS Gear information session.  Sounds fun, eh?  Actually, it was.  Limitless delicious food from the buffet, an open bar, and plenty of fun people to talk to.  There was also a traditional German band playing songs like Summer of '69 on marching band instruments, and I'm still undecided how I feel about that.  However, the night was disappointingly shenanigan-free, and I didn't feel bad about leaving before midnight.



Don't trust weather forecasts.



I woke up bright, early, and still full on Saturday morning.  The forecast predicted a cool 12-degree day and a city socked in by fog.  I decided to go anyway.

After a transfer in Singen, I took a seat in the Swiss inter-city train.  A 77 year old lady sat next to me, and we had an incredibly broken conversation in German, with frequent searches through my handy-dandy phrase book.  My German is improving, but have a long way to go before I can carry out a regular conversation.  For now, conversations are super animated and incredibly entertaining.



Anyway, about that weather.  This is what greeted me when I stepped outside:

Yeah.  19 degrees and sun.  I dropped by the tourist office, picked up a city guide, and started my 6 hour walk around the city.  10 minutes into the walk, my jacket, sweater, and flannel vanished.  Poof.  Zap.  Snap Crackle and Pop.

The view from Lindenhof, a hillside with history from 1500 B.C.

Also from Lindenhof

Took a stroll down to the docks.  One boat appeared to have a problem.  

Mercedes 300SL, as seen next to the market on the bridge (see previous picture)

Pissoir.  I'm never calling it a urinal again.

The lake was spectacular

Proof I was there, and still pale from the winter

Heavy processing shows the view of the Alps beyond the lake

Statue preparing to karate chop a falcon

Jokes.  

Phb-b-b-b-b-b-b-b (try it)

I'd have lunch here, but I'm on a budget of less than "I have a boat in Zurich" 

Classy hotel

More panning action

The Grossmünster (Big-ass church) had really cool stained glass made from thin slices of agate.  Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside.  

A sign on a bar window

Toblerone Bicycle!

3 Towers (as seen from the university)

They have nice study areas here

Just the main hall in the university. No biggie

An ancient tram carries students from the city below during the week.  I walked, seeing as it was a Saturday.  

After all of that, I successfully managed to spend a grand total of 0 Swiss Francs in one of the world's most expensive cities!

I went back to the train station.  This was happening:

Hockey is played with a little European flair here.  Translation: more beer, less clothes.


I took a slightly different route home in order to check out the Rhine Falls.  As it turns out, entrance to the viewing area was free after 5 p.m., so I succeeded in spending a day in Switzerland having contributed nothing to their economy!

The falls

Viewing platform over the water

The quantity of water rushing towards the platform was incredible

Another angle of the viewing platform

I woke up on Sunday expecting to hear the pitter-patter of rain and a gloomy day outside, as the forecast had predicted.  Nope, brilliant sunshine all day.  Scumbag weather.  I still followed through with my original plan of trip planning, and spent 14 hours in front of the computer.  You'll find out where I'm going as the weeks go by!


There may or may not be an update next week, as I probably won't have access to a computer.  Just sayin'

Stuttgart Gearhead Weekend #2

I had a German exchange roommate named Anton at UBC two years ago.  A shy, relatively reclusive fellow with a hilarious and outgoing girlfriend from California, he came and left without leaving much of an impression (except for stealing my bowls from the kitchen).

On Friday night I went to the town of Eisenbach (pop. ~2000) for my friend Simon's birthday and housewarming get-together.  Two of his friends had lived in Vancouver for a year, studying at UBC and skiing at whistler - what are the chances?  After some pizza and conversation, I decided to pop the big question.  "It's a long shot, but did you know a guy named Anton?"  

Yes. Yes they did know Anton, and even had a class with him.  To sum things up: Germany has a population of about 81 million.  Less than 100 German undergraduate students study at UBC each year.  Anton is shy.  Anton does not live anywhere close to where I am now (I think he was from Munich? I could be mistaken).  With the exception of finding out I wasn't invited to Anton's going-away party, that made my night awesome.

Anton - if you read this, no hard feelings.  Even though I invited you to my birthday.


I was going to go to Karlsruhe on Saturday but my 3am bedtime put a decisive end to that flakey plan.  I rode my bike around Donaueschingen instead, and went to the park behind this nice little manor:

Local Royalty

I was strolling leisurely through the park with birds singing and the wind rustling through the trees.  Next thing I know these guys decide to fire up a little reminder of my Grade 7 Graduation Ceremony:

Bagpipers.  Hooray

With the ambience drastically changed, I quickened my pace.
The rest of the day was spent riding my too-small bike around aimlessly and practicing my photography at the highway, which didn't result in any great photos.


Sunday was a great day.  I went to Stuttgart again with Sven from work - this time for a ridiculously large car convention.  The Stuttgart messe (convention centre) was packed full with what must have been 15000 cars. Obviously, this made me very happy.  Even though we skipped a few halls, we spent 6 hours walking around the massive venue.  Just for you, I filtered the 350 photos I took down to 7.

Misty-eyed Ford Focus RS

Porsche GT3 RSR

McLaren F1 GTR

Ford Mustang Mach 1

Interior of a Funny Car

Dodge Challenger R/T

Chevrolet Camaro RS

Sunday also marked a milestone for my Germany trip: my first ride on the unrestricted Autobahn!

It's ridiculous to think that this is legal here:

On the way to 220 km/h

The trip time was reduced considerably from the previous weekend.  Think 45 minutes vs 2 hours by train.  This also made me very happy.  

Stuttgart Gearhead Weekend #1

After a Friday night soccer practice, I woke up bright and early on Saturday to make the 2-hour trek to Stuttgart.  I had three targets: the Mercedes museum, Königstraße, and the Porsche museum.  I managed to hit them in that order, and took over 300 photos along the way (don't worry, I didn't post them all)

First off was the double-helix styled building of the Mercedes museum.

Upon entering, I checked my bag and picked up my audio guide.  I felt like a champ with my garb consisting of straps, wires and goofy headphones.  Especially when I took a picture of myself taking a picture of myself on a tv.

The museum was laid out brilliantly.  To start, you step into the coolest looking elevator I've ever been in.

You exit into the top floor of the museum, expecting to see cars.  Nope, horse.

Horse

From there you wind down the building in a chronological masterpiece consisting of the development of Mercedes over the last century and a bit, tied in with significant events and relevant facts pertaining to the time period of the cars on display.  The lighting was spectacular, and the displays cohesive.  I was impressed.

One of the first, and an orange tie

5.9 Horsepower, 2.5 Litres, and 337 lbs

The Second Display (Other Floors were Equally as Well-Presented)

The First Mercedes to Fit the Modern Definition of Car

Opulence

I Want This Horn!

Hipster Fresh from the Early Days

Dreamy, With Side Pipes

Princess Diana's Mercedes SL, and Some Important Guy's Modified SUV

Look Ma, No Wheel!

Engine Tech Changed a Bit Over 100 years: 870 Horsepower, 3 Litres, and 209 lbs

Even the Cafeteria/Bar is Cool Here

Once that three-plus hour adventure was complete, I hopped back on the S-Bahn (Stuttgart subway) to the centre of the city, where I took a jaunt down Königstraße (King Street).  This was a massive, pedestrian-only street with some of the best shopping the region has to offer.  I don't much care for shopping so I just walked and people-watched.
Halfway down the road is Schlossplatz, where there is a large grass area and a few giant old buildings.  I got a free bagel and cream cheese (thanks Philadelphia!) and took a seat on the grass.  It was 21 degrees out, and felt like summer!

Hints of St. Patrick's Day Here and There

After relaxing in the sun, I got back on the S-Bahn to head to the Porsche museum.  I had read online that it didn't live up to the magnificence of the Mercedes museum, and I can't argue with that assertion.  There were some cool cars, but it was lacking in.. passion, or something of the sort.  Still totally worth checking out, even through the overly strong pro-Porsche audio commentary.

Impressive Architecture

Produces Enough Downforce to Drive Upside-Down

Brushed Aluminum 928 Overlooking Stuttgart

Cutaway View of the Latest 911

Some Proportions were Never Meant to be Changed.  Goofy Much?

16 Cylinders of Fury

Snuck into the "Kids-Only" Section, Where They Had Some Awesome Garage Displays

That night, the Porsche museum was having "Night at the Museum," and was open for a big gala event until 2am.  I didn't care, so I left.

I went to the Irish Bar in Villingen (10 minutes train ride from Donaueschingen), and celebrated St. Patrick's day with a few friends and Guinness's.  Pretty tame night - the Germans just don't celebrate like people do at home.  Mildly disappointing for my first time celebrating.  However, the live music was awesome, and I got a cool Guinness hat to never wear!

The weather took a turn for the worse on Sunday, so I spent the day editing photos and lazing around.  I woke up to snow on Monday morning.  Woohoo!