Some of you are aware that I was on a business trip to Europe. For personal security reasons, I don't normally announce these trips to the general population. Not because I don't trust you guys, I just don't trust the unknowns who might figure it's a good time to do harm to either the Guru or my household.

However, my take on Europe in general.

My trip started 16 days ago with a flight from LAX to Frankfurt. The airport in Frankfurt is huge and no different really than any American airport. It strangely reminded me of Baltimore! I think it was the weather.

I then went to the small town near Frankfurt I was going to be working and staying.

I don't want to elaborate on details about my work; the company is rather private about these things, so I am going to respect that and express details about the trip itself.

On a whole, the German people were nice but rather distant. The visit lacked warmth, really. The country side was nice, the weather icky, the Autobahn awesome (the road is perfect. Just perfect).

The highlight of the week was a visit to the Porsche Museum in Stutgard. A lovely place that I highly recommend. I will post some pics shortly.

After a week in Germany, I headed to France. The companies office is in a suburb of Paris.

I landed at Charles De Gaulle Airport. This is the place with all the tubes and stuff. The airport, generally speaking, is a pain in the ass!

However, Paris... damn. Just damn. The city is an international treasure. The history, the architecture, the art. There are several people over the years who deserve personal thanks for preserving this place.

The food... oh my God, the food. The worse meal in Paris is better than the best meal most any other place.

Don't shop on les Champs Elysees!! This is like Rodeo Drive in Belair... omg... it's EXPENSIVE and not necessarily worth it. The Euro exchange is not to our advantage.

The Metro works quite well.

The people are passionate and warm. They are inviting and pleasant. If anyone ever has a problem with the French people, they cause it themselves. Seriously. I don't feel the French people suffer fools very well, so if one comes in with an attitude, they get one right back.

Our hotel operators were so very nice and pleasant to deal with. They ran the little cafe below the hotel, too.

The weather in Paris was COLD. I mean COLD. It snowed on Thursday and again yesterday. It is supposed to be like that for the next several days.

From a policitical perspective, the French are, at times, out there, but socially, they are wonderful people.

I highly recommend that everyone take a trip to Europe. It is a way to see the world from different eyes... and you will notice what I noticed - that America is STILL the 800lb gorilla in the room. Everywhere you look you see American movies and stars. American stars are on TV commercials and print ads. George Clooney, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery (I know, British, but....). On TV, over dubbed American shows and movies.

Also, I saw a couple of Corvettes, a Ford GT (as in GT40) and a couple Harley Davidsons. Even saw a Hummer!

I know we fear the loss of America... trust me, it isn't happening. If anything, America is still taking over the globe. English is being taught all over the world. During my trip, it was more common to find English speakers than not. Even the street hustlers spoke English!

I will post pics shortly.

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I found the opposite. I much preferred the Germans over the French. Especially the Parisians. Once you got outside of Paris, the French people were better. As far as the Autbahn, it is bliss. It is a shame Americans are fricking lazy inattentive and keep their car in such piss poor shape to take advantage of a highway system like that. It was torture coming back to the states and getting on our crappy roads. But I could not imagine paying the taxes over there.


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The Porsche Museum makes the Corvette Museum look like a rinky dink county fair. The way things are set up where you can actually walk up to the cars, look in and check things out is great. Nothing is really barricaded off. I really hate to say it, but you missed out by not going to the Mercedes Museum, which is about a 10 minute drive from Porsche. And you really missed out by not going to the AMG facility.



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Yes, CDG is officially the worst Airport, with LAX sucking it up in a close second.



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I could not wait to get out of Paris. I spent 5 hours there before I bolted. I have no desire to go back either. To me the rest of France is enjoyable. Especially the Mulsanne Straight!

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Hell, if we did have something like it, the left lane would be full of idiots driving 45mph (ust like now).

I spent 2 weeks in Paris on a business trip, I thought the people were much nicer than the obnoxious NYCers.

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I've got one last trip to NY planned. I will never return there again.

As far as Germany, when I was there I loved it. It was a while ago, but great. I think some of the really old people can be snobby, but anyone under 40 was awesome.

As far as NY - my sister lives there. I've visited multiple times over the past few years. Still don't like it. You would never catch me living there. I hear that upstate is nice, though.

Heck, I'm getting sick of Chicago, too. I guess I don't really like anyone.

Glad you enjoyed yourself, Andy.

Matthew

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Only place in the state worth going to - Watkins Glen.

Andy, get up and post your pics, got jetlag? We're stealing your thread.

oh, man... Jet lag is a good word for it!

I will be posting pics shortly.

I slept well, but I think I got an eyelash in my left eye, and its all puffy and tender. It is easing...

English is the language of business over there - when a common denominator is needed to conduct a business meeting with participants from several countries, they often resort to English. But they find it somewhat frustrating as they can't quite fully express themselves.

My folks were fortunate enough to take several trips to Europe back in the 60's, and absolutely loved Paris. My mother raved about the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre. I have charcoal sketches of them that were done in Montmartre.

Ok... some promised pics from the trip.

First off, The Porsche Museum.

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Cool, funny thay just showed the 962s on Speed running at the Monterey Historics today.

Those pictures are awesome. I love the upside down car. BTW, if you play "spot the American" I picked you out

Matthew

Dude, I stand out like a sore thumb...

What no picture of the Porsche Diesel Tractor, or the legendary 959?

Picky picky....

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Glad you shared some of your trip and thoughts Andy. I'll be submitting my commentary on my recent excursion as soon as I can start putting thoughts together. I'm on day one back so my body clock, mind and spirit are a little off center. Or is that how I always feel. I guess we'll know soon enough.

Schweeeeeet!

I'd love to hit that museum.

Love the upsidedown racecar LOL

Here are a couple of performance vehicles I encountered while in Cairo.

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You do know why it's upsidedown, right? :toothy5:

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Lookin' to replace some of your black & white ones?

Thinking of starting a new sport in America. Camelcross ...

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Isn't that your normal state, Tommy???

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Here's your first entry:

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It made enough downforce it could be driven upsidedown?

or did they flip it at the track ala Mercedes?

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yea

BTW, a prespec Indy car could go upsidedown at 100mph.