Where in the world is Mr. Bean???

[pdxfj]

Soooo... Many hours ago I departed Portland and headed east.. Has taken me three planes and about 24 hours to reach my destination.

Anyone care to take a guess where I am?

Portland, to Chicago, to.... to....

Both countries share a boarder.  Each has their own native language.  The country I transited through language is spoken more places than the destination.  It's a business trip, which has its perks.  First and Business first the whole way...and I still don't sleep on planes..even with a lie flat seat.. 

The destination is a bit of a surprise to people. 

Take a guess before clicking the link.. 


http://goo.gl/maps/ZxurV

[Firehawk068]

I guessed (in my head) that you flew through London, on your way to one of the U.A.E. destinations..............................................I was off by a little.

[Steve_in_Florida]

MR. BEAN!!

I was thinking you went through France, for some reason.

Did you connect through Frankfurt?

Steve

[novaraptor]

I was only off by about 400 miles... Enjoy, enjoy.. And, for a treat, try the rutabaga vodka. I hear that it tastes exactly like you would expect...

[aviationfred]

Enjoy your time there.  That is a place that not many of us get a chance to visit.



Fred

[pdxfj]

It's been very enjoyable so far.  Very interesting to see how rail cars are designed and assembled in Europe vs. the U.S.  Quite a bit more of a difference than I was expecting.  Wheel sets are totally different, as is how the framework of the car is designed and welded, etc.  The rail gauges here are about 30% narrower than the states, so I'm guessing they don't deal with the insane load weights we deal with in the U.S.

Came here to help setup a video conferencing system so they could have "face to face" meetings with folks back in Portland, OR.  Worked better than we expected. 

Polish food is quite good.  Favorite so far has been Polish Red Borscht soup.  Going to have to try and make it at home.

Fly out Friday to Munich for a night then make the trek home Saturday.  Think my brain will resemble Pirogi when I land in Portland.. But at least I can have some good German beer, in Germany. 

If I get to come back at some point, will have to do so during the summer and stay an extra week.  Get a car and drive around.. or maybe rent a bike..

Edit: Link to the plant here.  It's quite large..  http://goo.gl/maps/d8s1u

[Mark Olson]

Bean , you have to rent a Beemer to ride germany.

[Flynt]

Munich for a night...

I'd recommend Spaten Haus in the same platz as the opera haus (maybe Max Joseph platz?), just off Marienplatz in the center of old Munich.  Always a first or last stop for me is the swinebraten and a few 500ml pils from this place.  Nice Bavarian atmosphere and great food/beer.  Also the Ratskeller is particularly cool under Marienplatz.  Stop in for another beer after dinner...

Are you staying downtown or near the airport?  From airport to downtown is a nice quick S-bahn ride right to Marienplatz station, but you may need to hike a bit to get to the train from your hotel.  Munich Airport is also an Audi Forum and often has some exhibit/event going on there.  The Novotel by the airport is where the cars and people are if Audi is doing an event... pretty frequent in the winter for some reason.

OK...  I'll stop.  I really like Munich!  Enjoy!

Frank

PS - I'm happy to share anything that might be helpful of what I know about Munich.  PM if you like.

[simi_ed]

Munich for a night...

OK...  I'll stop.  I really like Munich!  Enjoy!

Frank, I'm glad you added that, I was getting a kind of .... mixed message.   

Ed

[aussiefj]

Here he is, near the London Eye in 2013, had to give him a couple of quid (pounds) for a photo.

John

[pdxfj]

Thanks for the tips.  I have been to Munich before, but that was 20+ years ago.

I'm staying at the Eden Hotel Wolff, which is just a short walk from Karlsplatz.  Nice thing is there is a Lufthansa shuttle from the airport (20 euros r/t) that drops me off across the street from the hotel.  Tried for the Hotel Anna, but they were totally booked.

Sadly I won't have a ton of time in Munich, but hope to at least walk around for a bit and take a look at how everything is decorated for Christmas.

I'm trying to figure out a trip to Germany with a co-worker and her husband.  She's from Germany, and her husband loves to ride.  We've discussed flying over and staying a week at their place just outside Munich.  Rent a bike for me and go riding.  I'd love to go up to Stuttgart and visit the Porsche museum and go back to Nuschwanstein.

The folks here in Poland are trying to figure out a way for me to come back for a month or longer...