The first few nights - Mannheim, Colmberg

Oh, I almost forgot! My trip to Germany and Austria was too much fun!

First of all, the flight was fantastic. Lufthansa has complimentary wine and beer, therefore I don't remember much of the flight, except that I fell in and out of sleep for most of it.

I rented a "compact" car from Hertz here in the States. When I got to the counter, I was given a choice of two "compact" cars... "an Audi with automatic, or a Bimmer with navigation?" I chose the "Bimmer", which ended up being a BMW 318 sedan. Flippin' sweet.

I got both a parking and a speeding ticket in the first 24 hours! You know, those paper clocks they put in the cars in Germany? It's called a "Parkuhr". You are supposed to mark the time that you parked, and place it in the window. If you don't... you'll get a parking ticket on your windshield. I had to have mine deciphered by the gentleman at the front desk of the hotel. The speeding ticket was just a bright flash in the Mannheim night sky as I raced over a bridge. I thought lightening hit my car. Again, the lovely gentleman at the front desk laughed and said I might be getting a speeding ticket in the mail.

I stayed in Mannheim for a few nights while I adjusted to the timezone.

And then it was off the Colmberg, in the Franconia region of Germany. I stayed at a lovely medieval castle that was converted to a full-service hotel, the Hotel Burg Colmberg. There were knights in shining armor lining the hallways, a chapel left just as it was a millenium ago, and views reserved for royalty. Oh, and delicious food! During the first night's dinner, there was a celebration going on in the conference room. Men in court-jester costumes walked back and forth from the kitchen with huge silver platters of food. Whatever they were celebrating, it was fit for a king. There must have been 100 people in there!

When I checked in, I was handed the largest skeleton key I'd ever seen, and told my room was on the second floor. Apparently, second means third. And since the rooms had names and not numbers, I strolled the halls for a while. Good thing I'd left my bags in the car for the moment.

My room was the smallest room (I'm cheap like that) but I loved it. It had modern furnishings that contrasted with the ancient stone walls. My window looked over the courtyard, and I left it open that night, sheer curtains in the breeze and all that. I felt like a princess in a tower. And it was only 89 Euros a night!

Here are a few pictures of the couple of nights in Colmberg. Check out the amazing view!