03.04.08

Bamberg, Germany

Ich Liebe Deutschland!

I don't think my amazement will ever cease at how our Lord works.I have had the most amazing two days in Germany despite dipping temperatures and torrential down pores.I feel so at peace and have found an extraordinary town.

I left Munich with yet again another horrible weather forecast.The past couple of days in Munich were spent avoiding the devastating storms that have ripped through central Europe uprooting trees and flooding historic cities.Munich managed to be spared from the worst of it, but Tuesday was supposed to deliver another bout of strong winds and even snow.I knew that I only had one day, Monday, that would be somewhat conducive to travel on a motorcycle.

My friends Sarah and Jamie who recently moved from Charleston to Bamberg, Germany have been expecting me for some time, but did not expect me so soon nor did I expect to have to make a run from Munich to Bamberg before icy weather pounded the German countryside.Nonetheless, I made my way to Bamberg on Monday with patches of heavy rain and wind. One of the unfortunate consequences of traveling on a rainy day besides getting soaked to the bone is not being able to take pictures and truly enjoy all the beautiful towns and country side that I pass through.I stopped through one famous German walled city and was pleasantly surprised.I must take back my previous words of "once you have seen one walled city you have seen them all".Wow, what a beautiful city and so well kept.The German countryside in general is phenomenal and I had no idea my eyes would be met with such beauty.Germany plays to my type A personality.Everything is orderly and neat and each little village I passed has neat rows of flowers planted along the road as well as in front of each doorway.The rivers were all swollen with rain water from the past several days of storms creating lakes in fields along the way and swift moving currents that frothed up the muddy waters.

Even driving through the rain it was an amazing experience to see a country that is so well cared for and so meticulously in order. Bamberg, is a gorgeous city and has an air about it that is just so inviting.Since I was not to meet my friends until 4pm I had several hours to kill and decided to not only find somewhere to eat, but also find the local BMW dealership and get the new noise my bike was making checked out.On my way in to town I caught a glimpse of another BMW ahead and quickly made my way up in traffic and asked in my best German, which seems to be getting better daily, where the motorrad was.Well, After following my new BMW friend through the narrow, nicely paved streets of Bamberg to the dealership and with his translation help,I found out that my exhaust was shot, but unless I could not handle the now Harley Davidson sound I would be okay for the rest of my journey.

Thomas was extremely helpful not only guiding me to the dealership and helping with translation, but then to my great surprise I was invited to lunch.It is truly great how people are brought into my life at exactly the right moments and sometimes in the midst of the moment I can't even comprehend the extent of why they are there.After lunch, I was invited to stay in Thomas's fully furnished apartment, given the key and full access and asked to stay as long as I like.

Now this is truly amazing!I of course was expecting to meet up with Sarah and Jamie, but knew before I arrived that because they just recently arrive only a month prior the container holding all of their home and furniture had yet to arrive.Suffice it to say, I staying with Sarah and Jamie would have been fun, but I would have had to make do with the floor and find a shop to purchase some blankets etc.Before arriving, I of course was fine with this and would have made do, but know I am living the life of luxury in a full furnished very nice flat and the kicker is, it is literally 2 blocks from Sarah and Jamie.Of all the places it could have been it is right down the street.It always works out and always to my amazement.

I met up with Sarah and Jamie after getting comfortable and had one of the best meals of the trip at an Italian restaurant of all places.It was fantastic to meet up with friends from home and share experiences.We had a wonderful evening. I woke up on Tuesday after an incredible sleep on my favorite type of bed and had the most amazing shower I have had since I left.What makes a shower good is lots of pressure, never ending flow of hot water and a deep, long tub.My day had started out so well I had no idea it would get even better when I found a full breakfast buffet for only 5 euros and I am talking smoked salmon, eggs, bacon, cereal, yogurt, etc etc.What a start to a day!

I am having the most incredible time in Bamberg, which is an amazing city without having new friends with fabulous flats or old friends from home.I feel so very much at home in this city.Thomas has been incredible inviting me to basketball games, drinks, and countryside motorcycle riding.It is extraordinary when people like Thomas come into your life.I am looking forward to the rest of the week and the weekend.This coming weekend I have been able to convince Sarah and Jamie and one of his coworkers to join me in Prague for the weekend.It will be fun to travel in a car and see a city with friends.So needless to say I really really like Bamberg!