The new WORKING German number is:
Monday, May 19, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Day 7 - Free day in Stuttgart
Today we finally get a bit of rest. Andi and I have been battling a cold this week, so I apologize for not keeping the blog and pictures as updated as normal. We have been trying to rest up as much as possible in our free time to keep the bug at bay. Luckily, the students all seem well. One of our friends in Stuttgart is a doctor, so Andi went Friday to see him and get some antibiotics while I lead the tour of downtown. I still just have virus symptoms, so I am hoping I can fight it off before I need antibiotics. Time will tell!
Some students went off to the Wilhelma, a famous zoo. This was originally palace gardens for a local king. Some of the original buildings still remain. A large group is off to nearby Ludwigsburg to see two palaces and the surrounding grounds. Both palaces were not destroyed during the war as the Allies planned on using them as command posts for the region. The hunting palace is neat in that there are deer in the area that will come right up to you looking for a handout.
It is almost noon and we are still resting. Last night was difficult as there were many many police sirens at all hours of the night. Thankfully, it had nothing to do with our group. Apparently, some nearby Germans threw a big Saturday night party and the police kept coming to arrest people. Our students have been pretty good, except for a few that slept through their alarms Saturday morning!
Another excuse for slow updates: the internet connection in Freiburg was terrible! We had multiple ways to connect, but it was terribly slow and spotty each way. The hotel wifi in Stuttgart seems much better so I should be able to get some photos online, however they have a limit on the amount you can upload.
Update: The internet in Stuttgart is fast but we are limited to 1 GB for three days. I have taken nearly 3,000 photos (~20 GB) and I have selected out the decent ones (1,000 photos, 6 GB) so I may have to wait until we get home to upload. I will put links to the good photos on this blog and provide Dropbox information to the class if they want to get copies of everything.
Some students went off to the Wilhelma, a famous zoo. This was originally palace gardens for a local king. Some of the original buildings still remain. A large group is off to nearby Ludwigsburg to see two palaces and the surrounding grounds. Both palaces were not destroyed during the war as the Allies planned on using them as command posts for the region. The hunting palace is neat in that there are deer in the area that will come right up to you looking for a handout.
It is almost noon and we are still resting. Last night was difficult as there were many many police sirens at all hours of the night. Thankfully, it had nothing to do with our group. Apparently, some nearby Germans threw a big Saturday night party and the police kept coming to arrest people. Our students have been pretty good, except for a few that slept through their alarms Saturday morning!
Another excuse for slow updates: the internet connection in Freiburg was terrible! We had multiple ways to connect, but it was terribly slow and spotty each way. The hotel wifi in Stuttgart seems much better so I should be able to get some photos online, however they have a limit on the amount you can upload.
Update: The internet in Stuttgart is fast but we are limited to 1 GB for three days. I have taken nearly 3,000 photos (~20 GB) and I have selected out the decent ones (1,000 photos, 6 GB) so I may have to wait until we get home to upload. I will put links to the good photos on this blog and provide Dropbox information to the class if they want to get copies of everything.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Day 5 & 6 - Stuttgart
We successfully traveled on Friday to Stuttgart via two different trains. And after checking into our hotel, a tour into the city and the Schlossplatz (park) was given so everyone knew where to go for major things through the coming days.
Saturday we toured the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz museum. Much information was given and the students were engaged all the time. Student reviews of which was better were mixed, depending on their own preferences. Porsche was mostly about cars and their history of development, while the Mercedes museum adds more context. Both had interesting displays on electric / fuel cell / clean technology, but the Porsche museum was surprising about the amount of early electric (100 year old) cars and technologies they worked on.
Sunday will offer a day of exploration where many have opted for their day off to go to the zoo and a palace in Ludwigsburg. They also know of a place to do laundry...
Total mileage for two days: 16 miles
Friday, May 16, 2014
Day 4 - Freiburg
Thursday we spent all day at the Fraunhoffer Institute in Freiburg. This is one of the world leaders in developing photovoltaic technologies. We saw a few labs where they make and test solar cells, we talked about other energy research initiatives, and we saw their hydrogen fueling station and a fuel cell car.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Day 3 - Freiburg
Today was a physically demanding day. We started out late (be on time!) in the rain, headed to a quick tour of the little town of Freiburg. We learned about the history and background of this little town, how they decided in 1973 to make the downtown area a pedestrian only shopping district. We explored the old church and learned about the history of Freiburg. We then spent some time in a lecture hall with a tour guide learning about the two of the local energy efficient neighborhoods.
We left there and went back toward the hotel to get our rental bikes. We managed to make it to lunch at the Indian restaurant and then headed out to tour the two new energy efficient neighborhoods. One is more like US apartments and the other is very highly integrated. We ended up riding our bikes about 15 miles and walking about 7 miles on this day. Everyone survived, although a few of our folks are not very good at riding a bicycle.
Tomorrow is the Fraunhofer Solar institute...
We left there and went back toward the hotel to get our rental bikes. We managed to make it to lunch at the Indian restaurant and then headed out to tour the two new energy efficient neighborhoods. One is more like US apartments and the other is very highly integrated. We ended up riding our bikes about 15 miles and walking about 7 miles on this day. Everyone survived, although a few of our folks are not very good at riding a bicycle.
Tomorrow is the Fraunhofer Solar institute...
Day 2 - Freiburg
On Tuesday, we let the group sleep in a bit to recover from traveling. However, we encouraged them to eat the expansive buffet at the hotel and wander over to the main church square to see the big German market with flowers, fruits, vegetables, meats, and other vendors.
Around noon, we took our bus out to a castle. The rain started as we headed up the hill, but the clouds parted just in time to take photos at the castle. Our main guide showed up after the castle and took us off for the afternoon. We stopped at a farm producing heat and electricity from biogas (created from agricultural waste and corn energy). Then we went to a farm where they use heat from dairy milk to preheat water, along with wood chips. This farm also has an excess of photovoltaic cells and rents land to the local windmill co-op. Again, it rained a bit.
We went to visit two large windmills. We could go inside the towers, but we could not go up for safety and time reasons. Once more, thunder threatened so we had to run for the bus. We did stop briefly at a new windmill. They put the final 20 ton blade on today as we watched!
Our final stop was a 200 year old mill where we had local foods for dinner. Black Forest Ham, blutwurst, leberwurst, fleischwurst, applejuice, bread, butter, cheese, jam, and apple wine. After dinner we toured the old mill and watched it in operation.
Overall, a great day considering the weather. We were able to do all the activities when it was not raining, so I call it a success.
Total miles this day: 7.5 miles.
Around noon, we took our bus out to a castle. The rain started as we headed up the hill, but the clouds parted just in time to take photos at the castle. Our main guide showed up after the castle and took us off for the afternoon. We stopped at a farm producing heat and electricity from biogas (created from agricultural waste and corn energy). Then we went to a farm where they use heat from dairy milk to preheat water, along with wood chips. This farm also has an excess of photovoltaic cells and rents land to the local windmill co-op. Again, it rained a bit.
We went to visit two large windmills. We could go inside the towers, but we could not go up for safety and time reasons. Once more, thunder threatened so we had to run for the bus. We did stop briefly at a new windmill. They put the final 20 ton blade on today as we watched!
Our final stop was a 200 year old mill where we had local foods for dinner. Black Forest Ham, blutwurst, leberwurst, fleischwurst, applejuice, bread, butter, cheese, jam, and apple wine. After dinner we toured the old mill and watched it in operation.
Overall, a great day considering the weather. We were able to do all the activities when it was not raining, so I call it a success.
Total miles this day: 7.5 miles.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Day 1 - Frankfurt to Freiburg
We met with all students arriving to Frankfurt at the Fernbahnhof in the airport.
Our train changed tracks at the last second and we found ourselves sprinting up escalators and stairs, across a platform, and back down the escalator/ stairs. Very exciting! And nerve wracking ... But, we are a good group already and we all made it on the right train!
When we got to our hotel in Freiburg, the rest of the students were awaiting our arrival. Our group is now complete with 22 students.
After checking into our rooms, we began our walk to the city, up the church tower (google Freiburg Minster), into the church, up a small mountain, then a rest afterward at the bottom of the mountain in a quaint Biergarten.
Now we eat dinner and head to bed for a good night's rest.
Total miles walked today: 7.3 miles
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