Off to Germany tomorrow!

[SolaresLarrave]

As some of you may know, I just came back from my busman's holiday in Costa Rica (I go there with students as director of a study abroad program every two years) and now I'm off to Germany. Our plane leaves this Thursday in the evening, but we leave town a lot earlier.

Our plans include Bonn as a major destination. Why? Because even though my wife, who is fluent in the language (her parents speak it) has been to Germany before a lot... she never visited Bonn. So, at risk of sounding dumb... what's there of photographic interest? I enjoy photographing places with lots of people or "urban landscapes", rather than rural.

BTW, we will land in Frankfurt, and we intend to spend some time in Bacharach if the weather is decent, or head for Bonn if it's more like "museum weather".

In case you care, I'm carrying all my Leica gear (two M6TTL bodies, Elmarit 28 & 135, Summilux 35, Summicron 50 & 90, plus abundant Kodachrome 64 & Ektachrome 100, FP4, Agfa 400 & Scala).

Thanks in advance!

[back alley]

world travel how cool!
have a great trip francisco.
looks like you have just the right amount of gear.
joe

[SolaresLarrave]

Thanks, Joe! This kind of trips are kinda fun when it comes to playing with them toys... :)

Any info on Bonn?

[jarski]

if you fly to Frankfurt, Solms & Wetzlar should be pretty close. I planned trip there, but havent done it yet. I found this hotel: http://www.wetzlarerhof.de/ from the region, but cannot say is it good or less good.. :P

[Chyn]

SolaresLarrave, in Bonn the museum area offers quite a bit of architecture that may interest you. Other than that, the market square. Bonn is a rather quiet, cozy place.

If you have the time, I would suggest going to Aachen, which isn't too far away. Cologne is like the polar opposite of Bonn with ample photo opportunities of people and structures alike.

[Kevin]

Here is Bonn's homepage:
http://www.bonn.de/index.html?lang=en

And that of Cologne:
http://www.koeln.de/en/index.html

Enjoy !!!

[Ken Ford]

Auf Wiedersehen!

[Socke]

Edward, besides bad taste, you've got the wrong timeframe, it's 2007 and not 1937.

[Ken Ford]

Totally inappropriate. You may find pNet to be a better home, sir.

[VinceC]

In one word: Köln

He said it first. However, Bonn is a comfortable midsize city, population over 300,000. The nice thing about German towns and cities is that they have veyr old urban cores that continue to be destinations for local people, creating lots of grist for urban photography. For what it's worth, Wikipedia notes that there are 30,000 students in Bonn, resulting in 550 pubs.

[oftheherd]

...

For what it's worth, Wikipedia notes that there are 30,000 students in Bonn, resulting in 550 pubs.

And we expect you to visit each one and report back to us. :D

Buen viaje!

[VinceC]

In regards to the inappropriate comment, it is worth mentioning that 170,000 Jews have immigrated to Germany since 1990 from the former Soviet Union. Every city and most midsized towns have benefitted culturally from this influx.

[Kevin]

If the weather stays warm and dry you could also spend a relaxing picnic day at the Rheinaue in Bonn:
http://www.bonn.de/tourismus_kultur_sport_freizeit/freizeitpark_rheinaue/index.html?lang=en

Also there is a large park (and sandy beach) next to the Rheinterrasen in Cologne:
http://www.rhein-terrassen.de/index.php

Cologne Beach Club
http://www.km689.de/

The world heritage city of Brugge (in Belgium) is also worthy of a visit:
http://www.brugge.be/internet/en/index.htm

[VinceC]

Forecast for Friday arrival at FRA / Frankfurt am Main is "museum weather."

Current conditions as of 4:20 pm CEST 28.6.2007
Tonight: Clearing. Low 52F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tomorrow: Cloudy skies with periods of light rain later in the day. High 67F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

[bob cole]

fyi:


http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/germany/the-rhineland/bonn/overview.htm

[Kevin]

Stock up on brown soap and lampshades.


http://www.lush-shop.de/seifen-soaps.215.0.html

http://www.magazin-koeln.de/fr_start.html

:rolleyes:

[bob cole]

fyi

http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/germany/the-rhineland/bonn/overview.html

[35mmdelux]

Edward, why such a nasty comment?

Germans have paid dearly for what happened and history will never allow them to forget. This is a new generation. Lets learn from the past.

In any case, this is a photog forum where we try to learn and assist so that we can get to the next level.

[35mmdelux]

Hey, if you're in Frankfurt why not take the 1/2 drive to Solms and ck out the Leica factory?

[migtex]

And remember. you have the best Leica photoshops in Frankfurt and Bonn.. so have your credit limit expanded ..... or not!

[SolaresLarrave]

Thanks for the tips, folks! :)

Last year, I visited Trier and Koln, with very nice results. We also went to Leipzig and Dresden later because we had a month. This time, I have only two weeks... and after evaluating my Leica assets, the very last thing I need is a GAS indulgence. Hence, trips to Solms are off (and my better half won't approve of it). Sorry if I sound ingrate, but I'm very happy with my Leicas as they are.

I may indulge in some window shopping, though... I saw one of the best photographic stores in Koln... and my wife was aghast at their prices. It was kinda like "You have three of these cameras, and brought two to this trip?" :eek:

However, thanks for the links and tips. I'll do my best to write them down and take a look at those places! :)

[VinceC]

Gute Reisen!

[SolaresLarrave]

Dankeschön, Vince! We intend to see Beethoven's house, and then we'll see what else comes up. My wife isn't too fond of Frankfurt, so staying there won't happen (if anything, she says Munchen is the prettiest Bavarian city; she knows, she's been traveling to Germany since she was very young, and is fluent in German as well).

[steenkamp]

I am from Berlin and have been to Bonn a few times. I don't think there is much to see, try to focus on Cologne instead. Of course the best choice would be Berlin ;-) Guido

[LeicaTom]

Munchen is the prettiest Bavarian city; she knows

Ahhh Munich is vey very nice, but Nuremberg is a wondeful city too:)

ALL of Bavaria really amazing I`ll be driving about there when I go over next year to pick up my 56' Beetle....southwestern Bavaria for sure, Berchtesgaden
is one of my favorite cities, the food and the views are perfect LEICA subjects

Have a good trip!

[VinceC]

>> but Nuremberg is a wondeful city too<<

I was married in Nuremberg a couple of decades ago -- to a Californian, not a German. Knowing full well the city's reputation outside of Germany, my wife slyly calls it "Nuremberg ... city of romance." But anyone who has visited knows how charming it really is.

[jarski]

I dont understand what this suppose to mean :confused: :confused:

but based on comments it got, probably I dont even want to.

[jarski]

btw, little OT:

did I read from somewhere Leica is switching manufacturing back to Wetzlar from Solms ? I mean, it does not matter did I read or not, but are they ? :p

[35mmdelux]

I've always liked Berlin. Small German towns are nice photographically too.

I recall a small town outside Frankfurt where the construction date of the house was inscribed outside its front door, dating the place to the fifteenth century. Outside its windows were a multitude of antennas. A nice comparison shot.

[traveller]

Ahhh Munich is vey very nice, but Nuremberg is a wondeful city too:)

ALL of Bavaria really amazing I`ll be driving about there when I go over next year to pick up my 56' Beetle....southwestern Bavaria for sure, Berchtesgaden
is one of my favorite cities, the food and the views are perfect LEICA subjects

Have a good trip!

You should also visit Augsburg and make a trip to the Bodensee (Lake Constance), especially Vorarlberg (http://www.vorarlberg-tourism.at/?_lang=en).

You pick up a 56' Beetle with the parted back window? :cool:

[SolaresLarrave]

I don´t think the ´56 model had the split rear window... It´s probably the early fifties model.

Here I am, BTW, kinda damp because of the rain these last two days. Actually, Bonn is a fertile ground for those into strange, OOF shots in B&W. Besides, with a wide angle the Rathaus offers a lot (nice texture on the ground and people around). Did anyone here know that Brell Photographie stands in a place where Beethoven used to hang out, together with the local literati? Of course, now it´s a camera store, but back in the early 19th century it was a well-known watering place, run by a widow whose beautiful daughter was known as Babette.

BTW, we came from Bacharach, St.Goar and St. Goarhausen to Bonn. I may not be burning miles of film, but my faithful Leica is here, right by my side, in this internet cafe at Bonn.

Reporting live, from Germany,

[SolaresLarrave]

One last thing: in about one day we´ll head to Nuremberg, and from there to Bamberg (day trip). If I have another shot at an Internet cafe I´ll say hi again. Stay cool! :)

[weser]

If you've been to Cologne already, check out Dusseldorf.

[Gabriel M.A.]

Ach, Franz Sunner! ;) I want your job. To travel that often to various places, and the nicer parts of Germany, too. I've heard so many good things about Munich (all of Bavaria, for that matter), I wish I had gone through there the only time I went to Germany.

Now, remember that not only German food can be had there, but there is some very fine Greek and Turkish dining, too! Don't forget the Sakertorte. Or the pictures, of course.

Have a very nice and safe trip!

[jgeenen]

My personal favorite (guess why - that's where I was born) is the lower rhine area northwest of Düsseldorf (roughly 80 miles from Bonn). Have a look at Kleve, Schenkenschanz (very small) and do a rent-a-bike tour along the rhine - weather should improve starting Saturday.

Skip Frankfurt (although I live there and invite you to visit us;-) ...