Sorry for the lack of updates...
It’s been really difficult finding reliable internet access that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
My pictures are also all on my laptop, so until I find a wireless network or a way to get internet onto my computer, I won’t be able to upload any more pictures.
I’ve been at Schloss Sommersdorf for the past two days, and it’s been really quite pleasant. I’m in the Gothic Room, which is this enormous bedroom + sitting room on the third floor of the “new” part of the castle (new as in… 16th century, maybe? I can’t keep the dates straight in my head). It’s a little bit scary at night, sleeping in a room the size of my entire apartment in Philadelphia, but a nightlight helps a lot.
Last night was the castle tour and candlelight dinner, hosted by Baron (Dr.) Manfred von Crailsheim and his wife Baroness Lilo (apparently in German you say [i]Baronin. The castle is quite an amazing place, and I wouldn’t want to spoil the fun if any of you ever decide to come here… so let’s just say that you get to meet some of the Baron’s ancestors!
The dinner itself was wonderful—I ate way too much—a rather traditional fare of vension, sauerbraten, spätzle, sauerkraut, pear w/berries, and hot raspberries/red berries on ice cream. All of this was then followed by coffee and schnapps!
We also watched a short TV clip from Extreme Homes (I think it runs on the Home and Garden channel) that featured the castle in Sommersdorf. Quite entertaining if you can find it online or something—drop me a comment or an email if you do.
Zürich Airport
The ride up to JFK from Philadelphia was not too pleasant. I hardly ever get carsick, but being jolted around on the shuttle from Philly to New York, with multiple stops in New Jersey to pick up random people at hotels, made me quite queasy. I think I might explore a way to take Amtrak back, maybe even the Chinatown bus or NJ Transit. At least that way I’d have a headrest.
I did make it in plenty of time to check in for my flight to Switzerland, though I have to admit envying the people seemingly randomly picked out by the Swiss Air staff who got to move out of the economy check-in line and over to the business / first-class counter for a speedy check-in. They don’t take your luggage right away anymore at check-in, you’ve got to bring it over to this scanning area yourself. Of course, I got in the wrong line (all the other luggage was going to South Africa) and had to go back.
One of the reasons our flight was late leaving was that the previous flight (Continental) had been held up. While there may have been other reasons for their delay, the one I saw was that a woman had forgotten / lost her rosary (presumably at security). They held the entire plane and a gate agent came running up with this giant metallic necklace-thingy —well, a rosary— so they could finally leave. Somewhat mind-boggling, but I suppose you need all the good fortune and divine favor you can get when flying these days.
Our Swiss Air flight staff was charmingly discombobulated and in amusing disarray the entire flight, frantically counting passengers before take-off and making desperate announcements like “Please sit down so we can finish serving breakfast. We have to be done in fifteen minutes!”
A few pictures:
View from the airplane – my German seatmate with the window seat kindly leaned out of the way for me to take this.
Amusing signs on the smoking lounges in the airport. Just exchange Camel or another cigarette brand for Winston, but all of them have that delightful phrase below:
Schloss Sommersdorf
Dr. Manfred von Crailsheim (aka “the Baron”) just sent me a beautiful picture of the castle.
Off to Germany, Czech Republic, and Hungary
Since I’m taking off on Tuesday (Sept 19) for my first work trip, I thought I’d resurrect this site as sort of travelogue. A bit of a rundown of what I’m doing…
Basic outline:
Tuesday 19 Sept 2006
Flying out of JFK -> Zürich -> Frankfurt am Main
Wednesday 20-27 Sept, 2006
Staying in the little town of St Goar along the Rhine in the Christmas Lower apartment
Wednesday 27 Sept – Sunday 1 Oct, 2006
Taking the train to Ansbach, driving to Schloss Sommersdorf, meeting Doktor Baron Manfred von Crailsheim.
Sunday 1 Oct – Thur 4 Oct 2006
Train to Prague! Staying in an apartment near the National Theater, fumbling around linguistically since my resolution to learn at least a few sentences of Czech didn’t really ever work out. Maybe Kim will make it over from Austria…
Overnight train (must remember to try to get sleeper-car reservations) to Budapest
Friday 5 Oct – Monday 9 Oct 2006
I’ve never been to Budapest, so this last-minute add-on was just so I could do a whirlwind visit. I’m really excited to go there, though, and Giovanna promised to send me a list of things to do there, since she spent a semester in Budapest on a math program.
Flying home early on Monday morning from Budapest to JFK via Zürich