This past Tuesday I was honored to be part of a group of Edelweiss employees that traveled to Hohenfels, Germany to the Joint Multinational Training Center to learn about the training that American, NATO, and troop contributing nations receive before heading down range.
A group of about 30 Edelweiss employees and I made the three and a half hour drive north to the training area. The training area is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world at about five by seven kilometers. After our police escort to the headquarters building we got a welcome from a civilian and several Army leaders which included history of the bases in Europe and their locations based on the wars but to the development of the training center. We then got back on the bus and headed to the IED School where soldiers learn about different technology that is used to make these bombs and the military tools to detect and disarm them. We got to set off 4 IEDs using different types of triggers as well as viewing a suicide bomb vest and small car bombs. The training center has several small "cities" that are used to simulate conditions down range. We visited a building that is used to train soldiers how to clear a residence and again got to make things go boom. When I say we set off these bombs a charge when off, but nothing got blown up. We then got to climb in some tactical vehicles to see what they are like then it was time for lunch at the chow hall. There were more options than Market Station and the consensus was that it was better than Market Station as well. After stuffing ourselves we went to the computer simulator facility where we were broken up into teams of 3 and assigned to a vehicle for our "mission" of a presence patrol through the computer rendition of one of the "cities" in the training center. Lets just say we needed some more practice! We then toured the actual buildings that make up this city as well as one of the camps where the soldiers live for their 3 weeks of training that is almost identical to what they will find down range.
The whole experience was very eye opening and interesting and I am even more grateful for what all the soldiers endure during their tour.
Pictures... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094991&id=44801562&l=7bafb40124
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Ware Geriatric Traveling Circus visits Europe
So another adventure with the family began on April 28th as my mom and brother finally arrived in Garmisch after delays from the Icelandic Volcano and we walked around Garmisch and then had dinner at Zum Wild Schutz before a quick tour of my building and new room and then bed time.
Thursday morning we went to the Kronner for breakfast which was yummy as usual and then headed out to Zurich, Switzerland. We arrived at the hotel my dad had gotten us 2 rooms at and met up with him then took the train into the city. We got some sandwiches for lunch and sat out by the river to eat them. We then took this low riding ferry type boat on a little tour around the river and lake. Then it was off to the Swiss National Museum for some history. We then walked around until we found a good place for dinner and Dad and I each got a fondue. Yum! Dad also managed to talk to some other people eating at the restaurant that are from Barcelona and got some seafood restaurant suggestions. After dinner we headed back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.
Friday we set off for Cinque Terre. We intended to stop at Lake Como on the way but time did not allow it. When we stopped for lunch at a gas station/restaurant I saw a 5 kg tub of Nutella!! Heaven!! It was 66 Euros so I didn't get it but Hey a girl can dream! We arrived in town #2 of the Cinque, Manarola only to find out that the main street(aka all of town) was closing in 15 minutes and we had to get our stuff down and unloaded and the car back up to the parking area. We made it and got settled into our cute apartment that you had to climb about 100 stairs to get to. Bellies were hungry so we headed out to Rick Steve's suggestion that was at the bottom of about 75 stairs and enjoyed some seafood antipasto, risotto, local wine, and a few desserts.
Saturday we spent the day hiking between towns 1 and 3 and got some food at a little store and made some dinner in our apartment. Some delicious pasta with pesto and a nice salad.
Sunday it was raining and raining some more. We walked around some but the wet cat look wasn't my style so I got a few souvenirs that I wanted and headed back to dry off at the apartment. Mom and Ben walked up into the hills through some tall grass to find the olive oil factory/farm all closed up. Ben gave mom his thank you/ Mothers Day present, a new iPod Nano which she spent the afternoon learning about and playing with. It was another dinner in the apartment, and packing and cleaning up.
Monday we lugged our bags up to the car in the parking lot above the city before heading to Nice.We stopped at a botanical garden in Italy just before the border and saw some amazing flowers and plants. We drove by Monaco and found our hotel in Nice that was a block away from the waterfront. We found another Rick Steve's suggestion for dinner followed by more dessert.
Tuesday and Wednesday we spent the day walking around the town watching a freak storm form that destroyed all the restaurants on the beach and closed the promenade. As well we visited the Chagall and Matisse Museums and explored the remains of the sea side hill top castle. And of course oogled the yachts in the marina and got Ben a bike jersey from a local shop.
Thursday morning we went to the flower market and had breakfast which was highlighted by our waiter spilling orange juice all over me. Good thing I was wearing my rain coat.
We then made our way to the airport and I caught my two flights back to Munich and then the train home to Garmisch.
It was a great week off from work and I was really glad to be able to spend it with my family.
The new Volvo is beautiful and Mom and Dad are now back in the States safely and the car will be delivered in a few weeks.
Thanks again for everything Mom, Dad, and Ben!
Pictures on Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094332&id=44801562&l=adcc1ef5c0
Thursday morning we went to the Kronner for breakfast which was yummy as usual and then headed out to Zurich, Switzerland. We arrived at the hotel my dad had gotten us 2 rooms at and met up with him then took the train into the city. We got some sandwiches for lunch and sat out by the river to eat them. We then took this low riding ferry type boat on a little tour around the river and lake. Then it was off to the Swiss National Museum for some history. We then walked around until we found a good place for dinner and Dad and I each got a fondue. Yum! Dad also managed to talk to some other people eating at the restaurant that are from Barcelona and got some seafood restaurant suggestions. After dinner we headed back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.
Friday we set off for Cinque Terre. We intended to stop at Lake Como on the way but time did not allow it. When we stopped for lunch at a gas station/restaurant I saw a 5 kg tub of Nutella!! Heaven!! It was 66 Euros so I didn't get it but Hey a girl can dream! We arrived in town #2 of the Cinque, Manarola only to find out that the main street(aka all of town) was closing in 15 minutes and we had to get our stuff down and unloaded and the car back up to the parking area. We made it and got settled into our cute apartment that you had to climb about 100 stairs to get to. Bellies were hungry so we headed out to Rick Steve's suggestion that was at the bottom of about 75 stairs and enjoyed some seafood antipasto, risotto, local wine, and a few desserts.
Saturday we spent the day hiking between towns 1 and 3 and got some food at a little store and made some dinner in our apartment. Some delicious pasta with pesto and a nice salad.
Sunday it was raining and raining some more. We walked around some but the wet cat look wasn't my style so I got a few souvenirs that I wanted and headed back to dry off at the apartment. Mom and Ben walked up into the hills through some tall grass to find the olive oil factory/farm all closed up. Ben gave mom his thank you/ Mothers Day present, a new iPod Nano which she spent the afternoon learning about and playing with. It was another dinner in the apartment, and packing and cleaning up.
Monday we lugged our bags up to the car in the parking lot above the city before heading to Nice.We stopped at a botanical garden in Italy just before the border and saw some amazing flowers and plants. We drove by Monaco and found our hotel in Nice that was a block away from the waterfront. We found another Rick Steve's suggestion for dinner followed by more dessert.
Tuesday and Wednesday we spent the day walking around the town watching a freak storm form that destroyed all the restaurants on the beach and closed the promenade. As well we visited the Chagall and Matisse Museums and explored the remains of the sea side hill top castle. And of course oogled the yachts in the marina and got Ben a bike jersey from a local shop.
Thursday morning we went to the flower market and had breakfast which was highlighted by our waiter spilling orange juice all over me. Good thing I was wearing my rain coat.
We then made our way to the airport and I caught my two flights back to Munich and then the train home to Garmisch.
It was a great week off from work and I was really glad to be able to spend it with my family.
The new Volvo is beautiful and Mom and Dad are now back in the States safely and the car will be delivered in a few weeks.
Thanks again for everything Mom, Dad, and Ben!
Pictures on Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094332&id=44801562&l=adcc1ef5c0
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