For six weeks I lived out of my backpack and made my way around Europe in the summer of '94. We started and finished in Amsterdam. Our stops included Hamburg Germany, Copenhagen Denmark, Goteborg Sweden, Oslo Norway, Stockholm Sweden, Helsinki Finland, Berlin Germany, Paris France and Geneva Switzerland.

Amsterdam is certainly unique. With a 'Red-light' district set aside for legalized prostitution, where the women sit behind glass doors wearing their finest neglige, you can "Window Shop." With marijuana being legal at the coffee shops (Not to be confused with Cafes mind you!) there is no need for drug pushers on the street. (There are a few though . . . why someone would buy from a shady character when you can get it from a government approved business. I'll never know!) This may sound like the bad part of town, but there are so many police and tourists, it's like a demented Disneyland! I limited my experience to just observing in the "Red-light" district, but I did participate in the Heineken brewery tour! Just hours before departing for home, we had 20 minutes in the factory tour lounge sampling this fine product.

I studied French for five years in public and high school, but I failed miserably when it came time to order at a French restaurant near the Sacre Ceour (See Picture to the left). I started out with my poor French and the waitress said "Just order in English, it'll be easier for the both of us!" Well, that was about it for my French in Paris, but I certainly enjoyed my stay. With the very notable exception of Subway toll collectors, I didn't find the so-called stereotypical rude Frenchman there at all. Everyone was great and, lucky for me, many spoke English.

Every stop had its highlights, a Sauna in Finland followed by a dip in a freezing cold lake is something that must be experienced. A walk along the Reeperbaum in Hamburg is an eyeopener for just too many reasons to state here, a stop at a Swedish nightclub with some of the most beautiful girls in the world, gazing at the Mona Lisa in Paris and topping the day off with a stroll along the Champs Elysees and visiting the remains of the Berlin wall are all experiences I will never forget. We also saw ancient Viking ships up close. We walked unhindered through Checkpoint Charlie, the famous border point on the Berlin wall between the former Soviet and American sectors. We also visited the Olympic stadium where Hitler hosted the "Nazi Olympics" and refused to shake the hand of American Gold Medalist Jesse Owens.

It is impossible to say which place was the best because all had so much. It is easy to say that I want to go back and see even more next time. If you find yourself with some free time and a little money, buy yourself a Euro-Rail pass and get yourself a great experience!

Germany

In the summer of 1997, I returned to Germany and spent some more time there. I spent my time in Frankfurt and Munich, but took many day trips. I visited Triberg and Freiburg in the beautiful and legendary Black Forest, which to me at least, seemed very green. I saw many great German castles. I also visited the absolutely spectacular Gothic cathedral in Cologne (Köln) which was started in 1248 A.D. but not finished until 1880. Click here for an interactive map of Cologne.

From Munich, a visit to the incredible castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria is only an hour or so away. This castle's construction was started in 1869. King Ludwig spent only about 100 days living in the castle when he was declared insane. He was found dead in Lake Starnberg the next day.

A trip by boat along the Rhine river is spectacular. The 1300km long river stretches from the Alps to the North Sea. The river from Rüdesheim to Koblenz is flanked by medieval castles at almost every bend making it probably the most interesting section. Rüdesheim, by the way, offers some of the finest German wines which makes it a great starting point for a relaxing cruise.

Berchtesgaden is a small town near the Königssee lake and is surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Bavarian Alps. Adolph Hitler first visited the area in 1923. He decided to make his government headquarters in the area after he came to power in 1933. On April 25th, 1945 the area was the target of a Royal Air Force bombing raid. The only building remaining from that dark era now is the Kehlsteinhaus, also known as the Eagle's Nest. It was confiscated by the American occupation troops and not returned to Bavaria until 1952. It has since become a restaurant and beer garden.

The city of Nürnberg (Nuremberg) is another fascinating German city. It's medieval wall encircles the old section of the city that is known as the 'Toy Capital of the World'. It is also known for many darker reasons as well. Hitler held many Nazi rallies here in the 1930s, it was destroyed in bombing raids during WWII and was also the site of the Nuremberg trials. A visit to this city, which has been remarkable rebuilt, allows you to see what a medieval city really was like. You can even visit a 14th century dungeon complete with authentic torture devices under the old city hall.

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