Auf Vedersane Germany

Sorry about missing a few days on the blog. Internet access was a little hard to come by in Ankara since the business center at the hotel was not working. And we have been keeping a pretty tough schedule, so there ıs not much free tıme to find an Internet cafe.

A couple of links I missed last tıme:

www.ruedesheım.de/en/
www.k-d.com

The region and boat cruise we went on.

Before I talk about my experience in Turkey, I have a few unfinished thoughts on Germany.

I found it very interesting to note that a couple of the German's that spoke to us were so open and honest about the German's role ın WWII. They basically said we started it, we are to blame for the destruction of much of Europe and we have no qualms about taking the blame. It was striking how bold and matter a fact they were about it. It was a good thing, but you usually don't hear that much candor about any issue with such a sordid past.

The German's do like things to run on time. On time is 10 min early.

I find it interesting that you don't have to remove your shoes at foreign airports, even though the shoe bomber was on a flight from London. I have not asked anyone, but my personal view is they see through the facade we have tried to create with airport security. They know that making Grandma take off her shoes at the airport wıll not stop a determined terrorist and they don't pretend it will. I've commented on airport security before, but I have to take my shoes off to fly from Billings to Denver, but I don't when I fly from Frankfurt to Ankara. Seems like if there was a real threat, I would have been checked on the flight to Ankara.

They also served dinner with real metal knives, spoons, and forks on the flights in Turkey. Look on a map, see who they have a border with, see who we have a border with, and then decide how big a threat real silverware is to our security.

I mentioned in the previous post that German's start their discussions with what is right and move forward from there. Two other observations on that front. I don't claim to be an expert on either of these topics, but they did strike me. When the country was reunified, West Germany had to pour lots and lots of money into East Germany. It almost broke their economy and there are still strains, but that was the right thing to do. When Europe was deciding on the Euro, it was primarily the German Central Bank that had to give up a lot to make the Euro currency happen. They did it because it was the right thing to do. And it has turned out great from them.

The new European Central Bank wıll be located in Frankfurt in the old warehouse district.

Frankfurt has about 600,000 residents, but jobs for 1.2 million. The region is about the geographic size of London. It is a very diverse city and you can get ahead in the city even without old family ties. That is not as true in other German cities. It was compared with Boston a couple of times during our visit.

The economies of Brussels and Frankfurt must be good because there are cranes all over both sky lines.

The Frankfurt Allemande (a pretty large German newspaper) has 3 correspondents in Washington DC. Two will cover the American Presidential election full time.

The German-American connection is very strong because of all the miliatry that have been stationed over here for so long. When the military leaves town ın Germany, it is similar to when they leave ın the US. Much of the economy of the regıon suffers when the mılıtary leaves town.

The European tourıst towns I have been to are great because they are so old. Theır authentıcıty ıs unmatched. It ıs tough to beat a town that has been around sınce 500 BC.

I dıd get to the Zoo on Sunday. It was OK, but a little old. But zoo's are some what the same because the kıds love them no matter where they are located.

I thınk that ıs all I have on Germany. I can not type much more tonıght, so you wıll have to waıt on my Turkey report. Just know ıt ıs an amazıng experıence up to thıs poınt and we have an even better day planned for today.