Ingolstadt and Salzburg, Austria - June 20

Xenia, our tour guide, says that we should, “Thank the ladies in our group for their patience with our first excursion of the day at the Audi Corporate headquarters for a tour of the Audi museum in Ingolstadt.”  She thinks that for most of them, reviewing the history of an automobile company would not reach even close to the top of their list of interests.  But our group is the exception to the rule for typical tourists at an old car museum. I think we all enjoyed hearing about how the Germans developed cars in the same era that Henry Ford was developing the assembly line method of building cars.  Ford dominated the market in mass production, but the Germans with their one car per day method made the name “German engineering”  a model for all to follow.

Ann and Emily, the youngsters in our group had an affinity for all the new cars lined up outside the museum. They took a lot of razzing from the group about which hot roadster then were going to take home. Then we found out later that if you buy a new Audi and pick it up at the plant here in Ingolstadt you could save almost a $1000 Euros plus you would get a tour of the plant plus dinner for four on the premises. So all the cars that we saw on display on the tarmac were actually those to be picked up by their new owners some time that day. Ann and Emily may be back soon,  and maybe John Perschbacher has his eye on one also.


But the real story lies in the other two hot chicks admiring this Audi convertible. We think that one of them could afford to buy it right now and you will have to guess who that is.

Anyone want to take a spin in an Audi A8? (Annie Sprenger and Andrea Sime)

John Perschbacher and Vernell Katzung admiring the new Audi A8

And then we see these other two studs admiring an even hotter sports car that will tear up the Autobahn to be sure. We think that John Perschbacker on the left is planning to send this one home to his fiancee, Suzie. We applaud you on that one John. You could make a really good impression with that little purchase which might cost upwards toward the cost of the next farm you have in mind.


Our guide took us through the entire history of the company which started back in the early 1900’s. But like most industries in their development age, Audi went through lots of transformations especially during the time when many companies had sprung up in the developmental "infancy" stages.  The four interlocking circles in the current Audi logo represent the four companies which consolidated after World War II to form the current Audi Company we know today.  Most of us had no idea that the roots of Audi started at such an early time.  The museum had original cars on display for all eras.

One of the early Audi vehicles and restored for the museum

August Horch is the central figure in Audi’s past and one of the great personalities in German automotive history.  He had not only a remarkable technical understanding, but also the no less important talent of putting his ideas into practice in the right place at the right time. He was quite a genius about car building yet he got kicked out of his first company by the board of directors and went on to beat them with his second company. Does that sound anything like Steve Jobs at Apple?

Our next destination (we have been switching hotels pretty frequently—3 in 3 days) was Salzburg, Austria.  We stopped part way there for lunch and then proceeded to the Austrian mountains.   Along the road, we continued to pass by field after field of grain.  This road excursion was the first in which we observed the growing of hops (beer lovers perked up).  They can be recognized because of the poles and rope which hold the vines that grow to a height of 8-10 ft. As we came closer to Salzburg, the topography became more rolling and less suited for grain farming.

A stand of hops along the highway between Igolstadt, Germany  and Salzburg, Austria 

More dairy cattle could be seen grazing over the rolling grass lands.  Then the mountains came into view.  Such a majestic sight.  These mountains are a combination of sandstone and granite.  Weather was overcast so we did not get a full view of the beauty, but just enough to be a little intriguing.

Xenia arranged for a local guide to give us a brief walking tour through the city center.  In the city’s early history, Salzburg was the source of salt which was an important commodity.  In fact it was the currency of that era. Salt was extremely valuable  because it was the only way to preserve food so it was treasured all around the world. The same was true in Lincoln, Nebraska where Andrea and Wes live. Salt creek runs through the town and history buffs recall that the town was on the map early because of the availability of salt.

Salzburg was also a place for monasteries and convents; many, many of them.  The city was the birthplace of famous people such as Mozart and Doppler.  Who from the USA could forget that the area was also the site for many scenes from The Sound of Music?

In Salzberg, we learned that until very recently, most locals didn't even know about the movie The Sound of Music.  This movie was released in 1965 in English speaking countries only, but recently that movie was released again with a subtitled translation change so German speaking people would be able to watch the movie.  Today, there are bus tours that are advertised with the movie's theme, which many of us love to this day about the Austrian officer with a bunch of kids who hooked up with pretty young nun, Julie Andrews.  Of course the music from the movie will stick in our minds forever and is quite touching when we hear in once again. Andrea mentioned that her very stoical husband got a little choked up when he saw the movie recently noting that his kids and grandkids no nothing about this classic movie. I am pretty sure it will be the entertainment on their next grandpa and grandma visit.

Gardens near the Salzburg city center where some scenes of The Sound of Music were filmed

The walking tour of this absolutely gorgeous city was mind boggling for all of us. The guide shared wonderful stories of olden times featuring wars and scandals and mistresses galore. All of us eventually toured a magnificent Church which had five (count them) huge organs located in different places around the front and back of the church. The decor and lavish artwork was magnificent and we heard from the guide that this was the result of the Catholic church's counter efforts to battle the Reformation. They wanted to impress the people back into the Catholic church after Martin Luther had stunned their institution so dramatically with his 95 theses and especially the renouncing of the entitlements which the church demanded from wealthy people for forgiveness and the apparent guarantee of a better after life.


A few of us, Roger, Steve Lindeman and Wes rode an incline rail car to the top of a mount to tour yet another castle; however this one held remarkable significance. The Hohensalzburg castle and fortress is the name of that high and overwhelming place of security.Together with the natural barrier walls around it, this castle was held for many centuries as a safe haven because none of the invaders could get past the high and rugged sheer cut rock and barrier walls.  Inside the walls we found wonderful displays of religious art and heard stories about the bishops who held power and built many churches, each to their own in the city of Saltzburg. 


Oh and by the way, these wealthy and powerful bishops often had mistresses and separate families with multiple children living all around the area all at the expense of the people and the church. Later the church became bothered by the expense of these “growing families of the church” and then declared that the priests as rulers in the church must be celibate apparently to discourage growing numbers of illigetimate children in the community spawned by these lustful and powerful controlling church lords. So with the declaration of celebacy for the priests and nuns that has been the Catholic church policy ever since that time. Interesting how some church policies come into being and how things never change or do change as the need arises. The irony is that the bishops of that time, never got married but they did not give up they mistresses either. They simply became a little more discrete about it.

Throughout the afternoon, some in the group once again succumbed to the ever popular attraction of shopping. Oh my such wonderful shops and street vendors to find items of interest to take back home. There were street artists that could whip out a drawing of your likeness in a very short period of time. There were also some bright yellow studded paintings that caught my eye, but the space in my suitcase is already at overflow capacity.

As we gathered to take the hike to our hotel, it started to sprinkle.  Before we actually left the shelter of the buildings, it started coming down harder and then harder and more continuous. We decided to wait a little longer.  We had at least a mile to walk in the drenching rain so we would have become soaked if we ventured out the mile or so to get to the hotel. And it was a cold hard rain at that, so as courageous as some were to tough it out, no one did.

Waiting out the rain storm in Salzburg.  Looks like a few people got some shopping done

Can you imagine, Ross Moyer dancing in a rain storm?  At almost exactly  6 pm tonight, rain clouds rolled into Salzburg.  We were away from our hotel by about a mile doing some touring as the rain started.  It gradually got worse until we were stuck in a arched alley waiting for the downpour to let up.  Earlier in the day, the mere mention of The Sound of Music caused us to hum the phrase, "The hills are alive..." but now Ross started singing the theme to Singing in the Rain.  We hoped he would not start dancing in the street.  He did not want to embarrass us so he restrained himself with Joan's help.   


It just got worse from there so finally Xenia sacrificed her brand new shoes and sloshed through the water to find a bus schedule and got us aboard a city bus (the tour bus that we paid dearly for was not allowed to be in the zone we were in). 

Still raining buckets we finally arrived at the Ramada Salzburg hotel, but there was no food included as part of the hotel cost on this particular day.  We definitely got wet as we were exposed without shelter, and most were soaked and chilled to the bone.  Since laundry facilities have been scarce throughout the trip, our rain soaked clothing should be counted as one washing, right? 



In addition, there were periodic gusts of wind which made us worry that Annie Sprenger might unexpectedly become a Mary Poppins and fly off with a big gust.  However her emergency purchase of a 7 euro priced umbrella was not very sturdy, it simply imploded or inverted before taking her airborne.

Everyone scattered to find something to eat, some at McDonalds, some at Burger King and a few found a nice traditional German hotel restaurant nearby. Steve, Annie, Wes, Andrea and Roger sloshed their way a few blocks to a wonderful 15th floor level restaurant with a view of the city to enjoy a nice meal of Char, Ocean Perch and/or Turkey Wienersnitzel. On this occasion, the Wienersnitzel was definitely the choice of the day. Following it up with some very moist, tasty chocolate cake we have determined that no one is worrying about waistline or diet these days.



Did you know:


As we have time to chat with one another, we get to know about the adventures of other parties in the group.  For example when Vernell Katzung retired at the age of 65 a few years ago he got himself into superb shape physically and he then joined a group that bicycled across the United States .  It was 3700 miles of riding. Karen, his wife was asked if she drove alongside him during the trip.  She said, "No, I stayed home and mowed the lawn."  We should have asked, how many times she had to mow it in his absence. 


Traveling from Seattle Washington all the way to Washington D.C. Vernell was still able to sleep in his own bed one night about half way through the trip because the route his group took for the American Lung Association benefit went right past his own house. No he did not stop to mow the lawn, but before he was allowed to go on the trip he had to arrange for at least $5000 in public donations. Vernell got around $10,000 and still had to pay for all of his own expenses to participate in the trip. Obviously Vernell is a very good fund raiser and a big heart to make this effort for such a good cause.


Most everyone slept well after this long hard trip, but reports are that Andrea can't handle chocolate late at night so she slept rather fitfully and had to be coddled and pacified the next day. Did I really say that,  Sorry Andrea.... No-- just kidding, not even a little grumpy was she the next day.  


As the trip is now winding down more rapidly than we would prefer, we have to plan and schedule things carefully. Steve Lindeman is leaving the trip about 15 hours before the rest of us and he was going to have to miss the Hohenzollern castle, one of the highlights he came on the trip to see. We are again very fortunate that Xenia was able to reverse the schedule for the last two days so Steve got both the Castle visit with the Klukow's heritage and also to see Dachow, a grippingly difficult and important stop in this trip. 


Xenia, our tour guide, has proven to be a real gem for our group experience. She is funny; she is well informed and communicates exceptionally well. And she has gone above and beyond to accommodate our sometimes strange requests for special expeditions off the beaten path of most tour groups. Her description of the farm excursion and the artificial insemination is preciously funny to say the least. We will definitely miss her and will long remember this experience partially because she made it special.