July 1, 1990 - first day visas weren't needed to cross into Czechoslovakia. We want in, but they want out! Note the old cars (Skolas) driving towards us, that is out of the CssR and into Germany. We're in a massive red BMW station wagon, by the way.

Street scene in Eger, right on the German-Czech border. Germans (with money) welcome!!!

Child-sized suit of armor in Eger (Cheb) in the house where Wallenstein was murdered

Marienbad in the Czech Republic, about an hour from where I used to stay in Germany

The colors of the former German Democratic Republic. Trabant autos, soot-stained buildings. Lunch with my old comrade, Herr D after a visit to the Steinbruch of his hometown near Chemnitz (formerly Karl-Marx-Stadt)

Trip to Venice. Drove 16 hours in an RV through the majestic Austrian Alps. I was with a group of paraplegics, so I was the only one who could drive. I almost killed us all when I raced through an intersection in Munich without looking - it seems I didn't know what the traffic signs meant at the time. In Italy, after watching in amazement at how the Italians drive, we camped in a beach-side park in Jesolo across the lagoon; a place overrun by Germans.

Miraculous bridges span the mountain passes and pass over streams where rivers form from the winter snow melting in the spring.

Scenic towns along the way.

Gondolas

The canals of Venice. Didn't get a chance to take one of the expensive rides.

Always time to pet a streetcat, which isn't always a good idea - some are quite mangy. Cats are however, sensible creatures - no matter what country you're in, they always speak the same language and have the same temperament. This cat was the only Italian who didn't try to take my money from me that day.

Prague, Czech Republic. One of my favorite cities. About two hours from where I stayed.

Famous centuries-old clock in Prague. People line up to see it every hour on the hour.

Tiny hut where writer Franz Kafka lived. Built right into the city wall, you had to stoop to get through many of the rooms.

St. John Nepomuk bridge, where he was thrown in for refusing to reveal confessional secrets. A great gathering place in Prague.

A "Pestsäule or Plague Pillar erected to protect against the plague in medieval times

Side trip. View of the old city in Cologne (Altstadt) from the top of the Cathedral

Beautiful ceramic tile ovens (Kachelofen) in many German homes. I took this photo when visiting my former guest family in Cologne. They often heated the TV room with this oven. Make sure you close all the doors!

Famous City Hall Glockenspiel (clockworks) in Munich.

1972 Olympic Stadium in Munich, across the highway from the BMW headquarters. Michael Jackson played a concert there that night (1989?). Germany's best soccer team, Bayern München plays there.

Michael Jackson concert in the late 80's at the Olympic Stadium You can see the BMW headquarters in the background. Who's that rude kid?

Enjoying an alkolholfreies and a pretzel at the English garden. There's that kid again. I guess they're the same everywhere you go.

The famous Neuschwanstein Castle built by Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria not too far from Munich. I remember seeing parasailers in the area.

Another of Ludwig's Castle, Lindenhof, about an hour away from Neuschwanstein.

Dachau Concentration Camp, just outside of Munich. Museum inside the main building. The barracks are all gone. Quite a horrible feeling you have when you're there.

The Brausebad - the showers where prisoners were gassed.