Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 10:49:12 -0700
Reply-To: Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Subject: Re: Germany
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original
Twice I bought one of those high top vans in Germany and have driven through
twelve countries of Western Europe in three months at a time. I still
think, it is the best way to see Europe that is really like a jewellery box
with all the fine gems scattered all over.
It was very cheap. The car was $2000 and the three months cost an other
$2000 including food, gas, and the most expensive part being the entrance
tickets to all the museums, churches, galleries and such. Plus the freeway
use in Italy and France mostly.
I did not go up the leaning tower of Pisa for $100. Venice, Rome, Pisa,
Florence, Pompei, Barcelona, Madrid, Al Hambra, Seville, Gibraltar, the
coast of Spain and Portugal, Lisbon, North West Spain with Pedrana of Seve
Ballesteros', the cave paintings, then onto France's West coast of Normandy,
then Bordeaux, La Mans, Paris, then Belgium, Holland, Danmark, more of
Germany, Berlin, Nuremberg, Praga, Vienna, Budapest, yadi yadi yada, Athen,
Olympia, Sparta, but most of all Finikundas at the Southern tip of the
peninsula where they serve cold beer at a restaurant where the white
tablecloths are gently fluttering in the breeze on the beach where the
tables' legs are just missing the waves that creep out and almost get you,
and while the sun is going down over the water's horizon, you look around
and you see an old fisherman painting his boat with brush, and an other is
swinging an octopus over his head to smash it against the rocks to kill it.
It was a dry year, did not rain for eight month, there was no olives that
year. It was a national tragedy there. We knew nothing of it here. The
public swimming pool is the Mediterranian see, just at the boat ramp. Free
of course. No fence anywhere you drive and can get in the water anywhere
for a quick swim to cool down. Park on the beach for the night, stay as
long as you wish. No police and such nuisance, only people.
Everybody speaks English in Europe, almost. Even the French now. They say
the Internet made the difference.
With a tour as this, one would have in such a short time so many beutiful
memories that will never diminish, that the money spent on it is not even
considered.
The car was sold later and the $2000 recovered.
It was cheap. Never wanted to sleep in a hotel and only maybe once a day
have eaten out.
Europe can now be driven without borders and changing of different
currencies.
ETC
I propose; this list should have at least one van in Europe for its members.
The details can be worked out. There are a few members in Europe who could
take care or look after them. The rental would be real cheap, I'm sure. We
can afford a lot together. Individually, most of us could never afford it.
Most guys only have a week or two the most and that would not make it
worthwhile to buy a van and risk the selling after.
Any of you have an idea to make it happen?
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Gellman User" <jeffg@MIKOEXOTICWEAR.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 3:17 AM
Subject: Germany
> Hello
>
> I just came back for germany...stayed in a little village called
> Illshwang,
> about 50 Km from Nurenberg. I was amazed at the amount vans I saw..not
> being
> an expert on model names, I saw a little bit of everything..most amazing
> was
> the VW campers that had 5 foot high extended roofs, and the
> transporters?(like a pickup truck) that actually get used on a daily basis
> for work and delivery..also saw a bunch of the mercedes campers similar to
> the VW extended hard topped ones.
>
> With most cars being small, it is very common for families to have small
> trailers and I saw many ones with Westfalia on the back of them.
>
> As I was driving on the Autobahn at 200 kilometers an hour(and still being
> almost driven off the road by cars from behind) I was having fantasies of
> driving my 89 VW Westfalia at 100 Kilometers of course through the small
> towns and stopping at night at the ParkingPlatz on the side of the highway
> every few kilometers and going throughout europe.
>
> I live in Rhode Island which has only a handful of VW vans and it made me
> even prouder to be an owner of one and part of this wonderful group of
> owners represented with this group.
>
> jeff
>
>
> --
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>
>
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