NOTE: .Mac is down or slow tongiht, so might want to check back another time for the pictures.<br><br>Well, here they are. Some of the 459 pictures we took on our trip to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.<br><br>We had a great time, although the weather sucked a good deal of the time. Rained a lot, just a few nice days. But, going back home was amazing and made me appreciate where I am originally from (Munich) more than ever. They say you can't go home, but I found out that you can. Sure things have changed and everything is more modern, but that old world charm is still there. Gas is about $4 a gallon, about $60 to fill the tank on our rental Mercedes. The roads are fantastic, I was just amazed at how smooth and wonderful the roads where everywhere we went. Roads in the US suck compared to the places we went to in Europe. Food was great, wonderful pastries and cafes everywhere. Prices were reasonable in my opinion, in some things less than in the US. Bavarian beer, of course, is tops, there is no comparison. Snow conditions were good where we skied, but generally in the Alps, the skiing so far this season is not very good unless you go up to at least 1700 meters or so. The rail system of course is amazing as it always has been, hardly a village you can't get to with a train of some sort. Our trip back home was supposed to take us via Paris, but that flight got cancelled. So we were rerouted through London's Heathrow airport. What a shock that was. Like going to an airport in a third world country compared to the ultramodern and efficient Munich airport. Glad to be back home in 80 degree Southern California weather. Tomorrow it's back to work for me. Well enjoy the photos and let me know what you think.<br><br>http://homepage.mac.com/bliemel/PhotoAlbum19.html<br><br>P.S. Oh yeah, on that one shot it should read RATHAUS, not Rathouse. That is the city hall in Munich in that shot.<br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by mikeb_X on 01/06/03 10:30 PM (server time).</EM></FONT></P>

there's some nice pics there. will have to take a closer look later, is it just me or is .mac really slow - got about 6 pictures in and it was just creeping along.<br><br>

.Mac was down a while ago when I wanted to edit one of the captions. You on dialup or cable? I viewed it with my cable connection several times and it was fine. Not sure how it will be though for people on dialup. Have to test that tomorrow at work and see how slow or not it is that way.<br><br>

dsl modem.<br><br>www.mac.com - now says that it is down.<br><br>

I agree with JonnyCat. The speed was lousy--must be a .Mac thing tonight.<br><br>But the pictures are great. They really make me want to go back to Europe soon. Not that it's going to happen, you understand <br><br><br><br>Great wits are sure to madness near allied.--John Dryden, "Absalom and Achitophel"

Great pictures. I like the quaintness of the villages and the contrast with that bullet train. My slideshow loaded fast.<br>The castle is pretty spectacular inside too. ( if it is a castle. It may have been a government building, but it was big and beautiful inside)<br>Nice work.<br><br>

Yes, that is what is so nice to see. The mix of the old world buildings and architecture combined with modern conveniences and high tech. A building might be 500-800 years old, but it is maintained and is modern on the inside. Just an amazing thing to see such uniformity in architectural styles, esthetically it is very pleasing to the eye.<br><br>

Fantastic photos... My wife loves those last three photos... who painted that?<br><br><br>Visit Me At My .Mac Site

Great pictures with some breathtaking scenery; thanks for sharing Mike..<br><br><br>http://waleedsgallery.biz

Wow! Those photos are gorgeous! I love mountains.<br><br>I'm jealous, although I may get to visit Europe for the first time this summer. Thanks for sharing.<br><br>