2004.09.23 in Stuttgart
We left Wien and passed through Salzburg to make a transfer to Stuttgart from Munchen (Munich). The scenery greatly improved by rail as we approached the Bavarian region. While our train pulled out of Salzburg's main station, we missed out on an incredible photo of the city - an old bridge over a wide river with some picturesque architecture in the background... Salzburg was on my list of cities to visit, but Mozart's birthplace and the Sound of Music's Von Trapp mansion will have to wait for another time.
BTW, we were on our way to Stuttgart to stay at a family friend's home for a change. The arrangements were made while back in Toronto and I confirmed them while we were still in Vienna. Tony Basilio was a childhood best friend of my father's and his family visited us in 1987 while we were still living in California. It was a long time ago and I could barely recall Tony or his family. At Stuttgart's Hauptbahnhof, Tony's wife, Ursula, and his oldest son, Hans George were waiting for us. I didn't know what any of them looked like but George informed me to look for a 6' Filipino with his German mother. Fair enough, they should not be hard to spot at all! We gladly accepted their hospitality and were grateful for all their generousity. The Basilio's cozy home was 20 minutes away from downtown and we chatted all evening about our travels, German news and events, various cultural differences, and other topics on Europe and North America. Had a great home-cooked meal (Tony's own pancit (a Filipino noodles and vegetables dish)) and Ursula's dessert (vanilla ice cream and plain yogourt topped with a wafer - an amazing mix!) After dinner they busted out all these finger food snacks along with a steady flow of apple juice and sparkling water. Mix these two beverages for instant cider! Funny, Tony mentioned how dinner was the least important meal of the day for Germans (and most Europeans) while for North Americans, it's normally the largest - and they were stuffing us with all this food and drink! Making dinner a smaller meal is the better way anyway - we should be going to bed slightly hungry - our bodies won't have to absorb a heavy meal without being able to properly burn off the calories and fat. No wonder we hardly saw along our trip the obesity levels we see everyday in North America. Then came the highlight of the night - finally, after 5 years of knowing Le, we got to share the same air mattress. At least it was queen-sized LOL!
BTW, we were on our way to Stuttgart to stay at a family friend's home for a change. The arrangements were made while back in Toronto and I confirmed them while we were still in Vienna. Tony Basilio was a childhood best friend of my father's and his family visited us in 1987 while we were still living in California. It was a long time ago and I could barely recall Tony or his family. At Stuttgart's Hauptbahnhof, Tony's wife, Ursula, and his oldest son, Hans George were waiting for us. I didn't know what any of them looked like but George informed me to look for a 6' Filipino with his German mother. Fair enough, they should not be hard to spot at all! We gladly accepted their hospitality and were grateful for all their generousity. The Basilio's cozy home was 20 minutes away from downtown and we chatted all evening about our travels, German news and events, various cultural differences, and other topics on Europe and North America. Had a great home-cooked meal (Tony's own pancit (a Filipino noodles and vegetables dish)) and Ursula's dessert (vanilla ice cream and plain yogourt topped with a wafer - an amazing mix!) After dinner they busted out all these finger food snacks along with a steady flow of apple juice and sparkling water. Mix these two beverages for instant cider! Funny, Tony mentioned how dinner was the least important meal of the day for Germans (and most Europeans) while for North Americans, it's normally the largest - and they were stuffing us with all this food and drink! Making dinner a smaller meal is the better way anyway - we should be going to bed slightly hungry - our bodies won't have to absorb a heavy meal without being able to properly burn off the calories and fat. No wonder we hardly saw along our trip the obesity levels we see everyday in North America. Then came the highlight of the night - finally, after 5 years of knowing Le, we got to share the same air mattress. At least it was queen-sized LOL!
posted by ET at 16:18
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