Greetings from Heidelberg, Germany

Papa · Post by **Papa** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:06 pm

As they say here in Germany, Gruesse aus Heidelberg!

A buddy of mine out of New Jersey, Gary aka EyePatch, and I decided that it was time to check out the Burning Man.

Got the tickets. Starting getting really revved up. Got a van--we thought. Began reading every blog and viewing every video we could find. Then we were notified that since we're traveling to BM the van reservation was canceled. In good, formal German--Scheisse!

Hoping to become BM virgins, as you might put it, would anyone have an idea how we can pick up some transportation for this trip? We have no problem living under very rugged conditions in a tent--we take your hints for BM virgins seriously. But we figured we need at least a small, plain van to handle the bikes, water, beer, etc., as well as to have emergency lodgings should the wind carry our tent away. We are even thinking of trying to rent out of Boise and drive in from the North. I will be flying in from the East via Frankfurt, Germany. EyePatch from N.J.

Any and all thoughts and suggestions would be welcomed.

....michael

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:38 pm

Welcome eHome.

I have seen suggestions about renting out of Sacramento, I'll have to hunt that info up. I've heard of Boise as a good alternative. Also, some burners drive out of Salt Lake City or Las Vegas. Either is a good hefty drive. Perhaps air fares would decide this?

I am sure you can figure it out, that's what burners do after all.

zorro sings · Post by **zorro sings** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:44 pm

Budget Truck Rental in Reno is Burner friendly and have vans etc.Make sure you use the GENTRY AVE.location. From then alles en ordnung.

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:08 pm

Was ist loss, meine comrade? This has nothing to do with Burning Man,
but just wanted to say that when I was stationed in Baumholder, spent
many Saturday nights sleeping on the lawn of your city's fine castle.
Heidelburg was my favorite place for a weekend trip. Beautiful city.

I come from the East coast.
Flying into Reno and renting a truck there seems to be the fastest and least hassle. The only problem with that is getting your gear. I hooked up with
an established theme camp that has storage in Reno.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:36 pm

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=29025

welcome

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:46 pm

Was in your city in June 2000. We, my wife, her mother, and myself got a rushed, abbreviated tour of the castle because the in-law was always in a hurry.

We were in Germany for a mere 10 days.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:53 pm

Unless your shure that the biz ur renting from is Burner friendly, for the love of Dog don't tell them that your going to Burning Man.

Papa · Post by **Papa** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:48 am

[quote="Thecatman"]Was in your city in June 2000. We, my wife, her mother, and myself got a rushed, abbreviated tour of the castle because the in-law was always in a hurry. :roll: We were in Germany for a mere 10 days.[/quote]

When the weather is good, Heidelberg is beautiful. When the weather is Seattle weather (no insult intended), then I dream of the Keys.

Papa · Post by **Papa** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:27 am

Thanks for your suggestions. Eyepatch and I (and now possibly an additional BM virgin) have found wheels in Salt Lake City, which considerably simplifies my flying in from Germany. We can use the 7+ hour drive to build up a thirst for our first night.

This is the first time I can recall having to be totally dependent on myself for my personal beer consumption. I have been spoiled by years of bars in countless countries in Europe and MidEast storing and chilling my beer for me. Am still trying to get a grip of this new reality. Bad enough I have to live on Bud or the like for a week. (Sorry, but I'm a German beer man.) It's worst that I have to stock my own beer and keep it cold. I've heard those ice cube lines can get mighty long. Maybe I can adjust to desert-warmed beer.

Whatever, I'll be asking for more advice as the end of August approaches.

Tschuess!

....michael

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:00 am

Do not buy beer in Utah in the supermarkets or gas stations. It is lower alcohol content, 3.2. To get "strong" beer, you must purchase it in a state store or on the military base. Your best bet for booze is to wait until you cross into Nevada.

The drive from SLC is a straight shot west, turn north at Fernley. There are a couple of mountain passes which do not look steep, but can kick your ass on the downhill side. Take your time with the drive, and you will hit construction somewhere on I-80. Summer means road work. If you leave early enough in the day, you can stop at the Bonneville Salt Flats near the Utah-Nevada state line. Unique landscape! I do not recommend driving out onto the flats and seeing how fast a rental can go. Nope, not at all. Probably a Bad Idea.

We do bring cold beer to the playa, mostly stout or Fosters oilcans. German beer is not out of the question, they carry it in the mini-mart on base. What kind? I have no clue whatsoever. I'm not a beer drinker (gasp).

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:33 am

Willkommen!

If you happen to pass through Ravensburg...and happen to meet a girl named Ansgard, please!! happen to kidnap her and bring her to Burning Man!! Have a happy Burn!!

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:39 am

I got my dueling scar in Heidelberg.

Ansgard, that's a great name.

Papa · Post by **Papa** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:17 pm

Dueling scar in Heidelberg? Which bottle cut you, Schlossquell or Eichenbaum <grin>.

....michael

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:09 pm

Papa wrote:When the weather is good, Heidelberg is beautiful

For the ten days we were in Germany it rained like four days. The worst was when my wife and I took the ferry across Lake Constance to Switzerland. Rain, wind, white caps. When we drove from the ferry dock to the town of Rorschach, it was sunny and shorts weather. Talking about German beers, I like Kostritzer Schwarzbier.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:27 pm

Papa wrote:Dueling scar in Heidelberg? Which bottle cut you, Schlossquell or Eichenbaum <grin>.

....michael

Lager lads at ten paces!

I don't think I remember Eichenbaum.
But I never had any bad german beer.

On weather, the day I was supposed to pick up an ubercar for some fun on the autobahn, it rained and rained.
I'm still bummed.

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:27 am

AntiM wrote:Do not buy beer in Utah in the supermarkets or gas stations. It is lower alcohol content, 3.2.

That's interesting. I didn't know they even made 3.2 beer any longer. When I was a kid living in Ohio, you could get 3.2 beer at 18 and strong or is it 6% alcohol? beer at 21. Then they raised the age to 21 for all alcoholic beverages. I hope I'm remembering that correctly--I'm a bit tipsy at the moment.

JK

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:06 am

whatever you end up doing on rental van/truck Do NOT! I repeat DONT rent from U-haul(U-Fall) in Reno.They're thieves!
And wont have your truck there when you get there.
Or if they do...they will charge you 800.00 to clean it, even if you bring it back better then you took it.

Just dont do it....

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:58 am

Papa, not alot of great beer here in the states in cans, Anti-M mentioned 2 good ones. Also check out Canadian beers such as Labatts or Molsen. If you like a "red" beer try Killians or for a bit darker beer get Honey Brown, all are in cans. You can occasionally find other "decent" beers in cans in a good beer store, not sure if you'll find that east of Reno.

Of course, you could ship me a large quantity of some good German beer. I'll try and make sure most of it makes to the playa

SilverOrange · Post by **SilverOrange** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:40 am

Sail Man wrote:Papa, not alot of great beer here in the states in cans, Anti-M mentioned 2 good ones. Also check out Canadian beers such as Labatts or Molsen. If you like a "red" beer try Killians or for a bit darker beer get Honey Brown, all are in cans. You can occasionally find other "decent" beers in cans in a good beer store, not sure if you'll find that east of Reno.

Of course, you could ship me a large quantity of some good German beer. I'll try and make sure most of it makes to the playa

Don't forget Guiness! Although I'm sure it tastes like piss compared to the Irish Guiness, it's still better, IMHO, than any other canned beer here in the states.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:53 pm

Didn't Hamlet go to school in Heidelburg?

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:22 am

Papa!
Heidelberg Man

Homo heidelbergensis ("Heidelberg Man") is an extinct species of the genus Homo which may be the direct ancestor of Homo neanderthalensis in Europe. The best evidence found for these hominin date between 600,000 and 400,000 years ago. H. heidelbergensis stone tool technology was considerably close to that of the Acheulean tools used by Homo erectus.