Germany's amazing driving machines

Just back from the trip to Europe and wanted to share a few thoughts as I adjust to the jet lag and 7/8 hour time zone changes....the 'fun' part of travelling.

First off I travelled the Autobahn and can safely say that's the craziest highway I've ever driven on, albeit their system works like crazy. Most of the highway we drove on was three lanes wide and the drivers adhered to the respective 'lane situations' very well. The very right hand lane is reserved for trucks, slower vehicles, and large buses. The middle lane is reserved for people who travel at 'approximately' the normal speed limit (120 kph) while the left hand lane is for the 'give 'er' drivers and you are advised to keep an eye on who/what is behind you because they're coming 'fast.' There is NO passing in the right hand lane so it certainly eases the worry about idiots scooting by you at any speed from any side. But the most overwhelming part of driving in Germany is the 'quality' of vehicles you encounter. Porsche; BMW; Mercedes; Audi and Volkswagen rule the roads and, especially in Stuttgart, a quick survey of the ten cars parked at a traffic light shows that 8 out of 10 are one of those cars. Quality is the key and when you visit the car museums over there you'll see a stark reminder of not only how great these cars are built but how long they have ruled the car business. The buildings alone speak of the dynamic.

We arrived at the Porsche Museum as it opened, and at about the exact time that the fire engines arrived for a 'false alarm' in the building.

After huddling outside with the staff; the cooks (yes they have TWO restaurants inside the building); a Porsche representative came outside after about 20 minutes and shouted instructions into a megaphone, whereas everybody walked back in to the building to be met with a nice 'bonus' - FREE ADMISSION due to the false alarm. (Cost is usually $8 Euro's) Inside the building you walk around on ramps that chronicle the history of Ferdinand Porsche, and his all important 'credo' about why he started Porsche.

It takes about an hour or so to wander through the various vehicles and you are amazed at the sheer 'power' on display - let alone how many millions of dollars of vehicles are sitting in this impressive building.

Next up was the Mercedes Museum, which is beside the Mercedes Arena, an impressive all purpose arena that houses top soccer and 'football' matches - practice fields, etc. This building too is 'magnificent.' (Cost $8 Euro's but for me the seniors special - half price)

The Mercedes Museum was hopping and security was huge. Everybody had to check their jackets and back-packs and once that was completed was sent to the top floor of the building by a George Jetson type fast elevator that looked right out of Star Wars.

You're up about 8 stories and this display goes back to the beginning of time in the Mercedes world - at around 1890 - and there are hundreds upon hundreds of simply mind blowing vehicles on display - everything from the Pope Mobile to buses to 'future' Mercedes concept cars.

The eras are broken up so that you can see a chronological history of the brand as well.

So although our Tres Amigos do Europe Tour 2011 was focussed on 'two wheel' travel throughout five different countries, one of the best highlights was spending a day looking at these magnificent automobiles at the Porsche and Mercedes Museums in Stuttgart, Germany. It's a very 'young' city that was totally rebuilt after severe damage in WW II, and the fact that it is a University town makes it very young focussed and dynamic. If you get a chance to visit either, or both, of these fine tributes to automotive delights I 'highly' recommend you attend....it's a great way to spend $4 Euros (my special price for the day) Both have websites for full information and I have posted about a hundred pictures on my personal Facebook site as well.