So as we continue the story. Coat in place and all warm and toasty.

Work continued the next day with many discussions, and questions regarding the programming vs. the design intent.   That’s pretty much the way it went for the week.

The evenings were spent seeing some of the city (mostly pubs and eateries).  I’ve come to realize that I work for a bunch of Brit’s that love to drink. 

I didn’t get to see too much of the area as I did not have a car of my own at the time.  That did eventually change when Bob left

After Bob left, another gent was coming in to take over the process of being ‘project manager’.  In the mean time I was working issues with code and interfacing with the engineers to work through problems, questions, concerns and generally being the ‘clean up guy’ for the project.

He stayed in a different hotel that I was at, even a different city (Delden) and seemed to be quite effective at making things happen.

The first weekend that was available to me to take some time and see the sites, I hopped in the car and took off to Germany.  The border was about 30 minutes away, do I took off.  I crossed the border and kept heading into the country, just to see what I could see.

Germany looked nice, even though the weather was a little bleak.  I drove the town of Osnabrück.  I drove into town and looked around for a place to park.  There was none!  It happened to be the weekend for the local market days, which looked more like a flea marked that we would have in the states.  People everywhere and no parking anywhere.  I turned around and headed back for Hengleo.

It was getting late, about 3 pm, and I had not had lunch.  I remembered seeing a place just off the highway that had fast food (Burger King and McDonalds).  I saw the exit on the way back and go off the highway in Ibbenbüren.

I decided I really didn’t want the standard ‘fast food’ so I headed into town.  Small though it may be, I did find a place.   I walked in and was greeted (in German of all things!) by the lady behind the counter.  I asked in my best German from high school, if she spoke English.

She did not.

This was not going to be easy.  I looked over the menu and made a selection.  I pointed and spoke what I believed to be passable and possibly understandable version of what I thought the menu was telling me.  She seemed to understand, and asked me what I wanted on my food.  Kraut, onions, etc. I indicated that it would like to have some of all of it.  She seemed to understand again.  I got a drink (self service fountain soda), and took a seat at a booth.  This little place looked like it was straight out of the late 50’s in the decor.

My food was delivered and it was delicious.  I thought it was a steak sandwich that I was ordering, but it turned out to be schnitzel in a pita, with peppers, onions and kraut.  I was stuffed!

Time to head back to Hengelo. 

Although I did not notice it before, while I was on the highway, people were passing me and seemed to be in a huge hurry.  I was traveling along at 120 in my little Renault Twingo, and I felt like I was standing still!  These guys were flying down the highway!  Then I realized, this is Germany. Home of the Autobahn!  No speed limits!  I stayed to the right and followed the big trucks, to keep from getting run over.  Once back in the Netherlands, where there were actual speed limits on the highway, I felt a little better.  Mind you, if I had been driving something other than a pregnant roller skate, I would have been taking advantage of the lack of a posted speed limit.

Enough for now.