Off We Go!

[afshawnt]

Well, its 3:45am and I've been up all night packing and doing laudry. I had a final exam till 10pm. I'm very tired, but very excited. I'm waiting for icemanjs4 to come over, and we're off to Houston to meet with LDV330i and catch our flight to Munich. Enjoy some pics:

1) The ping pong packing table as of 3:45am.
2) Me as of 3:45am.

***For some reason i can't attach a file. Will try again later.

[icemanjs4]

Well, I'm sitting here at Afshawnt's house, just waiting for the hour to strike 5:30 so we can begin our trip. My eyes are bleary, and I'm tired, but sleeps is the farthest thing from my mind.

Is it really time to go?!?! In less than 24 hours we'll be in Munich (beer for breakfast anyone?):eeps:

PS... Hopefully Bimmerfest can fix the photo management feature soon, or we won't be able to abide by the 12 hour rule :-( currently we can't upload any photos.

[x3Bruin]

Have fun guys... :thumbup:

[MB330]

Good luck, guys and have fun! Remember 12 hr ruls!


http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10724;127/st/20060712/e/European+Delivery/dt/-2/k/443c/event.png
(http://www.TickerFactory.com/)

[LDV330i]

Afshawnt and Icemanjs4 were at Houston Intercontinental Airport by 9 AM after a 3 hour drive from Austin. Icemanjs4 drove his brand X beater car so he could leave it parked at the airport while in Europe and not worry about his baby (ZHP) being abused. :D Check the name of the parking lot. :rofl:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=75690&d=1147694383

Since the area around IAH is not known for its good restaurants we decided that something other than IHOP would have to do for breakfast. We chose a taqueria where we all had a Mexican breakfast with salsa. Hot spicy food is something Icemanjs4 and Ashawnt will not be eating for the next 10 days. I even suggested that they take a salsa bottle to spice up their food in Europe.:rofl:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=75691&d=1147694383




Well, they are now on their way to Washington, DC to catch their connecting flight to Munich where they should arrive on Monday at 8 AM (local time). Both were exhausted and will probably sleep all the way to Munich.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=75692&d=1147694383

[fuzzy_b]

I hope to see you guys in a couple hours! I'm getting ready to head out to Dulles now. If I miss you at the airport, have a great trip. I'm looking forward to seeing pics of that white/terra combo!


And congrats on finishing that last final!! I can't tell you how much of a relief that was finishing up my last final on Friday night! (I still can't figure out why anyone would think giving final exams on a Friday or Saturday night is a good idea, unless they just want to make it easier to go out and celebrate afterwards :dunno:)

[LDV330i]

I hope to see you guys in a couple hours! I'm getting ready to head out to Dulles now. If I miss you at the airport, have a great trip. Need to look for them. They did not think you were on the same flight. Icemanjs4 is wearing a burgundy Cornell (big letters) t-shirt and Ashawnt is wearing a blue polo shirt with a BMW roundel. :)

[LDV330i]

Pictures have now been uploaded. :thumbup:

[fdkevin]

Have a great time.

[LDV330i]

I think we may have 2 B'festers MIA in Munich. They have yet to report in. :(

But then when you are having too much fun :drink: who care about checking in. :rofl:

[beewang]

I would cut the boys a break. The bimmerfest server is down overnight for maintenance (swithing to a new server) and they might logged in and got a "We are sorry but please check back later..." message.:)

I suspect that we will hear back from them in the next 6 hours:D

[xspeedy]

Have fun guys! Post many more pics when you get there. Not really interested in Houston :)

[afshawnt]

Hey all,

We kinda didn't have time to get internet access, but now we are just outside of Venice and our hotel has a really nice deal. We're about to head out to dinner, but we'll come back and post a handful of pictures. But here is a teaser:

1)We kind of fell asleep waiting for the bimmerfest mini meet in the Marriott lobby. Sorry guys:( But we did find this ED car outside parked on the side of the street (BTW, your doors were unlocked :p )

2,3)Signed the Bimmerfest book at the ED center.

Back in a few!

[afshawnt]

1) The ping pong packing table as of 3:45am.
2) Me as of 3:45am.

***For some reason i can't attach a file. Will try again later.

Attached the pics for my first post

[xspeedy]

Attached the pics for my first post

1) You picked up a new car in Munich
2) You are outside of Venice
3) I have a picture of a Ping Pong table and half of your face.

:confused: :thumbdwn:







:)

[afshawnt]

Alright xspeedy you asked for it :p

1)Plane from Houston to DC
2)Welcome to Germany
3)Frans Joeseph Strauss Airport
4)Entering S-Bahn from Airport
5)Outside Munich Marriott

[afshawnt]

1)Englisher Garten
2)Chinesischen Turm
3)Lunch (Mmmm....Weisswurst)
4)Train station @ Allianz Arena (Home of the 2006 World Cup)
5)What a tiring day!

[afshawnt]

1) Allianz Arena
2) In awe of the Cup!
3)World Cup countdown in Marienplatz
4)Everthing's closed at 1am, so Burger King it was
5)These street names sure are confusing (Good thing for Nav)

[afshawnt]

1) The Franziskaner
2) Spatenhaus
3) Late night beer at the Marriott
4) Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial (What an intense experience)
5) .

[xspeedy]

That's better. Where the hell is a pic of the car?

[afshawnt]

1) BMW Welt is built by true Muncheners
2) A BMW city
3) BMW Headquarters
4) icemanjs4 @ BMW Museum
5) Me @ BMW Museum

[afshawnt]

Just for that....more pics without the car.

1) BMW Welt sign
2) I got recruited to work at the factory (Factory Tour actually!)
3) Library in Munich?
4) Hofbrauhaus Musik
5) Bier what else?!

[afshawnt]

1) In the Freimann U-Bahn station turn left here :)
2) Turn right on to the little dirt road
3) Make your way through the gate into the ED center
4) Check-in
5) icemanjs4 knows how I'm feeling

[xspeedy]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76002&d=1147990690

Hey, that's my girl. Did you say hi to her for me?

[afshawnt]

1) First a quick breakfast at the ED Bistro
2) Signing the paperwork with Gunther
3) Finally my car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
4) Gunther showing me the ropes on the i-Drive
5) Sealing the deal

[afshawnt]

1)icemanjs4, the car, and I
2)Terra/Alpenweiss/Alluminum Combo Rocks!!!
3) ED employee checking out the car (Everyone loves this car)
4) Only 3 miles on her
5) Glamour shot

[afshawnt]

1) Me terrified during my first drive in the city
2) Wal-Mart Euro style
3) Obeying the Break-in (all the way to 100mph)
4) My favorite angle of the car
5) icemanjs4 in front of Schloss Neuschwanstein

[afshawnt]

1) icemanjs4 again (Pimpin with the shades!)
2) Me and my unpimped riiiide at the castle
3) Isn't she purdy?
4) Glamour shot
5) In the courtyard of Schloss Neuschwanstein

[afshawnt]

1) View from way up in the castle (200 steps)
2) .
3) Hohenshwangau castle
4) Exellent cozy hotel in the Austrian Alps outside of Fussen (Gasthof zum Schluxen, thanks xspeedy and Mrs. xspeedy)
5) Glamour shot

[afshawnt]

1) Oustide the hotel in Austria
2) Herman (the nicest guy in the world!)
3) Washing the bugs off the front bumper (Hardcore!)
4) Ferrari (Nice car, ugly color)
5) Driving through the Brenner Pass

[afshawnt]

1) Lunch in Innsbruck
2) Vinyards in Italy
3) Maseratti
4) Italian humor?
5) You are here

[afshawnt]

This is all for now. More to come later.

1) Welcom to Venice
2) Gelato in Quarto D'Altino
3) Dinner at the hotel

[afshawnt]

PLEASE CHECK THIS VIDEO OUT!!!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=631419030509778843

It summarizes our experience (notice the castle in the background).

[MarcusSDCA]

Great reporting guys....looks like great weather too!

[LDV330i]

Glad to hear y'all are alive and well, and having way to much fun. :D

[beewang]

:thumbup: :thumbup: Two Thumbs up from me babY!!

Awesome!! Good Stuff fellas, great video. You may want to tell Iceman to lay-off on the dark beer and stay w/ the lighter stuff. :p

Thnx for sharing w/ us Afshawn:D Now get some sleep now!!:bigpimp:

[mjrunning]

Love the terra and the alpine white, that is Funkuhren!!

[mdsbuc]

Enjoying the pics, vids, and write up. Hope all continues to go well for you guys. :thumbup:

[smokeminside]

Same here, great photos, drive safe!

[woody underwood]

1) Lunch in Innsbruck
2) Vinyards in Italy
3) Maseratti
4) Italian humor?
5) You are here
I resent that....Wuudy (Good pics and trip though)

[hockeynut]

Afshawnt's and Iceman's Excellent Adventure!

Fantastic pics - glad y'all are enjoying Deutschland. And please let me know if you ever get to the town of Ausfahrt - every friggen road in Germany leads there but I never found it :D

Drive safe, fly safe then I want a ride when you get home!

[xspeedy]

... then I want a ride when you get home!

:confused:

On his bicycle?

[dencoop]

Congrats on the New Ultimate German Driving Machine:bigpimp:

Love the color choice:D

Nice Pics, brings me back....I want to do another ED now!!!!!

.....am defin. getting the I-Drive Navi next time....

More pics...I need more imput.....

Good luck with everything:thumbup:

[Boile]

where are the German chicks? :dunno:

[jackie]

Looks like you guys are having SO much fun...and that's what ED's all about

[hockeynut]

:confused:

On his bicycle?

Never!

I want a ride when THE CAR gets home :D

[afshawnt]

Thanks guys!

We uploaded some more videos. Enjoy :)

Briefing at the ED center: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7261228229904836206

Seeing the Car(Gunther likes icemanjs4's camera too): http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4317318414421507302

[icemanjs4]

Well, I finally managed to wrestle the keyboard away from Afshawnt (shhhh he doesn't know it yet!). And there's no way I'm laying off the dark beer. Mmmmm :drink:

So we thought we had finally found the long lost Ausfahrt village. However, when we tried to follow the signs to get their, our Nav Frau happily chimed in "If possible, make a legal U-turn" :mad: Oh well - we tried.

More later.... off to Venice

Afshawnt's and Iceman's Excellent Adventure!

Fantastic pics - glad y'all are enjoying Deutschland. And please let me know if you ever get to the town of Ausfahrt - every friggen road in Germany leads there but I never found it :D

Drive safe, fly safe then I want a ride when you get home!

[mullman]

AWESOME job guys and congrats.
The car is just freaking gorgeous - I love the terra. :thumbup:

Not to mention you got the one thing all BMWs should have - 3 pedals!
Enjoy!

[LDV330i]

Never!

I want a ride when THE CAR gets home :DI see a July Welcoming/Christening/Let's All Test Drive Afshawnt's car GTG.:D

[adrian's bmw]

Afshawnt,

Wow! Thanks for sharin. Great trip and spectacular pics that sum up your trip wonderfully. You make us feel like you brought all of us here on Bimmerfest with you!:rofl:

Congratulations, bro.:thumbup: Nice ride. Car looks awesome in the combo you picked.:yumyum:

[Me530]

Looking good! Have you seen any of the girls from your avatar?

[WebRover]

1) BMW Welt sign
2) I got recruited to work at the factory (Factory Tour actually!)
3) Library in Munich?
4) Hofbrauhaus Musik
5) Bier what else?!
Great pix. Makes me want to go back soon.

If the "Library?" was next to the Residenz, we were told it was the Opera House. Looks like the same building in the picture.

[X3 Skier]

Thanks for sharing a great trip.

Actually, Ausfahrt is right next to Eingang, Waaaaay back in the Black Forest.:D

Cheers

[afshawnt]

Hi all,

Afshawnt and icemanjs4 here. We are klosing out our trip in Salzburg. Kar is kovered in dead bugs :( Thanks for the great replies. Venice was amazing! We are using the publik kompter in the hotel (ie. FREE), so many many piks will kome soon. :) :P

Also here is another video(Driving out of the delivery center): http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2629542920258965389
PREGO!

[beewang]

Those damn German keyboard doesn't have a "C" key on it aye:p

Thnx for the Video :thumbup: be sure to eject the DVD disk yourself and not leave it to Icemanjs4 :p :bustingup

Cheers!!

beewang:bigpimp:

[xspeedy]

Glad to hear you are having a blast. I already saw the vid of you coming out of the center. The AW is really growing on me.

I'm assuming you are using one of those messed up keyboards.

Can we have a thumbs up?

[LDV330i]

Looks like you had a blast during your intense ED trip.:thumbup:

I cannot believe that you wimped out and did not drive your own car through the ED Center threshold. :rofl: That is an essential part of the ED experience.

[xspeedy]

Looks like you had a blast during your intense ED trip.:thumbup:

I cannot believe that you wimped out and did not drive your own car through the ED Center threshold. :rofl: That is an essential part of the ED experience.

If he likes, I can drive his car home from the dealer.

Those dealership parking lots can be frightening :rofl:

[afshawnt]

Looks like you had a blast during your intense ED trip.:thumbup:

I cannot believe that you wimped out and did not drive your own car through the ED Center threshold. :rofl: That is an essential part of the ED experience.


I thought it was kind of strange, that he didn`t let me. I guess they have had problems with that in the past. :dunno:



BTW, we did the `k` thing on purpose. Thought it would be funny, but indeed the keyboards here are crazy.

We are off to Harms now, but first we need to wash off the roadkill on the front of the car. Talk to you later!

[fdkevin]

Looks like you guys are having great weather and a great time. Stay safe. Keep the pics coming.

[icemanjs4]

We are alive! We are tired! We've been awake 27 hours and counting. Beewang, your NAV disc is in the mail.:thumbup:

Afshawnt, will post pics sometime tomorrow hopefully. And I'll try to host the entire album in the next couple of days.

Thanks everyone for all your support and well wishes.

[x3Bruin]

We are alive! We are tired! We've been awake 27 hours and counting. Beewang, your NAV disc is in the mail.:thumbup:

Afshawnt, will post pics sometime tomorrow hopefully. And I'll try to host the entire album in the next couple of days.

Thanks everyone for all your support and well wishes.


Welcome home gentlemen... You guys did a great job reporting from the road. :thumbup:

[LDV330i]

Glad to hear y'all made it home safe and sound. :thumbup:

I guess you found you car in the same place you left it. Actually Accords do have higher theft rates than BMW's. :rofl:

Soon we will be hearing from Afshawnt about how long his car is taking to get stateside. :D

[icemanjs4]

Great pix. Makes me want to go back soon.

If the "Library?" was next to the Residenz, we were told it was the Opera House. Looks like the same building in the picture.

It was in a plaza kind of area next to the opera house. The Opera was on the right side of the street if you are facing the the "library". Spatenhaus was on the other side of the plaza.

[icemanjs4]

It's too late Bee!!! I had my hands all over your Nav Disk!!
See Attached Photo :-) Even the guy at Harms had a good laugh


Those damn German keyboard doesn't have a "C" key on it aye:p

Thnx for the Video :thumbup: be sure to eject the DVD disk yourself and not leave it to Icemanjs4 :p :bustingup

Cheers!!

beewang:bigpimp:

[Ågent99]

Those damn German keyboard doesn't have a "C" key on it aye:p

Cheers!!

beewang:bigpimp:

The z and y are exchanged, too. My wife apparently thought I was in love with someone name zou. :tsk:

[afshawnt]

1) i-Drive telling us to take the ferry (that didn't exist)
2) Testing the camera
3) Navigating the old fashioned way
4) Sign on the way to Venice
5) Parking garage outside of Venice

[afshawnt]

1) Me taking in the experience
2) .
3) Shot of one of the canals
4) All of the windows have beautiful flowers in them
5) Pasta

[afshawnt]

1) Camera Test
2) icemanjs4 asking for directions from this nice gentleman
3) More beautiful flowers
4) making sure the flash worked
5) double checking

[afshawnt]

1) Small canal
2) s. Marcos Pl.
3) icemanjs4 playing with the pigeons and taking video of a popular italian boy
4) Look at the birds!
5) camera test

[afshawnt]

1) A $150 canoe ride!
2) Glass blowing in Murano
3) A small alley way
4) Flash is still good!
5) Italian police

[afshawnt]

1) A sign at our hotel about the ferry strike
2) Private Water taxi
3) Venice style breakfast cookie
4) Car ferry to the mainland
5) icemanjs4 soaking up the sun

[afshawnt]

1) View from the ferry ride
2) .
3) Shortened the break-in period
4) Drive to Salzburg
5) Me enjoying the drive to Salzburg

[afshawnt]

1) Go Longhorns!
2) Through the Alps to Salzburg
3) .
4) .
5) Welcome to Salzburg

[xspeedy]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76624&d=1148609264

No shoe cam?

[afshawnt]

1) The hotel in Salzburg
2) Sandals: check; Shorts: check; Sweater: check
3) Monks brew great bier
4).
5) Way too much food

[afshawnt]

1) Our beer handling skills have evolved
2).
3) Entrance to the Brauhaus
4) Sound of Music in Salzburg
5) I love this car

[afshawnt]

1) Chocolate gowing on trees
2) Radio station throwing a bash in the old town
3) Church in Salzburg
4).
5) icemanjs4 looks like a local. no?

[afshawnt]

1) Views from a fortress overlookin the city
2).
3).
4)Torture chair
5) Lunch

[afshawnt]

1) Playing with camera effects
2).
3) A little girl's firt communion
4) .
5) Windows in German

[afshawnt]

1) View from our boat tour
2) Back to the same Brauhaus
3).
4) Drinking songs
5) On the way to Munich

[afshawnt]

1) Last moments with my baby!
2) Driving by the Allianz Arena
3) Mass murder
4) In the Harms parking lot
5) Front plate coming off

[afshawnt]

1) Nav disc removal (This is how it's done!)
2) Goods to take with me
3) Cao!
4) BMW heaven next to Harms
5) Weisses Brauhaus

[afshawnt]

1) The last supper (way too much food)
2) .
3) .
4) Breakfast
5) Goodbye Marienplatz

[afshawnt]

1) icemanjs4 walking into the airport
2) crappy United flight
3) Chicago
4) in the sky

[afshawnt]

Well it's the end and we finally made it back to Tejas.

I'll be working on a quality video in the next month or so (i've got school and work, so I don't know how long it will take me).

Thanks again everyone!

[LDV330i]

:yikes: Your cholesterol levels must have set new records. :eeps:






http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76684&d=1148612005




http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76683&d=1148612005

[afshawnt]

:yikes: Your cholestorel levels must have set new records. :eeps:





I know, next time it's each man for themselves. No more of this lets order a few things and share. It never worked out right. I've been running and lifting weights daily while I'm back in Florida on vacation. I have to admit it tasted good though (not as good as sushi), but still good (very similar to my polish grandma's cooking).

[targa84]

One of the best trip reports ever. I really enjoyed it. Thank you.

[MarcusSDCA]

One of the best trip reports ever. I really enjoyed it. Thank you.

Ditto...thanks for the writeup and pics.....I really enjoyed it!

Did you guys meet on Bimmerfest or what?

[MB330]

Well it's the end and we finally made it back to Tejas.

I'll be working on a quality video in the next month or so (i've got school and work, so I don't know how long it will take me).

Thanks again everyone!
No, thank YOU!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

[icemanjs4]

Ditto...thanks for the writeup and pics.....I really enjoyed it!

Did you guys meet on Bimmerfest or what?

Yup, I had done my ED the year before, and a few of us met up at an Austin Bimmerfest meet. The rest is history.

Glad you all enjoyed the pics. The trip was even better :-) I didn't realize how nice Europe was until we got back to the states. I already miss the cool breezes and nice scenery. Not to mention that Texas beers (aka Shiner) just don't compete with the German stuff.

[smokeminside]

One of the best trip reports ever. I really enjoyed it. Thank you.


Same here!

[mullman]

Awesome trip and excellent pics!
Thanks guys!

[mdsbuc]

Great job guys. :thumbup: Beautiful pics and nice write up. Enjoyed it all. :beerchug:

[LDV330i]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76624&d=1148609264

No shoe cam?

Read in today's Corriere della Sera on-line edition:

Due americani stanno cercandi e ritenendi sospetto di essere i fotografos dei posteriori. La polizia è sull'allerta.


Translation:
Two americans are being sought and suspected of being the photographers of derrieres. The police are on the lookout.:eek:


:rofl: :rofl:

[WebRover]

1) The last supper (way too much food)
2) .
3) .
4) Breakfast
5) Goodbye Marienplatz

Sounds and looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing. I'm curious what's on the plate in this group of photos - looked like green noodles? with calamari? Was that it or was it something else?

[afshawnt]

Sounds and looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing. I'm curious what's on the plate in this group of photos - looked like green noodles? with calamari? Was that it or was it something else?

I believe it was spaetzle with spinach, and mushrooms. Very delicious!

[WebRover]

I believe it was spaetzle with spinach, and mushrooms. Very delicious!
Sounds great. Much better than what I thought it looked like!

[sponge_worthy]

Whats up with Thomas and the white buck shoes... Where does he think he is, at a retirement community in Florida? :dunno: :stickpoke

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76675&d=1148611670

[hockeynut]

This was without a doubt the most entertaining ED thread I've seen. Thanks, guys, for sharing with the rest of us!

[X550-ED]

Awesome writeup! Thanks for sharing all those cool pix of the nice Ferrari, Maseratti, and uh... testing your camera's flash :D

One thing I noticed that didn't look right...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76645&d=1148610198


I don't know... something just doesn't look right...

[lilskel]

No :drink: that's what's wrong with that picture

[X550-ED]

Yea, that must be it :bustingup

[mdsbuc]

One thing I noticed that didn't look right...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76645&d=1148610198


I don't know... something just doesn't look right...

Ketchup on a wiener? http://copwatch.net/forums/images/smilies/upload2/eek3.gif

[icemanjs4]

No :drink: that's what's wrong with that picture
Oh my goodness, how could we have been so stupid as to not post the bier pics from that night!

Here:
Afshawn and I, each with a couple of Masses of bier!
Heck, even the oompah band there kept steins of beer at their feet while they were playing. BELIEVE ME there was no shortage of bier at the Augustiner brauhaus.

As to the ketchup covered sausage - it was a currywurst. It may look a little... ummm.. well anyway it tasted awesome.

[mdsbuc]

As to the ketchup covered sausage - it was a currywurst. It may look a little... ummm.. well anyway it tasted awesome.

:beerchug: :drink:

[afshawnt]

You know those monks brew some strong beer. After two of those babies, I was feeling awesome:D

BTW, one day icemanjs4 and I will have to post the videos of us going around Munchen in the middle of the night, finding VW's, and immitating those V-Dub Unpimp your Auto commercials. :rofl: :rofl:

[iversonm]

Ja, it sucks.

[icemanjs4]

You know those monks brew some strong beer. After two of those babies, I was feeling awesome:D

BTW, one day icemanjs4 and I will have to post the videos of us going around Munchen in the middle of the night, finding VW's, and immitating those V-Dub Unpimp your Auto commercials. :rofl: :rofl:

Ahhh the funny side effects of bier. Seriously, I crack up everytime I watch them :-)
Afshawn, if you ever get that video completed, those will have to go in the outtakes section!

[X3 Skier]

Awesome writeup! Thanks for sharing all those cool pix of the nice Ferrari, Maseratti, and uh... testing your camera's flash :D

One thing I noticed that didn't look right...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76645&d=1148610198


I don't know... something just doesn't look right...

No, I think I have seen putter shafts made of similar material given to retiring cowboys. :dunno:

Cheers