J.R.

Sure you will. But you'll probably have to make your own.

Ooh! I like how it automatically changes the s-word to "poo-poo", although it sounds a little weird. Sorry, TPR, for swearing.

Adam wrote a page back: "From the looks of it, Janna is not enjoying her beer, or is she just tired?" Nah, that was the last part of my "hop face" after trying Dave's Green Flash. That shit was nasty. I had a Bell's Amber Ale, which was good. The Capital Ale House is well worth adding to our annual BGW/PKD itinerary.

Hey, we went to D's SixPax & Dogz today too, except it was for weiners and beer and not to visit the overpriced beer cave. While it's nice to be able to get mixed six-packs in this state, there's no way I'd pay that much. The nice thing about D's is that you can try any of the beers they sell along with your food. They've got a large cooler to pick from as well as 14 choices on tap. Tonight I tried a draft Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale. Pretty tasty. Dave had the Hop Devil and a Bass Ale. If you find something you like at D's, you can usually head half a block south to the McBroom Beer Store and get a case of it. They have a very impressive (for PA) selection of cases. Janna

Favorite sashimi: -toro (fatty tuna)---my absolute favorite and unfortunately often the most expensive -hamachi (yellowtail) -maguro (tuna) -salmon -mackerel -octopus Favorite nigiri sushi (mound of sushi rice with topping, often fish): -any of the above plus -shrimp -eel Favorite maki sushi (rolls): -any of the above plus combinations that sound interesting -they're harder to eat but I like the inside-out rolls best I don't like: -uni (sea urchin roe) -tamago (egg) Favorite things to get at a sushi restaurant: -ankimo, when you can find it. It's monkfish liver that has been rubbed with salt, rinsed with sake and then rolled into a cylinder and steamed. It's sliced and served with grated daikon, sliced green onions and ponzu sauce and is fantastic. -seaweed salad, if done right -edamame (soybeans in the pod, steamed and salted; I make this at home for a snack sometimes) -tuna tataki (tuna lightly seared and served with ponzu) -an "omakase" menu, if it's offered--a multi-course meal of items selected by the chef. It's expensive but usually excellent and a better value than if you ordered the same items separately. Janna

This was a post-wedding highlight for me:

Good eye. That's the group picture that Derek bought from the cute Fräulein at Oktoberfest. Janna

Huh? That's where the fun comes in! I'm not Christian either. I also cannot wait for the Creation Museum to open up here next year. http://www.answersingenesis.org/museum/ Florida might have IoA and WDW. But, do they have a museum featuring dinosaurs living alongside humans? As a matter of fact, they do (or did?)--Dinosaur Adventure Land ("Where Dinosaurs and the Bible Meet!") in Pensacola. I had a visit planned a couple of years ago, along with a trip to Miracle Strip and Gulf Shores, but had to leave Florida because a hurricane was headed that way. Just made it out before they closed the airport. The "theme park" as they call it, has been greatly downsized due to the Kent Hovind's (the owner/creator of the park) problems with the law. I believe they made him shut down several of the "attractions" because he didn't get permits to build them. He's also accused of all different kinds of tax evasion. More on Kent Hovind and his park here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Hovind. The official park website appears to be down. Here's a "Trip Report" with a couple of pictures from Skeptical Inquirer Magazine: http://www.csicop.org/si/2004-11/hovind.html Janna

Be aware that Coastermania is being held on June 15 (third weekend in June) in 2007. Also, Geauga is having an event ("CoasterExt") the following day. If you're planning your trip around Coastermania, you'll want to move your trip to mid-June. Janna

Part 4, continued: Movie Park Germany Best ride in the park, by far. German Elvis. ... Mad Manor, a Mack Wild Mouse. Rocket Rider, a Vekoma junior. I was disappointed I didn't get to ride this (but now that I know it won't operate here again, I'm glad I won't have to go back). Which came first--this logo or Villian's? MP Xpress They may have been American wieners, but the buns were definately not. Not bad though. Best thing I've seen so far--kokosnuss! Formerly Warner Brothers Movie World. This way to Movie Park Germany.

Part 4: Schloß Beck Freizeitpark and Movie Park Germany After checking out of our ultra-modern Sprockets-like hotel in Essen (Welcome Hotel Essen), we stashed our luggage at the train station and took the train to Bottrop Feldhausen. Schloß Beck Freizeitpark is a pleasant 5 minute walk from the train station and Movie Park Germany is about a 10 minute walk. We arrived at Schloß Beck around the scheduled opening time but had to wait a few minutes while staff finished opening preparations. Schloß Beck (Castle Beck) is a former Baroque castle built in 1766 that functioned as a schnapps distillery in the 18th century and then fell into disrepair until the late 1960's when it was purchased, restored and opened to the public. While not huge on thrills, Schloß Beck was still very charming and fun. The castle features a haunted basement and the upper rooms are full of dioramas with moving figures and music that is activated by the push of a button. In addition to Familienachterbahn, a medium-sized Tivoli coaster, there are several of the Heege Freizeittechnik self-activated rides, including double Nautic Jets, a Luna Loop, Tower, and Sky Dive (zip-line-type ride), fun slides and all sorts of interesting playground equipment for Derek to hurt himself on. After an hour or two at Schloß Beck, we walked over to Movie Park Germany. Don't know what to say about this place other than I didn't really care for it---it was just OK. It was my least favorite park on the entire trip. On the positive side, Ice Age was pretty cool and they did have kokosnuss. Janna (next: Phantasialand) We left just as the crowds started to appear. I guess donkeys are OK. You can decide which way you want to go--forward or backward--by pushing a button. Luna Loop. Also self-operated. ...but this one was the best! Very intimidating from the top, where it looked like a vertical drop. These slides were awesome... Another Heege self-operated ride, Tower. You operate them yourself, following these instructions. You do need another person to close the gate and push the button but you pull the string youself to operate the "lift". Nautic Jets! These things are loads of fun. Familienachterbahn. Familienachterbahn Familienachterbahn. Scenery. There's water in several places in the park. Maximal Träsmak! (obscure Balder t-shirt reference) Hey, it's just like Venice! Hey, it's Blue Man Group! From one of the animatronic displays inside the castle. From the one of the animatronic displays outside the castle. You push a button and it comes to life, accompanied by music. Hey, it's N'at Man! Entrance to the "haunted basement" which was very dark and consisted of coin-operated aminatronic displays. I also wanted to try these. I think they were coin operated. These too. There was an age limit. Wish I was small enough for these. The Schloß. Cool car. Park map. "Becki" is the park mascot. Waiting for the park to open. Tower for the water slides. Slug on the pathway. Just like Bakken! This way to Schloß Beck! The view from the station platform. The train station near Schloß Beck and Movie Park.

Hochschaubahn is in the rear of the park. If you take the train (Liliputbahn) back you'll see it, although the first train stop passes it and you'll have to walk back a bit. You can see it on this map: http://www.wien-event.at/prater/plan.html Click on the map to enlarge it. For some reason, the numbers don't match the printed guide; Hochschaubahn is at number 195/196, facing Hauptallee. I agree--the fun houses and dark rides (well, the ones we did anyway) were great. Janna

I tried to pee for free wherever I could but I also kept .50 euro coins on hand for when I really had to go and a pay WC was the only thing around. There's also toiletten that are technically free but there's someone sitting there next to a tip plate... Janna

Part 3: Salzburg, Austria to Essen, Germany (warning--no coaster content!) After our day at Prater, we validated our Eurail passes and took the train across Austria from Vienna to Salzburg. Our ultimate destination was Essen, just north of Düsseldorf, in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, where we'd meet up with Greg, who had been sightseeing in Berlin. Our plan was to spend a night in Salzburg, do a little sightseeing the next day, and then continue on to Essen. Our hotel was the Best Western Hotel Zum Hirschen. Nothing "Best Western" about it; it was a really nice place with plenty of outlets for Tim and Dave to recharge all of their gadgets. There were Mozart balls on our pillows which were delicious. The Mozartkugel, as it is called, originates from Salzburg (as did Mozart) and has a core of pistachio, marzipan, and nougat coated with dark chocolate--yummy! Equally exciting was my discovery that the TV channel line-up included a 24-hour "The Sound of Music" channel! I am a big fan and Tim obliged by letting me watch a bit before we turned in. The next day, after an excellent breakfast that included some of the best bacon I've ever had (I often wonder what Europeans think of the generally crappy and pathetic "Continental" breakfasts that American hotels tend to offer; theirs are far superior...), we set of to do some sightseeing before we had to catch our train. We walked a few blocks from our hotel to the Salzach river, walking along the river until we reached Mirabell Gardens and Schloss (castle) Mirabell. There was some sort of bike race going on in town that day so there were parts that were blocked off and helicopters buzzing overhead but we did get to see the gardens (featured in the Do-Re-Mi sequence of "The Sound of Music"), including bits of the Salzburg Dwarf Garden, before heading back to the hotel to check out and walking to the train station. Salzburg is a town I wouldn't mind visiting again. Maybe next time I'll make it to Erlebnispark Strasswalchen. (And if Derek ever goes, there's "Brauwelt," Europe's largest exhibition of beers. Check out http://www.brauwelt.at/e_home.htm and take the bierquiz while you're there) (Next: Schloss Beck and Movie Park) Janna Here's one for the beer thread, from Cafe and Bar Celona (get it?) at Kennedy Platz in Essen. Danke für lesen. Hey, there's a WalMart in Essen! ... .... The scene at the train station in Munich, where we had to switch trains. Lots of people coming for Oktoberfest, dressed in lederhosen (so hot!) and dirndls, and a really party-type atmosphere. We couldn't wait to come back! Hot stuff. !!! From the Dwarf Garden (and also seen in The Sound of Music). ...Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do.." ...Tea, a drink with jam and bread That will bring us back to Do.... ...Sew, a needle pulling thread La, a note to follow Sew... ...Me, a name I call myself Far, a long, long way to run... "Doe, a deer, a female deer Ray, a drop of golden sun... Mirabell Gardens. Maria and the children pranced through here while singing "Do-Re-Mi". "The hills are alive with the sound of music With songs they have sung for a thousand years..."

Thanks! I'm not used to taking pictures when I visit amusement parks so some of them, particularly the coaster ones, aren't the greatest and sometimes I forgot to take them at all. Here's some pictures of the Glocke ride being constructed and in action. I don't recall if it was open or not when we visited. We didn't see it in action when we were there but it was an uncrowded day. We just didn't feel like paying 4 euro for it. http://wpayer.wild-side.net/RC_Glocke.htm As far as I can tell, it's made (or maybe just distributed?) by Funtime http://www.funtime.com.au/. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Janna