BenThere.com Germany
Sunday 13 June 1999 - This, at least today, has been one of the best pools I have ever been on. We accomplished quite a lot today. In fact, I would say we are almost halfway done with building our setup here in Cologne. Part of this is due to having four engineers here to set everything up. Normally for a stop like this there would be two, possibly three to get the job done. But since we will be "hot" here for four days, possible 18 hours a day, we have four engineers so we can staff it in proper shifts. But since we are not to the "operational" stage yet we are all working together to put everything in place.

It also means we don't have to do working lunches, and can actually make it to a real restaurant for dinner. Tonight we ate at a Brauhaus (Beer Hall) that makes Kolsh beer, the specialty beer of Cologne. I had an absolutely fabulous sauerkraut soup, followed by an equally delicious Sweinkotelet (pork chop) with potatoes. Perhaps being 3/4 German helped in my enjoyment of the meal, but it was good food nonetheless. Also, for lunch today, I had an excellent Bratwurst. I am sure that it was just average for Germany, but it was superb in my book. It had none of the fatty chunks that American bratwurst have. The flavor of the pork was not overpowered by the seasoning. It was tender, and long, and had a perfect texture for a sausage. Unfortunately the Hefe-Weizen ( I don't remember the brand) was not much to my liking. It was too yeasty and I think a little heavy on the hops. But it still beats a Budweiser!

There isn't too much else of note from our first day on the job in Germany. Stuff is going very well, and with some luck the TV gods will keep it that way. There is always the fear that when stuff goes this well in the beginning that things are bound to go massively wrong at the end.

No new thoughts yet on the journey after the work is done. I think that I will have enough time to do the things I really want to do. While it would be nice to go to all the castles, and museums, and parks, and places of history along the way, I think that I need to limit myself to the personal history of my grandfather. Trying to do more will either make me burned out, keep me from finishing my itinerary, or most likely both.

Be sure to login tomorrow for another update from Cologne. If I have time I may try an update during lunch. However, seeing as this is the work part of the job I probably will not have much to say that would be of interest to you. Unless you are keenly interested in the best way to wire a Sony BVW-75 BetacamSP video tape recorder. Like I thought, a little too esoteric for this web site. Plus, if I taught you how to do that then I may soon be out of a job!