This trip started with an upgrade to business class on my Delta flight from Seattle direct to Amsterdam. I rented a car from Sixt at the Europe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fifth busiest airport (Schiphol) and headed for Cologne, Germany for my first night. My hotel was a minute walk from the famous Cologne Cathedral…a very cool Gothic twin spires medieval church. This church averages 20,000 visits a day and I was part of that crowd.<\/p>\n
Being in Germany one needs to take advantage of the autobahn and the proficient drivers that drive it. Living in Seattle for the past 20 years I have experienced the slowest and incompetent drivers than any other city I know. So when I have a chance to drive legally at a high-rate of speed…I do. I tried with my Kia Sportage rental on my way to Grenoble, France with the pedal to the metal I was able to reach 114 mph \/ 184 kph and I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let up until I hit traffic. What a pleasure it is to drive fast in an organized manner and at the same time it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s actually safer than weaving in and out among the lethargic Seattle drivers.<\/p>\n
After a visit in the beautiful town of Grenoble, France I was off to the most stunning city in the world where my good friends Beno\u00c3\u00aet Clerc and his soon to be wife Audrey live…Annecy, France. Not only did they prepare a home cooked meal, Beno\u00c3\u00aet opened up a 1999 Chateau de Puligny Montrachet Monthelie wine to go with it. Beno\u00c3\u00aet and Audrey are climbers and adventures and understand the importance of travel…my kind of people.<\/p>\n
After another long day of driving I was in Munich meeting up with my good friends Michael Williams and Andre Nevell. Due to an enormous event in town we ended up staying in a hostel, this was my first stay in a hostel so I was a little apprehensive at first. Even this hostel was charging 400 Euros per night per room.
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