Wo in Deutschland ist Waldo ... err Chris und Pam?

I'm pretty sure my friends and family are getting tired of me complaining about the difficulties of deciding where to go. It really is a daunting challenge, though. We want to see it all, but that's just not possible, and Germany is filled with things that NEED to be seen.

For a while I was thinking Cologne (Koln). This is where the exchange students were from and they set an image of the Dom and the Rhein that has lasted me for decades.

Then, it was the Nurburgring ... the ultimate place to drive a top notch sports car. If you are willing to risk an accident (frequent occurrences) that your insurance will likely refuse to cover.

And, of course, Berlin. There are not many cities in the World that have been as important as Berlin in the course of history. Checkpoint Charlie, the remains of the wall, etc. It should be seen.

In the end, we're going to stay in Bavaria. We'll visit Berlin another day when the kids can go. I'll take my chances on the Ring in a rented track car when I've been to a track or two in preparation. And Koln just doesn't fit without the Ring as a destination. Maybe on our next ED trip :)

It is not exactly a compromise to contain the trip to Bavaria, though. I am surrounded by books dedicated to the region. This area comprises huge tradition and represents a significant portion of what I've come to think of as German culture. This is where the Alps are. This is where Neushwanstein is. Oktoberfest was born here. Beer flows freely and is made everywhere. We will not be disappointed no matter what the trip ends up being.

So, after many, many, many hours of reviewing options:
... do we stay in a different city each night or find a couple of bases?
... do we go in luxury, reserve smaller hotels, or go the pension route?
... touristy small cities, touristy big cities?
... Salzburg, Innsbruck, Vienna as part of this trip?
... Konigsee or Bodensee? Which is better to experience?
... Baden-Baden with the clothing optional spas?

here is our basic plan. What we do in and around each stop is undecided yet, and might be a trip time decision based on weather, etc:

6/4 - Montag

• fly out of Denver at night

7/4 - Dienstag

• arrive in München @ 6p
• check into Hotel Laimerhof

8/4 - Mittwoch

• tour München's Marienplatz

9/4 - Donnerstag

• visit Schloss Nymphemberg in the morning
• tour BMW Factory or BMW Museum
• pick up car @ der Welt @ 2:10p
• pick up winter tires
• drive to Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Berchtesgaden

10/4 - Karfreitag

• brief visit to Berchtesgaden
• drive die Alpenstraße to Hohenschwangau
• visit Garmisch (Zugzpitze) or Schloß Linderhof on the way
• stay in Villa Jagerhaus at the base of Schloß Hohenschwangau

11/4 - Samstag

• open day for touring
• possible options -- Füssen, Lindau, Oberammergau, Bregenz
• return to Hohenschwangau

12/4 - Östersonntag

• visit Schloß Neushwanstein and Schloß Hohenschwangau
• drive die Romantische Straße to Villa Arborea in Augsburg

13/4 - Östermontag

• brief tour of Augsburg
• drive die Romantische Straße all day, touring along the way
• need to research interesting sights along this stretch of the route
• arrive at Gotisches Haus in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

14/4 - Dienstag

• open day for touring
• possible options -- Würzburg, Nürnburg
• return to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

15/4 - Mittwoch

• brief visit in Rothenburg ob der Tauber to finish any shopping
• drive to Dachau Memorial?
• drive to München to return winter tires and drop off car
• stay at Hotel Laimerhof

16/4 - Donnerstag

• fly home

I'm already regretting the end of this trip.