Dear Loved Ones,
Pleasant
Greetings from Sac, CA, USA! Sean and I are glad to be back home sweet SAC
after our 12-days journey to the heart of Europe – Belgium and Germany. We
joined a group from National University International Business IBU 540 tour,
where he is an MBA student while I am faculty.
We left SAC for San Diego
on April 12 for our DELTA flight to Brussels via Atlanta, and returned back
home to SAC evening of the 24th, same route from Munich. Both ways,
we stayed overnight at Holiday Inn San Diego for some respite. While I had
stayed in Norway and went around Europe in 1982 for my Masters in Hydropower Development
degree, much have changed with the advent of the Euro zone. Thanks GOD for the
wonderful experiences, bonding with my son, meeting new friends, keeping pace
with the young bloods – nice to know that I am physically fit and sound,
surviving the long walks! Following are details of our amazing, educational,
magical journey:
·
April 12, 2013: Met up for dinner at Coyote Café at Old Town, San Diego.
Among them: Dr. Juan Espana, Dr. James Juarez, Marie, Maria, Tony, Cynthia;
·
April 13: Departure from San Diego to Brussels, Overnight
flight: San Diego - Atlanta -
8:00am 3:04pm (DL 1662); Atlanta - Brussels - 5:35pm – 8:30 am
(DL 80) Sunday (April 140)
·
April 14: Transfer to the
Sleep well Youth Hostel; welcome meeting
with host Kate Horning, introduction to the program; lunch on own; 3:00
pm, guided city walking tour of Brussels
to get to know the most important sights: cathedral (Belgium is 95% Catholics)
(2 hours); 6:00 pm welcome dinner at
Chez Leon, delicious food;
· April 15: Visit of the European Commission (Eco and Financial Affairs
Council ), presentation by Mr. Jo Vandercapellen, Directorate- General
Communication; strict Security checks, coffee / water;
Train to Leuven;
meeting point: Grote City Hall; guided city tour of Leuven – site of world’s biggest
University for Theology (300 buildings scattered around the city, identified by
blue seal at door, and bagenhaus – village of holy women; met up with Roy (Sean’s
Claret HS mate) a PT Master’s scholar (top 1) who went back with us to Brussels
for bonding;
·
April 16: Visit to the National Bank of Belgium (Rue du
Bois Sauvage 10, Brussels), visit to the Museum and Lecture about the ECB and
the Euro – by Mr. Luc Lagae; afterwards back to hostel for the bus to Frankfurt
(2 hours); checked-in at Frankfurt Hostel;
· April 17: Visit to the Money
Museum of the Deutsche Bundesbank (Central Bank of Germany); then to the German
Stock Exchange (Visitors Centre, Borsenplatz 4, 60313 Frankfurt); then Lecture
and Discussion : The European Central Bank – by Mr. Florian Walch at Saalbau
Gallus. Walked and had dinner at the Chicago Steakhouse;
· April 18: Presentation of the
FIAT/ Chrysler Group Automobiles Germany
AG (Hanauer Landstr. 176, 603140) and discussion by Mr Rainier Ohlenhard; then presentation of the German Savings Bank
and Giro Association in the times of the Euro crisis in Stuttgart ; 6pm:
settling in at the Alex 30 Hostel in Stuttgart; 7:00p, Panel discussion at Tricos Language School of DHBW Stuttgart,
with Dr. Reinhard Loffler (CDU spokesperson and director at IBM);
· April 19: After breakfast, left for Munich; guided city tour (walking)
of Munich (2 hrs., meeting at Marienplatz), including the Hofbräuhaus, the Octoberfest
area, meadows, churches, Bavarian square (John Paul II), revolving statues,
bells ringing. Check in at the Euro
Youth Hotel Munich, lunch at Italian Ristorante; Visit to Zooplus as an example of doing business in
Germany and Europe; 7:00P - Meeting Germans from the area (80469
Munchen);
· April 20: Free time; went to visit the big churches near Marienplatz:
St. Paul’s and the Cathedral; visited Museums, bought souvenirs, rested and came back to attend the 5:30 P Mass at
the Cathedral; went to Hofbrauhaus, dinner at a Japanese resto;
· April 21: 8:00A Visited Neuschwanstein Castle (2 hours bus), guided tour of
the castle (30 minutes) – beautiful on top of mountain, built by flamboyant Ludwig
II who died at 47 yrs, a bachelor he stayed in the castle for only a year; I rode on a horse carriage up and down the
mountain (@9Euros); lunch at the Muller Hotel. Had opportunity to enjoy the
surroundings of the castle, lake, breathtaking, postcard pretty! Back to Munich
by 6:30 P;
·
April 22: 9:00A -
Presentation of SIEMENS (Kleiner Saal at CVJM e.v., 80363 Munchen) by Mr.
Franko Riedel, Corp. Security; 3:00P – Visit to Linde Gas(85716
Unterschleilshem), presentation by Dr. Hupperich;
8:00P - Bavarian farewell dinner at the
Hofbrauhaus(Platz 9, 80331 Munchen) near Marienplatz; where Hitler started his
ascendancy by plotting against an enemy;
·
April 23: Early take away breakfast; departure by bus to Munich airport
for our DELTA flight back to USA via Atlanta, then San Diego; met by cousin
Mark D., checked-in for overnight stay at Holiday Inn;
·
April 24: Back to US culture of
disposable plastic plates, cups, utensils; took Southwest Air 7:00p flight back
to SAC; met by Russel G. and glad to be sweet home at Erato Circle!
Other highlights for the
month:
·
Books read include: 7 Secrets of
the Eucharist, by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ, and A Catechiem for Adults ,
green-colored book by Rev. William Cogan;
·
Movie watched: GI Joe: Retaliation, to give in to Sean’s
choice and because it featured Channing Tatum – action-filled;
·
Started with the class on Catholicism, Video by Fr. Robert Barron, also featured on EWTN
weekly; also the series by Fr. Maurice, compelling discussion on Faith Matters!
Attached are 4
photos with family and friends. Let us continue to pray for our country and people.
Peace and Joy to You and God Bless Us All!
Much love and Best Regards!!!
SUSAN BG
