Western Central Europe (October 2005)
2.200 kms...
A trip in the heart of Europe! To travel, there are always at least two ways. The first way is fast because you don't have enough time to spent and you start to enjoy the trip from the point you wish... and the second way, when you have time and money and you drive in secondary roads, in low speed and enjoy...everything! This is what happened in this trip....
Six friends from Patras Greece, three couples on three BMW GS (One GS1200 & two GS1150), we took the ferry to Ancona, Italy. The team was consisted of Othon & Angeliki, Thodoros & Mina and Vana & me. The next day, at noon we disembarked in Ancona, and we drove to Munich through autostrada and autobahn... We were in our hotel in Munich, Germany at 22:00....
It was my first time in Munich... We walked in MarienPlatz, we visited the German Museum which is one of the oldest and largest science and technology museums in the world and boasts an impressive collection of historic artifacts and we had dinner in HB (Hofbräuhaus).... We tasted delicious pork knuckles and we drunk some German beer!!!
We attended a game in Allianz Arena Stadium which is a modern technological marvel! The game was between the local team Bayern Munchen (my favorite team in Germany) against MSV Duisburg. We enjoyed the game and...apparently Bayern won...
We dedicated one day to visit the Dachau Concentration Camp in the outskirts of Munchen City. Dachau was one of the longest running concentration camps in Nazi Germany. The camp was also a training ground for the SS, called “School of Violence”. A place where so much pain and suffering occurred... is just an overwhelming experience, which I saw brought some people to tears. Definitely a must see for Munich.
After a three days stay in Munich we left for exploring South-West Germany and especially the Black Forest area. With a base in the wonderful city of Freiburg we drove in Black Forest. We loved the medieval towns and villages with half-timbered houses. We tasted the delicious Black Forest Gateau and we saw many cuckoo clocks in the shops for sale! We visited lake Titisee-Neustadt which is set high in the Black Forest (850 m), and we enjoyed driving our motorcycles there!
After exploring southwestern Germany we left for Strasbourg, France. My cousin Konstantinos lives in Strasbourg, and we had the best guide we could have. Strasbourg belongs to the region of Alsace. The Cathedral was a masterpiece and it is undoubtedly Strasbourg's finest architectural highlight! We saw the Astrometric Clock in the Cathedral and the 142 meter tower. Nobody of us will forget the meal we had that day in a restaurant where my cousin had arranged an authentic French Cuisine meal....
Our last station was Milan, Italy! A beloved city! We spent our last night of the trip celebrating the good time we had as travellers and not tourists in this trip! Ancona port is just 420 kilometers and we started our day early in the morning and thus we had enough time to visit the Republic of San Marino.
Late at noon we embarked on the ferry to return to Greece. 2.200 kilometers in 11 days! Perfect!!!
Every time I return home, in my mind is......my next trip....!!!! 
