The Defiant Scribbler: Part II - Havin' a Heat Wave in Landstuhl

Landstuhl is a pretty little town next to the large American Air Force Base Ramstein, and was the location of the NATO Conference Rick attended from the 17-20 June of our trip. A few streets that intersect at a little town square, set at the base of a castle on a hill, the town was easily traveled on foot, but we also drove around and explored a bit. Our hotel was very comfortable and had a full breakfast included each day, including omelets, meats & cheeses, the ever-popular muesli and just for fun, cakes and assorted breads. Coffee is strong enough for a man but made for a woman. It was a treat each day to sit under the wooden cherubs in the wooden dining area of wooden walls; have I mentioned how much Germans love woodworking? Well, guess what, it's because they LIVE IN THE WOODS. Everywhere is a forest; it really is a lovely place full of trees.

Rick exploring Burg Nanstein above the town of Landstuhl

Landstuhl and seemingly most of Western Germany was in the midst of a heat wave during our stay; unusually high temps in the mid-30's (Celcius) combined with high humidity meant a lot of our exploring and walking was limited to short trips, and thankfully, Rick's conference and our hotel rooms were air-conditioned enough to allow for comfortable working and sleeping. During the day, we would meet for lunch or coffee on his work breaks, and walk around town. Lined with restaurants ( Kebabs, Gelati, Chicken Wings, Pizza, Chinese, and the ever-popular Irish pub in another country) and shops, we mainly window-shopped. Prices for goods seemed to be high compared to North American pricing, i.e., what we'd pay in dollars, the Germans would pay in Euro, $79 for a dress / 79E for a dress.

What Size Am I?

I'm very glad we brought along my laptop, as I had great internet access at the Hotel Christine and essentially became my own tour guide with the help of Google Maps, TripAdvisor and Urbanspoon. I found recommendations for recreation at Monte Mare and dinner at Olmuehle; both places exceeded our expectations. We actually returned to Olmuehle a second time during our stay in Landstuhl just because it was so outstanding. Embarassingly I ordered the same two menu items just because they were delicious and mouthwateringly appetizing.

Scallops are Larger Than They Appear

The pool (schwimmbad) at the Monte Mare complex was a welcome break, both for Rick's back and for relief from the heat. A visit for a few hours cost an equivalent of about $12 per person and was well worth it for the beautiful facility and relaxation. With more time and planning you could also book massages and spa treatments there but we happily went for a swim, floated in the wave pool and screamed down the water slides sans kids. (Why do I always end up going backwards on the inner tube?)

No visit to Landstuhl would be complete without the short trek to Burg Nanstein; the castle atop the hill. We went in the evening when the castle had already closed to tours but the trekking paths and grounds were still open, as was the bar! Hike = Beer. We took some photos and then at the bottom of the hill returned for more beers and scallops to our new favourite restaurant. So far Germany seemed quite pretty and wholesome.