FDP Party Convention

 

I was in Hannover to watch the Free Democratic Party's convention (think fiscal conservatism meets social liberalism and you get the FDP) and it was an absolute media circus. Photographed in the center is Dr. Guido Westerwelle, the head of the party and member of parliament. He's one of the most famous politicians in Germany.

One of the most shocking things about this event was that anyone could register and participate for FREE. Not only that, there was almost no security presence anywhere at the event.

What's in a Name?

 

European Parliament Elections are coming in June and candidate posters are found attached to every object in cities all over Germany. I found Mr. Balz to have a particularly unfortunate name.

Switzerland

 

The next day we went to St. Gallen in Switzerland. We found chocolate shops everywhere. But, in a cruel twist of fate, we couldn't buy any because we didn't have any Swiss Francs. I hate the Swiss.

Cheeeeese!

 

We hiked along the "Kaesewanderweg" or Cheese Path and found a great family owned creamery.

Above Bregenz

 

Bregenz has a cable car that takes you to a peak that is part of the lower Alps. When we reached the top, this is what we saw.

Bregenz

 

The boat left us in Bregenz, a tiny town in Austria that more quaint and picturesque than anything Mark Twain could have described in Innocents Abroad.

3 Countries, 2 Days

 

After getting some work done, Danielle and floated across Lake Constance into Austria.