Europe 1988–91

Celebrating 25 years since I met Tom & Romi Harrison and Patrick O'Brien at the Bern, Switzerland train station—followed by an overnight trip to Barcelona and many other destinations. Three years later, I flew back to Germany with my friends Dave and Dee Ghost and traveled with them and Dee's brother Frank, who was then stationed at Rhein-Main AFB. All images from slides, Canon EOS 650.

Treffpunkt (meeting place) -- ours was in Bern, the image is from Basel; same circle-and-arrows sign in every train station and airport throughout Europe. Weird sculpture by Basel native Jean Tinguley.
Tom & Romi, breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean on the balcony of the apartment we rented in Torredembarra, Spain. Tom was then the same age as their daughter Lori is now!
Downstairs from the apartment was this convenience shop, most notable for cold Estrella beer. Note signs in Catalan, Spanish (with graffiti, this is Catalonia), French, German, and English -- most with obvious spelling errors!
Tom & Romi's elaborate sand castle on the beach, just a block from our apartment.
Back in Switzerland, boat ride on the Thunersee (Lake Thun), on our trip to the mountains.
All four travelers in Grindelwald, Berner Oberland.
Visiting herr und frau Kühni, Romi's parents, in their back yard in Utzenstorf. How Swiss can you get? -- clean sidewalk and fresh vegetables for dinner!
Patrick and I leave Tom & Romi at the Kühni's; here we're back in Bern (the Rosengarten overlooking the city), Pat (with my tripod!) taking a picture of me taking a picture of him.
Freiberg, Germany, outdoor chess match with outsized pieces. Band concert in the same park that morning, with a few onlookers on the benches sipping whatever was in their paper bags!
Can't miss the Hofbrauhaus in Munich! Returned with Dave & Dee on the next trip: when Dee ordered lemonade, the waiter complained (in perfect UK English): "but laidhy, this is a beeah-hall; you cawn't 'ave the lemonaide, it's for the children!"
On my own after Pat's return to the States, self-portrait in Tivoli Gardens fun-house mirror, Copenhagen, on the way to visit another friend from UC Irvine in Stockholm. (Patrick wasn't the only one who needed a haircut!)
"Golden Arches," Salzburg style
Across the street and one block west of Mozart's birthplace. This image digitized from a now-30-year-old slide.
Next trip: Berlin, afternoon at the Tiergarten (zoo); Dave, Dee, Frank
Near the Brandenburg Gate, former East Berlin, Dee sports a souvenir "authentic" Russian officer's hat, no doubt made in China. Capitalism caught on quickly after the Wall came down!
One day in Berlin, Dee and Frank visited a nearby castle while Dave and I took the train to Frankfurt-on-der-Oder (former East Germany) and walked across the bridge to Poland for lunch and a passport stamp. Pointed to the sausages we wanted, but learned one word: "pivo" for "beer" (in Polish, Russian, and Czech).
Plaza in front of the Kölner Dom (Cologne cathedral). Probably the largest and finest Gothic edifice in Europe, although taking six centuries to complete. Thankfully spared in WWII despite almost total destruction of the city around it.
After the cathedral visit, relaxing at one of Cologne's nearby riverside eateries. Notice the tall slim glasses for Kölsch-style beer, as opposed to the Maß (mug) of Bavaria. (But what's with the Coca-cola?)