Photos from my 2012 European Trip

I took about 5300 photos this time. And absolutely, there's a lot more! I still have most of WWII to cover (although I may need another dozen hard drives before I complete this) -- give me time! And don't be so sure about a photo of yourself -- if you happened to cross my path, you might very well be in the background of one of my photos.

Thanks Skipper. Posting these photos brought back a lot of good memories -- I can't wait until my next trip over there (with any luck, sometime in May/June or August).

Thanks. Though it seems these old artifacts will be there forever, this is not the case. For example, I missed a lot of Obersalzberg sites by a few years (in 2001-2005 a lot of historic structures were demolished). Its sad to see artifacts 'disappearing' from these old battlefields. Apparently even into the late 1950s there were still knocked-out tanks laying in forests and farmer's fields in the Ardennes. Even now, the more "temporary" sites (trenches, foxholes, shell craters) are slowly disappearing as well. Its not a matter of years, but within a few decades there may be no traces left -- it would be great if you can bring your children along to see these sites while they still can.

That sounds like an excellent trip you have planned. If you're interested, I can send you some of my Google Earth place-marks showing bunkers and other fortifications that you may find interesting. Just a heads-up about the car rental: most companies charge a ridiculous fee for "one-way" rentals (ie: picking it up in one country, dropping it off elsewhere) and don't always advertise it. Make sure you do your research first! I found finding a suitable rental outfit to be the most stressful part of the trip!

 

Thanks for the tip! I've always taken the trains before, but for this I'll definitely need to rent a car. I'm not interested at all in taking one of those bus trips. I want to do it on my schedule and be able to throw the schedule away any time I find the desire to stay in one area longer than planned.

 

If you want to really explore the area, a car is the only option.

 

When we have the honour of you visiting us in Holland, please let me know, I'd be more than happy to show you Margraten Cemetary

 

Will do. I like the sound of that!

 

By the way this goes to anyone from the forums who wishes to visit the Netherlands Memorial and Cemetary, let me know I'll be happy to take you.

 

The honor will be mine!

 

Alan, what a great thread !

Maybe the best photos of WW 2 today out there. As members, we had first viewing !