VW Factory in Wolfsburg, Germany

Two of the amazing structures at the VW factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, are the parking structures which park cars that will be delivered to customers.  They are two 20-story glass towers which park 20 cars on each level.  An automatic arm moves cars from the factory floor into the parking spaces and then from the parking spaces to the delivery building for passengers to pick up.

We took the "tour" of the tower which consisted of putting us in a glass box (about the size of a car) and having the arm pick us up and take us to a parking spot on the top story.  There we could exit the glass box and step onto a glass viewing platform to look out over the country side.  It was really beautiful and it was great to see the automatic arm moving the cars around!  Here's some videos I took!

At the "Gate"

At the "Gate", originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Since Air Canada leaves from the "air stairs" here in Frankfurt, I get to
wait or my flight in a hot and spartan tin shed. It reminds of the remote
terminal in San Francisco where Skywest flights to Modesto used to leave
from.

Frankfurt U-Bahn

Frankfurt U-Bahn, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Our U-Bahn train in Frankfurt, from train station to hotel. A Siemens U2,
just like the San Diego Trolley!

Schläfchen

Schläfchen, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Catching a nap on the final train ride...Wolfsburg to Frankfurt am Main.

Mini Devin!

Mini Devin!, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Devin shrunk in Wolfsburg.

Breakfast

Breakfast, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Schokocroissant on the ICE on the way from Cologne to Wolfsburg.

Dom

Dom, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

The late afternoon sunlight really cooperated, completely bathing the
cathedral's facade in warm, soft light, so I couldn't resist one last photo
of the Dom in Cologne.

Rheinpark

Rheinpark, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Flowerbeds of the gardens in Rheinpark, on the east bank of the Rhine River
in Cologne.

Rhine River

Rhine River, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Container barge steams up the Rhine River past Cologne's Dom.

Mmmm....

Mmmm...., originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Ice cream billboards in Cologne.

Beethoven's Birth House

Beethoven's Birth House, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Cathedral

Cathedral, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

A cathedral seen in Bonn, Germany. Not sure what the name is, but beautiful
to see looking up the street.

Beethoven Statue and Old Post Office

Beethoven Statue and Old Post Office, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

A statue of Beethoven in front of an old post office in Bonn, the old
capital of West Germany.

Cologne Half Marathon

Cologne Half Marathon, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Denis is just a blur at mile 7! Scenery and course were amazing.

Cologne Half Marathon

Cologne Half Marathon, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Devin at mile 7 in the Cologne Half Marathon. Beautiful course through the
forest and parks east of the city!

Sunset

Sunset, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

Sunset over the pumpkin and wheat fields outside of Cologne.

Cologne Tram

Cologne Tram, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

These little tourist "trains" are running all over Cologne. An alternative
to the open top bus tour.

Alleyway

Alleyway, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

In Cologne, with Saint Martin church in the background.

Mercedes Taxis

Mercedes Taxis, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

There is a smattering of Opels and Volkswagens, but the taxi of choice in
Germany is clearly the Mercedes Benz.

Merchant's Sign

Merchant's Sign, originally uploaded by bravoinsd.

In central Cologne.