Tell us a little about Gelsenkirchen, Kaiserslautern, and Nuremberg

How long is the train ride from berlin to these match sites?

 

There is hope. Got word back from a pension in K-town (around the corner from stadium and station) that they have availability...just waiting for a reply via e-mail now. It's been two days.

Wish I spoke German, dammit...but at least I'm signed up for German 101 next semester.

PM for info.

 

I'm sure you meant and hopefully Kaiserslautern a 2nd time...you know, actually winning the group

 

Yeah, it looks like a decent trek. I might have to find a place to crash in Kaiserslautern that night.

 

Well, it looks like Kaiserslautern is the only town that hasn't been described here.

I was there for one week in 2001 for the Air Force and then visited again in summer 2003 on vacation in Germany and UK. I'm sure there are many fellow military personnel that have been stationed there and can give more details.

I wouldn't consider K-town a large city, but there are several small villages nearby. It sits in a bit of a valley. The stadium overlooks the city. There are many restaurants, bars, shops, etc. in the extensive pedestrian area. Most cafes have outdoor seating, which is great in the summer. I had some great ice cream with egg liquer one night, don't remember which place. They also have decent sushi and a nice Cuban restaurant with good mojitos. I'm sure they'll have extra tents or temporary bier gartens set up in all the WC cities.

Burg Nanstein (Nanstein Castle) is nearby and overlooks Landstuhl and Ramstein Air Base. It's not exactly Neuschwanstein , but it's ok.

If you have a car, check out the nearby German wine road or weinstrasse. There are several quiet photogenic villages along the route, though it may be like rush hour traffic while we're there.

Here's some info on Kaiserslautern and Ramstein AB.

There will probably be more Americans in K-town than the other cities. I think it is actually the largest American "settlement" outside the US.

I would recommend Googling hotels for some of the smaller villages in the area. I have a friend stationed there, so hopefully I'll be crashing at his place.

 

Berlin to (roughly):
Gelsenkirchen: 4:00
Kaiserslautern: 5:45
Nürnberg: 4:45

Those of us in Berlin got screwed by the draw.

 

Woohoo!
Just booked my room in Kaiserslautern at Pension Blum.
100 m from the Hbf and 10 minute walk to the stadium.

I'd post a map, but it won't let me.

Double room with bfast 70 Euro.

Mr. Stefan Wilding Pensionblum1@aol.com