Aachen, Germany

Chris was gone for close to a week to Aachen, Germany. The city is 2000 years old-the oldest in Germany. It is the most famous city you never knew you never knew about. After flying to Frankfurt he got to ride the bullet train. A real thrill for little and big boys alike!
300 km/h is about 190 mph.

The hotel room was smaller than a standard American hotel room and decorated "in a contemporary style with humour and positive energy." Chris wasn't sure if the purple shag carpet was for humour or positive energy...
but I think the exercise ball in place of a desk chair was definitely for positive energy. Endorphins and all that.

The next few are of the Aachener Dom (pronounced dome). Construction was completed in 805 and it is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe. Too bad Chris took a nap instead of going inside:)


Feel like you're in Europe?
And if the conference gets a little boring you can pop over next door to the casino for a little more adventurous entertainment!
Nice digs, huh? This is hotel they didn't put the conference attendees in.
Chris and Monika (his adviser) and a guy from his lab. Prior to lunch with their bottled water. Carbonated water aka mineral water aka seltzer water aka yucky water. The only kind of water they served at the conference.
Chris liked the hydraulic hybrid car. They got theirs up and running in about 6 months. To protect the guilty I won't name names, but one of the ERC universities has been trying for 4 years to build a hydraulic hybrid. To date it has a top speed of 18 mph and can't drive up a ramp. Hence the winch permanently attached to the front.
This was the first international trip that Chris wasn't looking forward to and was ready to come home as soon as he got there. But at least the food and toilet paper were good.