RFF Euromeet 2015 - Heidelberg, May 30th/31st

[kossi008]

This is the new thread for the Euromeet, now that we finally have a destination and time slot. So let's post all information of general interest here.

The list of people who have voted for this place/time combination is the following: axiom, biogo, javabean, Lavertezzo, mretina, P3tr, reaperman, splash_fr.
Including myself, this makes nine people so far, but maybe others want to join in later...

If you don't mind, I would like everybody to send me a PM with your contact details (e-mail, cell phone number, and travel dates) so I can distribute this list to all participants shortly before the meeting. (If you do mind, that's also OK, just don't send me anything...)

More news to follow. Do we have any locals on the expedition team? Or at least people who've been to Heidelberg more recently than myself? That would help in finding a good starting point (= breakfast cafe) and for the general planning of this trip...

 

[axiom]

I am local.

A couple of points I can suggest already:
Philosophy trail -
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophenweg_(Heidelberg)

Amphitheater -
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingstätte_(Heidelberg)

Around that area, there is a water-fountain for washing your feet, some old ruins from Roman's time, and a kloster (also from Roman's time I think).

In the old town, there is student prison -
http://europeforvisitors.com/germany/heidelberg/heidelberg-student-prison.htm
With the entrance ticket, you also get to go to a university museum.

And of course the castle that Google search returns.

Near Heidelberg, there is the Schwetzingen palace -
http://www.schloss-schwetzingen.de/
within biking distance, or an hour bus away.

Also Ladenburg (the town Benz did his historic drive) -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladenburg
with Benz museum.
Nearby is a milk farm that you can get fresh non-pasturised milk for 80cents per liter.

ps.
Cafe Gundu(sp?) is my favorite place for cakes in old town Heidelberg.

 

[javabean]

great tips, axiom ! What is the best way to get to Heidelberg ? Would it be handy to rent a small van there for our group to get around ? What temperatures are we looking at ?

Cheers,

javabean.

 

[kossi008]

Yes, thanks for the tips, axiom. I'm sure we will explore at least some of these options.

As for javabean's other questions:

I will be taking the train to Heidelberg, but it does depend on where you live, I guess. Germanwings does fly into Stuttgart, but that's a 90-minute train ride into Heidelberg. Frankfurt Airport is a 60-minute train ride from Heidelberg... I have tried the official city homepage (in English: http://www.heidelberg.de/english,Len/Home.html), but haven't really found any directions yet. Will keep digging...

I would consider renting a van only if the public transport system down there really sucks. But I also haven't taken a look into that yet...

As for the weather, acoording to long-term climate stats, we should be looking at daily highs around 20°C. Accuweather.com bears this out for 2015 until one week prior to our trip, but have no data until the very end of the month yet. I'll keep you posted.

 

[6x7]

...Germanwings does fly into Stuttgart, but that's a 90-minute train ride into Heidelberg. Frankfurt Airport is a 60-minute train ride from Heidelberg...

Don't confuse Frankfurt am Main Airport with Frankfurt-Hahn Airport which is another option (see airlines). There is a direct bus line (No. 140) from Frankfurt-Hahn to Heidelberg.

 

[6x7]

...Do we have any locals on the expedition team? Or at least people who've been to Heidelberg more recently than myself? That would help in finding a good starting point (= breakfast cafe) and for the general planning of this trip...

I have been there last year. A boat tour on the river Neckar may be a nice event.
www.neckar-kaeptn.de
www.weisse-flotte-heidelberg.de
www.neckarschifffahrt.de

 

[kossi008]

Don't confuse Frankfurt am Main Airport with Frankfurt-Hahn Airport which is another option (see airlines). There is a direct bus line (No. 140) from Frankfurt-Hahn to Heidelberg.

Oh yes, thanks for the hint. I tend to be unaware of options not available to me (nothing flies from Dresden to Frankfurt-Hahn)...

 

[kossi008]

By the way, I've sorted out my travel plans and booked my hotel.
I will be arriving Friday around 5 pm and leaving Sunday around 4 pm. My contact details will follow by PM...

 

[user237428934]

I didn't follow the RFF Euromeet threads because I expected a destination at a flight distance. But hey.... a destination I can reach with the car in 2 hours and a free weekend... count me in. Don't know right now if I'm able to come on friday already.

 

[kossi008]

... count me in.

Done. And I still have your contact data from the Prague meet... 😀

 

[jane7l]

as i am on a business trip to south korea just before that, i did not know, when am i coming back to eu. got the tickets now and coming on friday, 29.5., and, guess what, through frankfurt. apparently a doable thing, see you this year as well i guess...
janko

 

[kossi008]

Wow, cool. Welcome back to the fold.
Somehow, we seem to have the opposite effect of last year...

 

[Matus]

Cool! I live some 2-3 hours by car from Heidelberg. I will see how we will plan our vacation (we will be leaving around this time) and may try to join for a while.

 

[axiom]

Cafe Gundel, there was I again today.
Wonderful cakes.
Enough indoor room for a big party, and also patio outside when the sun shines.

 

[kossi008]

Sounds great! And they open in time for breakfast, too.

 

[jane7l]

after a breakfast in the hotel i will check their cakes and teas 🙂

 

[axiom]

A ice-cream parlor recommendation:
go to gelato-Go on mainstreet. I would rank it the best in Heidelberg.

 

[kossi008]

Thanks for the hints... just keep them coming.

 

[axiom]

On the night of 30th, there will be a night fleamarket at Marstall in old town.
Starting at 17:00.

 

[jane7l]

hm, this thread is pretty dead... hope to see more people than in gdansk last year 🙂 but we had great time anyway.
i wonder how many definite attenders do we have...