Florida Coalcracker Chronicles: An OCD Paradise in Mannheim Germany

Friday, June 01, 2018

An OCD Paradise in Mannheim Germany

This is called a VW Colorado - All Inclusive

Mannheim Waterwerks from 1880

Heidelberg University Library

I think Trump went to school here.

Mannheim is an industrial city in southwest Germany. Yesterday we drove to Heidelberg and side tracked to Mannheim on the way home. Mannheim is a booming city and the delight of someone with OCD. The city was carpet bombed during WWII - and was rebuilt with the help of the allies. It is laid out on a perfect grid and is called "the City of Squares." Its motto is "Life. Squared." On the outskirts it is surrounded by industry. Many of the biggest names are here. Karl Benz drove the very first car in Mannheim.

Heidelberg in Neckar Valley.

In the center of the city is a 200 foot tall stone water tower. It is the symbol of the city and is surrounded with beautiful gardens. We were there on Corpus Christi Day - the stores and restaurants were closed but lots of people were in the gardens - playing and enjoying the 80 degree temperatures. Mannheim is the warmest city in Germany.

We are enjoying our Diesel Car. Although we now know that diesel cars are not as clean as the Germans tricked us into thinking - they still deliver great fuel mileage. The dash gauge - not me - says we are getting 55.8 MPG! Add to that - diesel fuel cost 1.40 euros a liter - versus 1.80 euros a liter for gasoline. With tax and insurance - our diesel cost $700 a month from Avis. It is very peppy with a 6 speed manual transmission and yesterday I easily pushed it over 160 KPH - which is 100 MPH - on the Autobahn. Hitler designed the idea of a limited access highway to move his armies all over Germany. When General Eisenhower saw how effective they were - he became USA president and started the Interstate Highway System. As a result we got to Heidelberg very quickly.

We have been enjoying sunny weather in the 80s - with our windows all open. Friday morning we woke up after rain at night - and it is only 62 degrees at 9 AM. It is cloudy. Lulu got up and closed the windows in the middle of the night.

Heidelberg is on the Neckar River just south of us. It has German's oldest university - Heidelberg University - founded in 1362. My son Keith and I visited there many years ago. We also went up to the Heidelberg Castle on the mountain.