|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
After a long time at home in Texas, the Blue M is back on the road again! These pages will show pictures from Blue's trip to Germany, staying at Sembach AB and flying out of Ramstein AB. If you have any questions, please contact the Blue M at germany@blue-m.freehosting.net.
|
|
Welcome to Sembach! This used to be an active airport as well, but the USAF gave the airfield part back to the Germans and kept the lodging area where we stay. |
We may have given up the airfield, but we kept the base up on the hill, with its beautiful overlooks of the local countryside. |
|
|
The "loud" building. Anyone staying in this dorm is required to 1) drink excessive amounts of alcohol 2) shout at the equivalent decibel level of a B-1 engine being shot at by an SA-3, and 3) Have no concept of "people might be sleeping at 2 a.m." Not that we are bitter. |
The Sembach Combined Club. Here the Blue M and his crew are able to do everything a good GI needs: drink beer, play the slot machines, visit the ATM for slot machine $, and use the payphones to call the bank for more slot machine $. I understand they also occasionally serve food. |
|
|
|
I've started this year with the living arrangements, by far the most requested item besides pictures of the crew. We're not complaining about spending 60 days on twin beds, but it would be nice to have fitted sheets that don't un-make themselves when you take a flash picture or think about them too hard! |
Although we share bathrooms, each person gets their own sink area and college-sized refrigerator. No, I don't imagine I'll be doing 300 loads of wash here, but, hey, it was CHEAP! (Want it in August? Email gimmethatbigdetergent@blue-m.freehosting.net and it's yours! [offer applies to folks deploying to Sembach in August 2000 only]) |
|
|
|
To help pass the time while stuck in the room for some reason, the helpful folks at billeting have provided a VCR, TV, and a phone whose contract screws the US so bad that calling card numbers are blocked and our own base operator costs 15 ¢ a minute. These numbers can, however, be direct dialed from the US. Check out the deployment section for more information! |
On the other hand, there is a microwave should you decide to express your displeasure with the phone by nuking it for 3 or 4 minutes :-) |
|
|
|
I wouldn't want to spend any length of time with a roommate here, but with only one person there's plenty of space for clothing and uniforms. |
The CQ, the brains of our operation here at Sembach. Should you have an emergency, press here for the CQ telephone number. Notice also the beer/soda/snack fridges and the little mail cabinet barely visible in the upper left. |
|
|
|
For those who like to share their moviegoing experience, the CQ area also has a nice TV along with several couches. |
Probably the most used area of the CQ, these morale computers make it possible for us to stay in touch with our |
|
|
|
For a more personal touch, people staying at Sembach can drop their letters and packages off here at the post office |
Probably the number one difference people know about Germany is the Autobahn system. These roads allow cars to travel in excess of 130 kph (81 mph) as they head to work. Oddly enough, the same people who zoom along at 200 kph+ (124 mph+) are usually the same ones who slam on their brakes when the speed limit drops to 100 or 80 kph. Go figure! |
|
|
|
Although the signs are all in German (duh!), they are still easy enough to read that we can get around. These exits lead to the big nearby town of Kaiserslautern, also known as "K-town." |
Although this may look fast, we were actually getting passed quite frequently as we cruised along at 120 kilometers per hour (a mere 75 mph!) |
Page 1 -- Page 2 -- Page 3 -- Blue M Home Page
