We can’t compete with the Griswolds on their way to Wally World, or the “Outsiders’” escapades in New York City, so I doubt “The Shannon Travel Misadventures” will ever become a hit movie. However, in retrospect they are somewhat amusing and often a bit embarrassing.
On our first trip to Germany we visited our son who was enrolled in the law school at the University of Munich. After a few days in the city with our own personal guide showing us the sights, we rented a car and took off to see as much of Europe as we could in the remainder of our three week vacation. Armed with a road map, Frommer’s Europe on $20 a Day, (this was 1983!) and a spirit of adventure, we left the city behind and headed for Oberammergau, the village where the Passion Play has been produced every ten years since 1634. Villagers made a vow that if they were spared from the bubonic plague, they would enact the events of Holy Week every ten years. All the actors are villagers and they have kept that vow. This was not the year for the play, (only on years ending in 0), but we hoped to tour the theater and see the quaint village.
Snow was falling — big feathery flakes – when we parked the car and began a walk through the village until time for the tour to begin. After the tour, Harry searched his pockets for the car key but it was not to be found! New snow covered the streets and we knew a search would be futile. With permission, we walked through the theater to see if it was dropped during our tour, but to no avail. The guide suggested that we go to a gift shop owned by the villager who played the part of Mary.
“She speaks good English,” he said, “and she will call the local Ford service center so someone can come open your car.”
When the car was opened, we found the key. It had fallen between the door and the seat. We gladly paid the 10 marks, and bought a few gifts in the shop to show our appreciation.
Harry had spent several years in Germany with the Army and wanted to visit the towns he remembered, so we visited Ettlingen, Karlesrhue, and the quaint little town of Weinheim, where we stayed several days.
While in Weinheim, we decided to take the train to Mannheim. We purchased tickets at a kiosk and walked to the train station. When the conductor checked our tickets, he laughed and indicated they were not right. He seemed amused but perplexed. Finally, he tore up two of the tickets, put them in the trash, and indicated that Harry should give him 1.80 marks. We didn’t know what was wrong, but gave him the money. Later, at the station in Mannheim, we learned from a clerk who spoke English that we had purchased tram tickets. So we enjoyed a tram ride back to Weinheim.
Perhaps the most embarrassing situation occurred when we stayed overnight in a gasthaus – an inn with several rooms — in Ettlingen. After we registered, I went to the toilette, which was down the hall, and up a few steps. I noted the huge old-fashioned key in the lock, and turned it to lock the door. But when I was ready to leave, the key would not turn.
When I was gone such a long time, Harry came and knocked on the door, to see if I was all right. I told him I could not unlock the door and he summoned a maid (who did not speak English) and indicated my dilemma. She went for the manager, who came with a screwdriver and liberated me.
When we hurried through the airport in Luxembourg to catch the flight back home, we hoped we did not have anything that would not pass the inspection at customs. We had no agricultural products which are forbidden, but we did have the remnants of a block of cheese and a loaf of bread which we bought for our lunch before leaving. Harry said he wasn’t taking a chance and disposed of it just before we boarded.
That is, he thought he disposed of it. When we were safely back in the U.S., the customs officials waved us through without checking anything, and he discovered he still had the bag of cheese and bread. Instead, he had disposed of the bag containing his raincoat. Oh, well — what can you expect for a couple prone to misadventures?
By Mary Jo Shannon [email protected]
