Baden-Baden Superstar
We just spent five nights at the Brenner's Park-Hotel (Schillerstrasse 6, D-76530, tel. +49/072212/9000, fax 38772) in Baden-Baden. The hotel is a standard-setter. We have never had better food, service, etc. This is a superlative hotel in a beautiful setting.
This was our second visit. The last was 10 years ago.
Louis J. Lyell
Jackson MS
On Our Side
The author of the Wall Street Journal article on Weimar you mentioned last month certainly had an agenda that had nothing to do with travel advice. It's too bad some people will take him at his word and miss a wonderful travel experience, though others will be glad to have their own biased opinions confirmed in a respected paper.
In September of 97 we spent not 30 minutes in the city but three days and enjoyed every one of them and found something new to do and see everyday. We were treated warmly and were happy to see the city was not flooded with Americans.
We have been to Germany many times, east, west, north and south. We have always been treated with courtesy and in most cases friendliness. My fractured German once elicited a smile but to date no one has fallen over laughing, they are just too polite. The locals will patiently listen to struggling German even though their excellent English would save them lots of time.
Corinne E. Burkhartsmeier
San Rafael, CA
Also Agrees
I also read with interest the Wall Street Journal article by Ed Ward trashing the city of Weimar.
Mr. Ward must be a very inexperienced traveler. My wife and I took Gemütlichkeit's advice and visited the city last August before it became the European City of Culture for 1999. Your suggestion was a good one. We stayed at the Pension Altenburg (recommended in your February 97 issue) for three nights. Obviously, there was a lot of construction going on all around the city, but it was not a major distraction from our visit.
We found none of what Mr. Ward had to say to be true. Everyone was friendly, the people were not rude and language was not a problem. We had a great three days and could have stayed another day or so. The food was outstanding, the culture displays even at this time were of great interest, there was more to see than the three days allowed. Weimar is definitely not a creepy or eerie city. To the contrary, our visit there was all one could expect—great food, friendly people, numerous sights to visit, first class facilities, and good prices.
I can only assume from Mr. Ward's article that he needs to travel more and see more of what is to be seen and not dwell on the past. Perhaps a copy of Gemütlichkeit would help him travel a little more educated.
My wife and I look forward to a return visit in the near future just to see all the construction completed and enjoy the city's great hospitality.
Walter Schellhase
Kerrville, Texas
P.S. We have also made a Gemütlichkeit castle trip, staying in all the castle hotels you recommended. They were all great. Thanks.
May 1999
