2.7.2 - Stuttgart 2

Stuttgart - Day 2

You have no idea how difficult it is to type in a Czech keyboard..!

I know, I know... you are thinking, he is writing about Stuttgart and talking about a keyboard in Czech Rep... well, yes, I didn't have access to Internet nor the time to write on my blog until tonight.

OK, back to Stuttgart...
I got up and I had breakfast at the hotel... loaded my plate with some fruit and then I went back for a plate of ham, cheese, and tomatoes, and one plate of the scramble eggs... and them put them together...
I also took an extra banana for the road... with all this walking that I've been doing, my legs are killing me..!

Since I didn't have much time, I took the bus to the Mercedes Arena, which is the football stadium that is right next to the Benz Museum, and next to the Porsche Arena, where they play hockey and have concerts.

So I headed to the all-in-one office... fan store, ticket office, and tour office...
I stood in line and finally got to ask a lady about tours, and she said that because it's the day before the game, that the league denies access to anyone but workers and players into the stadium for security reasons.

So, I wanted to cry... seriously... made it all the way to Stuttgart to see this awesome stadium and I couldn't get in...! Well, at least I will be at the 2006 World Cup Final Stadium tomorrow, right.. right..!

So I walked through the store trying to figure out what to get STUTT from STUTTgart... and what else... a shot glass... to add to his collection.

As I was getting ready to pay with my credit card, and the guy told me that there has to be a 15,00€ minimum and I say, OK, I have some cash... he asked me where I was from and I told him Mexico, and then he showed me a scarf that had the names and numbers of both Mexican players that used to play with Stuttgart.... Osorio and Prado... now, only Osorio plays there.

So, I asked him if I could have it for 50 percent off because it only one player now, and he said no, but I could give you 20 percent off, OK deal...

Anyway, I walked around the stadium, as it was starting to snow too, found one gate open, but I didn't want to go in... I also saw a worker exit and leave another gate open... and I still didn't go in.
Then there was the Champions League Office... all the lights were off, but the doors were wide open, so I walked in... I walked all over the office, it was cool, they had tens of plastic bags with jerseys, and shorts, and I guess it was a water bottle and some other stuff... I didn't want to go through it... but I did want to take one... then I walked through the back of the office, and there was one lady typing her life away, she had her back to the door, and didn't even see me walk by.
So I kept walking and made it to another bags, and the temptation was there again... but as it is, I don't have room for a new tooth brush in my backpack, so, a whole gift bag would have been impossible to fit..!

As I was leaving the front door, I saw the team bus drive by, so I ran towards the gate... but I wasn't able to catch them... plus they park the bus under the stadium and there is now way I could even see Osorio...

I was running out of time, so I went across the street to the Benz Museum.

What a building... these car guys know how to make buildings too..!

I didn't walk through the exhibitions, I ran through them... I was running out of time.

I made it in record time... and was able to walk pass the stadium

And the players where not practicing yet, some officials, were checking the nets, and stuff, but no players on the field yet, so I took the bus back to the hotel, grabbed my bag, and headed to the train station... time to leave Stuttgart, follow the Rhein River and cross to Munich.


STUTTGART RECAP:
If you like cars, this is the place for you..!
with Porsche and the Mercedes Museums in the city, and Audi not too far, you can't go wrong.
The city is very big, you can't see very much in a short vacation.
The Football stadium looks nice from outside, make sure you come a couple of day before or after a game, so that you can take the tour, but it has to be while the season is going on, otherwise they stop the tours, and work on the remodeling or up keeping of the facilities.
From what I read on the city info brochure, there are a lot of more museums, and great parks, but I didn't have the time, the energy nor the weather to enjoy those.
Of course, you have to see it's churches and the City Hall..!