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Dear family, this is the first chance I've had to get letters. The trip was pretty crummy, but not too much delay. We got here at about 5:00pm here or 8:00am in Los Altos where you and me live. We didn't see the "Doberman Gang" for the movie but someting almost as bad, "Joe Kid." I slept during the whole trip at the most 3 hours. I was very tired. That night we went with Wendy Ramage (Madera's last year Resident Assistant) to a German tecaher's house for Cognac. We being Bob Cullen, Bruce Worm and some other guy). I had grape stuff, seemed as strong as wine. The next day, Friday, we all went on a tour through Beutelsbach. We saw the town hall winery and Museum (and the church). After the tour with the mayor as the guide, we went to some room where they (some ladies) served us coffee and kuchen (cake stuff) really good. They were really nice. For instance, the table was decorated wtih gold paper and pine twigs and candles also some one inch size stars which were hand cut-out. Jeez. Can you imagine Los Altos doing that. Friday night we (Worm, Bob, Pat, ?, Brian?) went to a Gasthof (Bierhall) and I tried both dark and light beer and I liked light best, but neither were very good tasting to me.The beer drinkers say it's real good. Oh well. I also still dislike wine. My german is ok. It's fun talking and ordering stuff. I placed out of both grammar and converstaion in the test they gave us (most people did). That means I don't have to take it. But I'm going to take both conversation and grammar. Yesterday Worm, Bob and I went by train to Stuttgart. We went to the State Art Gallery. Pretty neat, famous artist etc. For lunch had some weird sounding wurst which tasted like those hot-dogs we have at home. There was a soccer game yesterday (here). I watched. Yeah! [Zu viel] people and crummy at it. I have brought the football out once.