That must have been beautiful. I visited the Black Forest and thought it was lovely.
I went to a tavern and spoke with Germans. This was when Reagan was president.
They were all petrified that RR was about to start a nuclear war.
I had the same experience. My German neighbors were pleading with me to vote for Carter. Fortunately, I was nearing the end of my fourth year in country, and I spoke the language well.
From September until the election, at the neigborhood gasthaus, I'd explain my rationale for my support of RR: it boiled down to how the world is a safer place when America is strong.
I also spoke of his track record as Governor of California for 8 years, and his prolific writings over the past 20 years. I knew what we would be getting from Reagan as President.
Best part, for me, of all those discussions, was that I did it all in German.
The battle was won on Inauguration Day, when the Iranians released the hostages after 444 days of captivity. On my next visit to the gasthaus, and for the remaining 5 months of my tour, I was invited to sit at the stammtisch, the table reserved for family and close friends of the family. I cherish that honor to this day.