Euro Marauderville 2018

[MGDriver]

On May 20th last month MunsterBro95 invited the Euro Marauder crew to the Ramstein US Air Base near Kaiserslautern, Germany for our 4th annual European Marauderville. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of us since you can only gain access to the Air Base upon special permission from a US serviceman living and working there. For those who have never been there, imagine Ramstein Air Base like an American town in the middle of Germany with American shops and restaurants that you will find nowhere else on this side of the pond. There is a huge fence that surrounds the base with security checkpoints at the entrance gates where your passport and vehicle will be checked, basically like a land border crossing between Germany and the United States. Unfortunately photography is forbidden on most of the base area so I can't show you much of it here.

After a long drive we have all arrived and checked into our hotel in the German part of Ramstein town.



On the next morning, everything is exicted to visit the base! Here we are all lined up at the entrance gate to get our visitor passes. Going through the security checkpoint we caused quite a bit of a traffic jam as they needed to check every single one of our cars.

[MGDriver]

These are the only photos we were allowed to take on base, a group shot of our cars in front of the only Chili's restaurant in Europe where we had dinner later that day.




Some emergency repairs had to be carried out when one of the cars suddenly established the wacky wiper syndrome as it started to rain and we had to unclog the drainage of the wiper motor.

[MGDriver]

After lunch, some of us went to shop for some unique American products in the Ramstein Exchange mall while others wanted to explore the surounding area. I was on the exploration team and we left the base to visit the nearby medieval castle of Nanstein in Landstuhl. From the top of the castle you could enjoy some great views including the air base from above. They had planted some trees in the direction of the base so you couldn't look at it directly but that didn't really work and being on German soil again we could take photos.

[MGDriver]

On the next day before we were all heading home again we went out into beautiful countryside of Kaiserslautern to make some group photos again.





Every Euro-Marauderville would usually end with a group photo together with the "Rebel With A Cause" banner but this time some idiot forgot to bring it and that would be me of course so we could only do an incomplete final photo before it was time to say goodbye and hopefully until next year.



Euro-Marauderville Statistics:

Marauders in attendence: 5 + 1 Grand Marquis.
Nationalities in attendence: 3 - Germany, Switzerland, USA.
Miles travelled: 1210 and that's 1950 kilometers for us metric folks.

• Esilar - 04' SB - Berlin, Germany - 410 travelled miles
• MaRauder2 - 04' BLK - Zürich, Switzerland - 250 travelled miles
• Merchil - 03' SB - Ingolstadt, Germany - 270 travelled miles
• MGDriver - 03' BLK - Paderborn, Germany - 280 travelled miles
• MunsterBro95 - 03' SB - Kaiserslautern, Germany (Louisiana, USA)

Euro-Marauderville 2019:

Our fifth annual Marauderville will be taking place in May 2019 in Berlin, Germany organized by Esilar. The exact date is yet to be determined and will be published in due course. Being the capital of Germany with a long and exciting history there will be many photo opportunities with great sights, stay tuned!

[MMBLUE]

So cool Marvin. Glad you guys had a great time. Pictures are awesome. At least the MM's were somewhat close to home being around some familiar american things.

I've been on that base and it is beautiful.

Hopefully you guys collected some american specific stuff at the shops.

I'm sure it was a memorable Marauderville for sure.

[Bluerauder]

Great pics !! Used to go to Ramstein AB and Vogelweh (Kaiserslautern) all the time when I was stationed in Baumholder from 1975-1978 with the US Army. My oldest son was born at the Army hospital in Landstuhl not far from the castle that you visited. Came back from 1986-1989 and lived in Heidelberg. Still not far from Kaiserslautern. We used to call it "K-Town".

Info added to the Master Event History List here on Page 3 >>>>> https://www.mercurymarauder.net/foru...ad.php?t=53146

[Ambitious1]

Awesome pics! Always cool to see the MMs around the world!

[Big Black Beast]

Nice! I thought I was playing the "spot the different picture" game for a second though.

[jsignorelli]

Glad to see that the Euro-Marauders are doing things together.

One of these days, you have got to come to Carlisle Pennsylvania (1st weekend in June).
Seeing many thousands of Ford products will blow your mind.
And then there is the Marauder Hill, where we overlook the fair grounds.
Ask Derrick Cook, he will tell you. He has been there twice.

[MGDriver]

Thanks everyone! They still call it "K-Town" today because nobody can pronounce the correct name and I have family in Heidelberg, it's one of the most beautiful towns in the country but the cost of living is also amongst the highest.

Keep in mind we only get the chance to see another Marauder once or twice every year so we always take tons of photos when we meet.

I would love to go to Carlisle one day but I have a medical condition that prevents me from taking intercontinental flights so it's unlikely that I will be able to leave Europe again.

[Bluerauder]

Thanks everyone! They still call it "K-Town" today because nobody can pronounce the correct name and I have family in Heidelberg, it's one of the most beautiful towns in the country but the cost of living is also amongst the highest.

Keep in mind we only get the chance to see another Marauder once or twice every year so we always take tons of photos when we meet. .

My family misses Germany and my kids have fond memories of all the neat stuff they got to see or do while they were there. All 3 were under 10 years old when we went back the 2nd time. The experiences are ones that they will always remember.

[jsignorelli]

If you can't fly, look into taking a freighter.

The cabins are similar to the cruise lines, and food is the same. The cost is between $ 900 - $ 1200 each way. Many ships start in Hamburg and arrive in New York 8 - 10 days later. A good friend of mine travels that way all the time. There are websites for that kind of travel. There are ships leaving & arriving in South Hampton in the UK on almost a daily basis with New York as one of the ports of call.

[MunsterBro95]

we still call it K-Town

Great pics !! Used to go to Ramstein AB and Vogelweh (Kaiserslautern) all the time when I was stationed in Baumholder from 1975-1978 with the US Army. My oldest son was born at the Army hospital in Landstuhl not far from the castle that you visited. Came back from 1986-1989 and lived in Heidelberg. Still not far from Kaiserslautern. We used to call it "K-Town".

Info added to the Master Event History List here on Page 3 >>>>> https://www.mercurymarauder.net/foru...ad.php?t=53146

[Bluerauder]

we still call it K-Town

The guys in the 3rd Infantry Division used to also call Kitzingen (near Wurzburg) "K-Town". Guess it depends where you were stationed.

[Dereck]

Hi JSignorelli

One of these days, you have got to come to Carlisle Pennsylvania (1st weekend in June).
Seeing many thousands of Ford products will blow your mind.
And then there is the Marauder Hill, where we overlook the fair grounds.
Ask Derrick Cook, he will tell you. He has been there twice.

I have been to Carlisle virtually every year since 2005 only missing a couple years and will be there again in 2019

Regards

Dereck