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A web site for the “Bosch Oldtimer & Retirees” To become a member you must have worked for Bosch at one time and/or are now retired from Bosch. No membership fee, just register with us so we can communicate with you preferably by e-mail. |
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Contact: Bernd & Irma Greulich USA Phone/Fax 770-844-7278 3 e-mail addresses below. Disregard the triangles. |
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Oldtimer-Retiree .org
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Edition: Nov-Dec. 2008 |
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Wishing you Happy Holidays
Bernd & Irmi
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This web site is sponsored for the year 2008 by ARBORNA, your voice to Bosch. |
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From the Editors Desk
The past Reunion in Dresden.
We should be complimenting each other for staging such an exceptional reunion. It was like being back in the 70’s with all our parties and friendships that we had in the USA. Yes, we have matured over the last 30 or so years and we did not place much emphasis on dancing but the quantity of talking, drinking and just having fun was the same. It was amazing that we could still hit the same “groove” with friends that we had not seen for all those years. The 12 people that took the pre-reunion ship cruise arrived from Lisbon in Dresden way after dark and found themselves in the midst of the Brauhaus Oktoberfest. Some of our friends were already there for several hours and the group had to catch up with food and beer very fast. The party atmosphere of the Brauhaus helped a lot to make us all very comfortable, even those of us who never partied with the old gang in the olden days, even they felt good in the turbulence of the Oktoberfest. The sightseeing trips were excellent and expertly organized by Lotar Heisig and Manfred Remmel which contributed to our positive impressions about Dresden, the arrangements and to our reunion overall. Thank you Lotar and Manfred for all the arrangements and the work you guys had in arranging it for us.
Soon a new year will arrive and with it I have to make good on a promise that I made (got talked into) during the Dresden reunion. I am to organize the next reunion for New York of all places. This, no doubt, will be one of the more challenging reunions to be organized. Several of the members gave me suggestions about what to do, but they failed to give me any idea on how to circumvent the high cost of hotels in New York and most of all about a “Brauhaus” that we can use as our home base like in Dresden.
I have made contact with my first volunteer, Mary Sullivan, for our reunion in the Big Apple. Many of you know her as one of the most dedicated sales persons Bosch ever had and possibly ever will. She is in charge of that region, meaning she is still working, but she will spend some of her time for the benefit of us retirees. She is actively looking for hotels, ideas of what to do and she even volunteered to be our sightseeing guide. That in its self presents a challenge for me, how do I organize the sightseeing? Mary does not know yet what it takes to keep about 50 retirees together in one group. That may be possible for 50 sales people, but 50 RETIREES?
I do not plan on any activity for the reunion in New York for the rest of the year. However, if any member has ideas, I would still listen and consider. Wishing you Happy Holidays Irma & Bernd
PS: To see pictures of the reunion go to http://photos.oldtimer-retiree.org
Our Reunion in Dresden
by Bert Lachner
We arrived in Dresden via Lufthansa, and, after a short cab ride, quickly found our accommodations at Villa Angelika, a spacious and comfortable B&B. Others stayed at the Hotel Waldschloesschen or other similar Bed & Breakfast places in the neighborhood. Villa Angelika overlooks the Elbe River and the Eastern suburbs of Dresden.
The late evening was spent unpacking for a 4-5 day stay, and then our small group ventured over to the Brauhaus, as the well prepared plan suggested. Here we found other Old-timers who already had gotten into the swing of things. The waitresses were busy serving Haxen and other house specialties, and the Lederhosen clad 2-man band and a Dirndl-dress adored young female made music, which put everybody in a good and happy mood. Pils beer and young Federweissen beer was served and now and then chased with a "Jaegermeister". Everybody talked, and some listened, greeting each other as the events of the last few years were exchanged, it was a joyful scene.
Saturday morning, this little group of Mel and Bert, Les, Clara and Irmgard, went to Meissen by streetcar and train. After we figured out the fare – 6.00 Euro for two all day pass within the Dresden local traffic area plus we had to add the fee to Meissen by train, according to the strict but pleasant female conductor. Our walk through the colorful valley and along the rushing creek was relaxing, and soon we visited the "Meissen Porcelain Manufacture". The craftsmanship was overwhelming, and the variety and the colors of these exquisite pieces superb. The prices were in line with such fine art, but some of the sophisticated artifacts where in the thousands of Euros (1 Euro = $1.48).
We bought some souvenirs and were on our way to the Meissen Weinfest, as the small advertisement suggested. There was some loud and modern music and people trickled in to look at the booths with gifts and pop jewelry, funny items and blow-up toys, post cards and decorated hiking canes. Every second booth offered food and drink. We found a nice place outside a tent with nice music, and then one by one, we went to fetch from a great selection what we wanted for lunch. It was busy now, and everyone was having a good time. Finally, as we had walked through the festive streets, we were back at the Elbe shores. After some walking along the busy river, we crossed the auto bridge and took the train back to Dresden. The evening was spent at the Brauhaus, where "Jaegermeister" had a big promotion, giving out trinkets and having a moose mascot on hand for pictures.
Sunday morning after breakfast, well presented with eggs, cold-cuts and cheese, different breads and crisp rolls, coffee, OJ and milk, enough to feed a family, some of us went to the newly rebuilt "Frauenkirche" (the Church of our Lady) to attend service at 11:00. The interior of the Church was stunning as about 2,000 people attended. It was an international congregation with a global message of hope for peace and the saving of our planet. For lunch we took a boat ride from the downtown pier to Pirna and back. The weather was beautifully warm and sunny, and we passed under the bridge called the "Blaues Wunder", the blue miracle, as it changes color from green to blue depending on the sunlight. Also the meadows along the Elbe teamed with family outings, and the vineyards and castles on the slope of the north side were lined to greet us.
This was the 28th of September, designated as the day of our 9th Reunion and celebrated with a large ARBORNA Banquet. 53 old-timers and retirees from far and near were present. Half of them from the United States and Canada, the others by car or train from Germany and other European countries. There were remarks made to never give up on the purpose of ARBORNA, and also to maintain the close friendships of our group that was created during our working days in the USA. Bernd Greulich, who organized the whole event with the local help of Lotar Heisig and Manfred Remmel, presented a memorable desktop show of "The Good Old Days gone by!" It was so much fun, we were sore from laughing and applauding. Thank you, Bernd and Irmi, for everything!
On Monday, we all set out to have our group picture taken by the rider statue in front of the Semper Opera house. Then a large group went on to tour this famous musical landmark, and later we visited the "Gruene Gewoelbe", the green grotto, featuring the exquisite royal jewelry of August dem Starken and others of the time period. Lunch was had at the rustic and historic "Pulverturm", the powder tower, Restaurant, where we enjoyed Haxen (pork shanks), Schnitzel and delicious fish entrees.
We then strolled through the historic old-town, unique with its charcoaled limestone, and saw again the Frauenkirche, the Catholic Church with its indoor path of Processions, the Parade of Dukes and Kings, the Zwinger Fortress with the private bath complex of August the Strong. Lots of cobble stone pavement, which gave our feet a good work out. The evening got us back into more Brauhaus tidbits and delicacies with some dancing and a polonaise through the restaurant with the trumpeter in front.
Tuesday morning, two of us went to see the modern glass factory of VW, where they produce the top of -the-line Phaeton, the most sophisticated and expensive Volkswagen available, starting at 65,000 Euros. 200 technicians on an ultra modern assembly line on three floors, and 200 associates in the office produce 80 automobiles for existing orders per a day. The other retirees went to the Bastei, a mountain range near the Czech border with the Koenigstein look-out and the Elbe River running through it.
There was the famous art gallery of the Zwinger to see and the Armor Chamber, - die Ruestungskammer - of medieval times. Hundreds of years old items dating back to the 16th and 17th century, so well preserved and presented.
Dresden was 90% destroyed by bombing raids in April 1945, weeks before the end of WWII. It is to the credit of Dresden's citizens, the German people and a peace-loving global community to have this jewel of German towns restored in such a wonderful way for all generations to enjoy, |