Sembach (Germany)

Up at 0600 - breakfast at the Galley. Took care of some work email before heading over to the hangar for our brief. Found out we were modded (added passengers and cargo) - turned out our "trainer" was an actual mission after everything was changed. Took off on time and had a good flight to Germany. Saw a lot of scenery up to the Swiss border - Alps included - but then we ended up over the top of a solid cloud layer all the way until we got to Ramstein. Icing on the approach and rain when we landed. Darin met me after we shut down - and he took me and the forecaster we brought with us over to Sembach. This was my second trip to the weather center (see SEP 2006) - I'm still the only pilot to have visited... Darin took us out to lunch at a restaurant called Grillpfanne and we had Doner Kebab (a German take on souvlaki without the gyro bread - actually, it was a sandwich). We spent some time enjoying the ambiance. Was floored by some of the racy things that appeared on the TV there - in the middle of the day - and on the front page of the newspaper on our table! Headed back to Darin's office around 1230L and spent about an hour walking through the center. Got some face-to-face interaction with folks I usually only can talk to on the phone - it was good. Darin drove us back to Ramstein around 1345L and I stopped off at the Shopette and Kathe Wolfcarte for some souvenirs. Made it to the aircraft at 1445L - took off shortly after that. Weather on the way home was much nicer - had spectacular views of the Italian Riviera, Elba, Ischia and the Bay of Naples. Flew over the Aeolean Islands (including a steaming volcanic island) and came around the west side of Etna - no haze at all. Landed around 1700L. Finished paperwork and took care of a little more work emails. Cleaned up and watched TV until it was time to leave for dinner (1930L). Tonight we ate at Club Medusa - outside - and enjoyed some good food. Headed back to the NAS Sigonella Navy Gateway Inn and spent another hour or so watching "Jesse Stone" (Tom Selleck) episode with the guys - not bad. Went to bed around 2330L.