Below are my dads thoughts on our trip to Europe (I took the liberty of adding some pictures). He doesn’t know how to use a computer, so he faxed me his report and I typed them out. In case you don’t believe me…
Continue reading: To the Vaterland with my Vater: Dad’s Thoughts
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Wow--great recap! Now I know from where Benni gets his wry sense of humor. Thanks for sharing first your Mom's observations and now your Dad's. It is so cool to see the trip and yourself through the eyes of those close to you.
"I was under the misconception he does not like alcohol..." Hello! 😉
Great post Ben!...you just scored some big points from the Guy upstairs....Your parents are "lucky" to have you!
It looks like there are some phone/fax numbers on the bottom of the first photo - don't know if you want to blur.
Nice. Maybe you can send your father on some trips you can't make, as he has a nice writing style.
Now, when are you going to travel again with your brother and have he write a report too? 🙂
your dad is so sweet. loved reading this report--glad you spoil you parents with these luxury trips!
Vielen Dank für den ausgezeichneten Reisebericht. Ich wünsche Benni und seinem Vater viele gute zukünftige Reise.
And you are right, I heard a German accent the entire time I read that!
Glad you took the time to do this with your dad.
Hope you kept those handwritten notes. They will be priceless for you to read again in the future.
I love that your Dad calls you "Benni" and that your mother calls your "Benjamin". Very cute.
I guess your theme song should be "Bennie and the Jets"? 🙂
Good to hear that FCT offers Montecristos. From earlier reports i thought they had only offered a different brand (possibly not Cuban) Wonder if this is a recent change?
Very nice conclusion to the whole trip report.
Of course I had no problem in hearing a German accent while reading this installment. I simply had to read it loud to hear my own heavy German accent 😉
I think it's called thick accent, right? Not heavy ...
Anyway, my thinking when I see how you cite your father is, "Oy vey, that's how I sound?"
Benni, maybe you want to block out the phone or fax numbers that are clearly visible at the bottom of the handwritten page?
Great conclusion! I mean nothing negative with this in any way, just pure curiosity--but you've mentioned in the past that your parents own their own business...how does he manage the business without using a computer? Old school paper ledgers to keep track of the finances and customers? Or does the business have computers, but your mother is in charge of that? Again, nothing against your Dad, I'm just really curious!
@ Andrew -- He always says he uses IBM ("I book manually"). His bookkeeping is impressive. 😉
Love this. What first class lounge do you use? I fly IAH-FRA all the time and have to walk 40 minutes, take a train, and go through security to get to the first class lounge. (It's the lounge right after security going to the B gates, where you turn right and go up the escalator). Am I doing someting wrong?
From your description of your father's accent I did not expect such perfect writing ; his writing is great; love the details and his maturity; very different excitement than most blog writers; I hope he reads the comments and I EXPECT AN ENCORE VISIT TO YOUR BLOG
Great to read your dad's report. He is a proud father !
But I doubt he has an "Akzent" anymore. He writes number 7 as an American !!!
I love your Dad's writing style - you need to take him more places so he can write more reports! Or maybe you should hire him on as an adjunct writer. 🙂
Great post, great dad. Speaking myself with "akzent" (Russian), I am just wondering how is your father reacting on you talks about it so much. I may learn from him how to tolerate "you, people".
This truly warmed my heart and put a smile on my face. You are a very good son
Your Dad is awesome. But how the hell does he know what a "contract lounge" is?!
From here on out I demand that you force every one of your trip partners to write up their summation of the trip too. Always interesting to see another's perspective of the same trip we "think" we know from your writing. Especially if some of them are friends who would candidly review you as well 😉 Your dad says you have simple tastes but yet you fly in F everywhere and often. Hmmm....
This made me LOL... "Then it was time for takeoff. I was surprised by how smooth we were going over the runway and how quiet the take-off was. My Lincoln Navigator makes more noise than the aircraft — it is however not the latest model."
Favorite: "Before indulging in the pleasures of the table I had a couple of glasses of champagne and I was surprised to see that Benni had the same. I was under the misconception that he does not like alcohol...". Sounds like you had a wonderful trip! You're very lucky to have such great parents!
I love this post overall, but it's especially impressive that someone can compose a report this long by hand. I am old enough to (barely) remember life without computers but these days I don't think I could even write a short note without the benefit of easily making real-time edits as I write.
What a lovely post! Your trips with your mother and father inspired me to use my first award redemption to take my mother and my daughter to Paris and the UK in March. We'll be flying Lufthansa too, and I'm crossing my fingers that we'll be able to score a first class upgrade. Thank you for the inspiration. Your blog is always such a pleasure to read!
Another awesome post! This certainly will be a trip your dad will remember for a long time. You're an awesome son!
"Ben and I had dinner at a nice German restaurant"
Aren't all restaurants in Germany German restaurants?
@MP: I do believe there are Italian, Chinese, French, etc restaurants in Germany as well. 😉
Reading this trip report was the highlight of my day (but then again, I'm a tax lawyer, so that isn't saying much). Your father has a great writing style, and I love his sense of humor.
@HansGolden: But would not those restaurants be German restaurants that happen to serve Italian, Chinese, and French style food? After all, no matter the style of food, all are actually located in Germany which I think makes them German restuarants.
Perhaps I should also apologize regarding my original comment and this follow-up. Certainly do not intend to be a wise guy. It's just that the wording of Dad's sentence struck me as being funny. Other than that, enjoyed his report and enjoy reading Ben's blogs. He sure gets around.
@Lucky- I think you are in your mid to late 20's, no? Which puts your vater likely in his 50's, may 60's, and small possibility perhaps in late forties, or early seventies on the outside... Close? Tell him he's a spring chicken!!!
We need to get Herr Schlappig on one or more Apple devices of his own! My 85 year dad is on his 2nd iPhone, and has an iPad, and a Macbook Pro!
I will personally come down and give him an iPad lesson! (Of course we will link his iTunes store account to you cc card... that's what I did for my dad.) He will love video skyping and iMessaging Benni just when you are curled up with some hottie "reviewing" the heavenly bed 🙂
As an eager reader, can you please fly on a high variety of airlines soon, like back in the old days! There's quite a few Star Alliance airlines you've never published a report on, and I know you dislike SkyTeam, but I would reeeeeeally love to see you on some SkyTeam flights (otherwise it's just becoming a liiiiiittle bit (only little bit) biased.
I really enjoyed the recent US flight you did, even though it was a US airline, I'll take it!!
Because, like, I think we kinda get it... LH, SQ and CX is good haha. At the very least, do different aircraft's, it's just starting to feel a little bit like Groundhog Day...
On a different note, I loved your Dad's note and especially your Mom's note from back in HKG and Bali, it was great hearing it from someone who was overwhelmed by the amount of attention and service!!
Just more of the underdogs please!!!!!!
@ Mitchzmagic -- Thanks for the feedback. On my most recent trip tried some new products, including the US Airways Envoy Suite, Air China business class, and some EVA Hello Kitty products. That being said, have plans to fly SkyTeam on a longhaul award soon, so that should be something new.
Stay tuned!
I KNOW!! I'm soooooo excited about the BR Hello Kitty hahaha!! All of them sound great and I can't to read some SkyTeam ones soon!!
Keep up the brilliant work!! p.s. You've actually inspired me to start my own travel business next year!
@ Lucky - I am rather late to the party but I wanted to say that it's been great to read reports from your parents - you are a great son 🙂
Also, I want to second an idea of guest-posts from your family/friends. I recommend this blog as a go-to source for trip/hotel reports but sometimes it's interesting to read a slightly different perspective (e.g. interesting facts about cigar/lounges).
P.S. The bit about your dad thinking you don't drink is funny 🙂
" I know trading with the enemy is not allowed in the US but since we were on German soil I had no feeling of guilt."
I read this with the thickest Swabian accent and had a good lach!