Kletter
or... 'climbing' in German
This has been quite the whirl-wind tour of Europe. The beginning was great: I got to see family who had moved to Frankfurt a year ago. The middle was good: I got to meet lots of customers, some JBoss colleagues, and get a glimpse at a bunch of European cities. The end was AMAZING.
I'm in Munich this morning. One of my colleagues, Thomas Dielser, was kind enough to put me up at his house for the weekend. Another colleague, Manik Surtani, joined us too.
On Friday we met up with Heiko Braun (another JBoss core developer) and climbed at Kletterzentrum Munchen (Munich climbing center). Its HUGE. I think Go Vertical in Philadelphia has about 12000 square feet of climbing space. Kletterzentrum Munchen has nearly 48000 square feet (22000 square feet indoors and 26000 square feet outdoors). It's massive, and I believe, the largest climbing gym in Europe. Its ALL lead climbing and there's a good sized bouldering room upstairs. (Check out babelfish if you'd like to try to translate the website into english).
It was interesting going to a gym outside the US. No waivers to sign, no belay tests to take. Just pay your money and off you go. Its all lead climbing -- and on all the routes (except the ones with big overhangs) you provide your own quick draws. Routes are marked by using the same colored hold throughout the entire route, and each route was marked using the UIAA grading system (here and here are two comparison charts that vary slightly). I seconded a couple 7-'s (5.10ish), lead a couple 6/6+'s (5.9ish) and tried to second an 8- (5.11ish). If I had started the day on that last 8-, I might have been able to do it... but by then my arms were done. The climbing was challenging -- the walls are highly textured (lots of features to use for food holds and even some inserts for hand holds). The only thing I didn't like about it so much is all the routes go straight up and down. Although that's a very efficient way to set up a gym -- I like how the lead routes at Go Vertical meander a bit from side to side.
We went for dinner Friday night at a tasty little Moroccan restaurant. Supposedly its where Robbie Williams goes to eat when he's in Munich (well.... if its good enough for Robbie Williams, then..... ummm yeah anyway ). When we left the restaurant, Thomas' van had been parked in (the pictures are a little dark, but you get the idea... there was about 3 inches in front and behind the van). It was pretty entertaining to see him get out of the spot.
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Saturday was absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, the pictures are still on Thomas' camera... so I think I'll leave everyone in suspense until I get the pictures and do a proper write up.... hmmm maybe a teaser?? ok: Climbing in the Alps of Austria. Yeah... you're jealous I know. I can't wait to go back.