[Leica] Solms

[rclompus at mac.com (Richard Clompus)]

I visited Solms about 6 years ago.  Got off the train about 10pm in the rain 
and found myself in an industrial part of town.  No taxi or anyone in sight. 
 My friend and I started walking toward town and spotted a large garage with 
the door slightly raised with light inside.  Not knowing where I was, my 
friend who speaks German walked inside.  The "garage" was the local 
firehouse.  After a few minutes of chit chat, the fireman with nothing else 
to do offered to drive us into town.  There were no hotels available but he 
knew of a friend that had a bed & breakfast.  The garage door starts to go 
up and at that point I came face-to-face with a huge Mercedes firetruck.  
That was our ride!  We climbed in for the five minute ride to the B&B.  When 
we pulled up and stopped to get off,  the neighbors came out of their houses 
thinking there must be a fire.  Fortunately it was just our "taxi" into 
town.  The B&B was nice with sheets that must have been made from rope 
fibers.  No complaints - I was just happy to have a place to stay. 

The ride to Leica in the morning was just as colorful.  Picture this:  The 
taxi driver had a cast on his left arm.  It was propped out the window with 
his right arm used for steering, holding a cigarette and shifting the gears. 
 It was a very colorful ride down to Leica's headquarters.  The only thing 
the taxi driver didn't do was go for his cell phone at the same time.  The 
folks at Leica were gracious and very accommodating.  The factory tour will 
give you an appreciation of what goes into lens fabrication.  When I told 
them I was an optometrist, I was given a lens element that was rejected for 
failing quality control.  

If you go, you'll enjoy it.  Never made it to Wetzlar.  My advice:  if you 
plan to stay overnight, make a reservation before you go.  

Richard

Richard Clompus, OD
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
rclompus at mac.com

          
On Apr 8, 2010, at 1:00 AM, Nathan Wajsman wrote:

> I would not waste a night in either place, but if it had to be one it 
> would be Wetzlar. Much more charming, Solms is just a modern boring small 
> town. Wetzlar is an old boring small town, but at least it has pretty 
> buildings.
> 
> Nathan
> 
> Nathan Wajsman
> Alicante, Spain
> http://www.frozenlight.eu
> http://www.greatpix.eu
> http://www.nathanfoto.com
> 
> Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Apr 5, 2010, at 4:13 AM, Leo Wesson wrote:
> 
>> When u folks make a visit there, do you stay in Solms or Weltzar?
>> 
>> Leo Wesson
>> photographer?videographer
>> leo at leowesson.com
>> 817?733?9157
>> 
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