“Travels to a Different Time” : 17August1973: Heidelberg, Germany: The German Militaristic Character? Getting Thrown Out of a Bar

Up early to avoid the rush of the bright eyed and bushy tailed Europe on $5 and $ 10 a Day crowd. I get bad vibrations from this place. They seem obsessed with order and precision at this youth hostel. I feel like I am in military barracks and somewhat like a caged animal. But there are no campgrounds here and hotels are over my budget. I did call Overseas National Airways in Frankfurt and there is a flight departing Köln on August 21^st but they do not have a final headcount and as a non-revenue passenger if there are no seats I am out of luck. After the call I took a bus and tram into town and went record shopping which is cool here as you can choose a record and go into a booth and listen to it to decide if you would like to buy it. I walked up to the Heidelberg Castle and it was an amazing sight with a wonderful view. After the castle a Wimpy cheeseburger and a beer. I bought some crap for dinner and had a long walk home stopping for a beer on the way. I arrived at the “compound” hot and sweaty. I talked with Yanks who are swarmed all over this place. Good luck seeing any swarm in Bulgaria or Yugoslavia.  One told me how brave I was going into the Iron Curtain. I felt sad for him falling prey to American anti-Communist propaganda. 8 of us decided to go out and fill up on German beer. Somehow we got separated and I ended up with two Canuks and a Asian American. The Asian American guy and I went berserk over a joke and couldn’t stop laughing. We were gasping for breath and tears were rolling down our eyes and we were asked to leave by the owner an older German man. These authoritarian types seem to appreciate zombie and obedient behaviour. We headed home by 11 and all the lights were turned off so we had difficulty finding our room. Get to bed early dissolute youth is the message but 11 p.m.? This German older generation are such tight asses. The Germans my age are super friendly. Is the older generation sore about losing the war?