Our trips to and from India were marathons . . . with many stops along the way, but the experiences were well worth it.

If you're wondering what a "brogan" is, and what this has to do with anything, read on . . .

While it was hard to find a 4th of July fireworks celebration in the heart of Germany in the early 1960s, there was always the Heidelberg Castle illumination, which promised to be every bit as exciting.

The other AFRC resort we visited back in the 1970s was in Garmisch, again in the German Alps. This time, however, we went in the springtime. I guess it must have been back in '76.

One of the things I remember about our time in Germany was going to stay in the AFRC (Armed Forces Recreation Center) resorts. These were for the use of military personnel and their dependents and gave them a chance to have a vacation away from their home bases that didn't cost too much. The main ones our family went to were the big resorts in the Bavarian Alps, in Garmisch and in Berchtesgaden.

What was "West" Germany like in the 1960s and how did many U.S. military families spend their time?

Castle climbing, of course!