Yeah Baby! Talk about a great vacation while picking up a great
car?!!!!!! 3 words to those thinking about doing an ED: JUST DO IT!

Picked up 2006 e90 330i on August 1st a Monday

Black Sapphire
Premium (black leather, burl trim)
Sport
Navigation (a must for ED IMO)
Heated Seats
Satellite Radio (doesn't work in Europe, damn)

Booked airfare with the Lufthansa 2-1 deal. Paid 1300 for my seat and
1700 total with taxes for both seats. Not the greatest deal but it
wasn't terrible.

Financed through bmw financial services 1 month before pickup for 6.5%,
and will refinance with my credit union upon return for 5.75% upon
return (although I have heard of better deals). Paid $XXXX over ED
invoice at Brecht BMW in Escondido, CA. Total with Taxes, title,
license ect was $44,433. I didn't want to go over 45,000 originally so
I think I won a small battle (but an expensive one at that).

I didn't have a passport and had to do the express option and that set
me and my girlfriend back several hundred. For those that don't have
passports get them now! I learned the hard way. But at least it is
good for 10 years

We left from LAX on United Airlines July 31st at 6 am, with just 1
problem; we missed out flight! I have traveled out of LAX probably 50
times and I have never seen it that busy and packed. We were originally
going to go Washington Dulles to Munich. However we got to the airport
on the Westin Hotel shuttle where we stayed the previous night and
arrived at 4:40. As soon as I got there I knew there was no way in hell
we were going to make that flight. Long story short we got to Munich at
2 PM rather than 8 AM on August 1st via JFK and London. That time
change is hell, and if you can work the business or first class god
bless you!

Took taxi straight to the BMW delivery center. Taxi driver gave Nora
(gf) a heart attack for he was zooming 120 MPH plus up the butt of
anyone in front of us. He was turkish and continually reminded us that
german people can't drive well! The fare was 32 Euro's.

Got to the center at 3:10 after the 25 minute taxi ride. Were greeted
well and told to enjoy the cafe upstairs. We produced our voucher for a
free lunch and had an odd tasting turkey sandwich and lukewarm coke,
Not that it was bad, but certainly our first taste of the
European cuisine. Had a great chocolate bar that was huge

I was dissappointed to learn that the bimmerfest sign in book wasn't
anywhere to be found. I asked about it and the server hadn't heard of
it.

30 minutes after arrival a very nice women went through my paperwork
wtih me and got the necessary signatures and we were done in less than
15 minutes. She took me to me car which was such a huge shock at the
beauty of my first BMW! It was glistening with the shine of a brand new
luxury car. I have to say I was dissappointed in her taking me through
my car. She had to leave by 4 pm and was noticably late for something,
rushing through the features it seemed. Bernard then came to the rescue
and spent the next hour showing me everything I needed, mostly the
navigation system and programming the addresses of our hotels (thanks
Beewang for the disks). We were then off with just 2 miles on the
odometer for the Munich Marriott!

Spent that night in Munich and didn't do a thing but go to bed and wake
up late the next day. We went to the Renissance Hotel restaurant for an
early dinner after hitting some local grocery store for some driving
snacks and water (a must is alot of bottled water).

We were off to Milan, Italy for 2 nights. It was about a 5 hour drive
and I paid special attention to the breakin in rpm's, although I have to
say it sucks to be passed like you are standing still by a fiat or smart
car when you have a new BMW! Even the ford focus's were going over 100
mph for crying out loud!

We stayed at the Hotel Galia (I did all my hotels through priceline) and
without the navigation it is clear we would have ended our trip with
frustration that night, for with all the turnarounds it was tough. We
were dissappointed to see several prostitues and much graffitti upon
entering Milan. It was after 11 and the only thing open in that part of
the city which appeared to be downtown right in the square with the huge
and beautiful trainstation, was room service. 2 chicken sandwiches and
2 mini bottles of coke=55 euros!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah holy shi.

Nora got her hair cut and colored at Severgini a very nice hair salon
right next to the hotel. She looked hot after that! We went to the
canal in the middle of the city that night and found a great restaurant
and had pasta! Many street vendors selling knockoff purses, sunglasses
ect.

Woke up next morning and we were off to Rome for 3 nights. Trip was
alittle over 5 hours and again we saw probably 50 + prostitutes entering
the city. We stayed at the Intercontinental Roma, right at the top of
the spanish steps. It was awesome. Rome was by far my favorite place.
I have always wanted to go to the vatican being catholic. We saw just
about everything we could in Rome with the exception of the sistine
chapel (closes at 1:30 and closed sundays) found out the hard way and
couldn't get there. Other than that we had a simply wonderful time. We
each got sketch drawing of ourselves and I also got a funny caricature
of myself in Piazza Navona a great square filled with restaurants and
street vendors.

I could go on and on about Rome but suffice to say it was the measuring
stick by which all other places in this world are going to measured by me.

We checked out and headed for Venice for 1 night. I wanted to stay
longer but it wasn't possible for the time I had to spend on the trip.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Maestre and took a cab to Venice. It
was 20 euros and went to Marcos Square I believe. It was the main place
with all the beautiful architechture. We had a great time on the water
buses and seeing the surreal city on water.

We left the next day for Munich and dropping the car off at Harms. It
was about a 4 hour trip and thank goodness I could put the hammer down
during that trip for I was outside of 1200 miles. I got it up to 125
mph and that felt like it was just getting started. Long story short we
barely got the Harms in time and dropped it off and took my license
plate and first aid kit with me. I did hit 1 curb and scratched my
right front rim but I was told it would be replaced upon return to the US.

One thing to keep in mind, was that I told the guy we needed a taxi and
he called for one. We were greeted with a S class mercedes and we both
were like wow, what a taxi. Well after halfway to the Munich airport
Marriott he told us that it was a Limosine, not a taxi. 42 euros to get
about 12 miles I think! Wow is right Make sure you mention to
get a cheap taxi!

Flew back the next day via Brussels and Washington Dulles to LAX. If
you can get the direct flight by all means it is worth a couple hundred
I think.

Hotel report all through priceline

Westin Lax - $75, 12 a day for parking I chose to leave my car there for
it was covered and more secure. Very nice 4 star hotel.

Munich Marriott - $65, 10 euros a night for parking, to be honest after
that long of a flight any bed would have felt great. You know what you
are going to get with Marriott so I really like them.

Milan -Hotel Galia $97, 40 euros a night for parking which is insane
until you see that my car would have either been stolen or vandalized
had I not done this. 5 star but some of the room was showing wear.
Could have been more modern and in better shape, I would opt for a
different hotel next time.

Rome - Intercontinental Roma $227, 30 euros a night for parking.
Beautiful hotel in great location. I wanted a 5 star and paid for it
obviously. Expensive breakfast about 30 euros per person for the buffet
but it was very nice. FRESH SQUEEZED ORANGE JUICE IS A MUST!

Venice - Holiday Inn $85, 9 euros a night for parking. Nice and would
stay there again, much simplier than staying in venice for you have to
park at the train station and then get water taxi with luggage to your
hotel.

Munich - Marriott Airport - $60, 10 euros a night for parking. Nice,
good restaurant, bavarian food, a taste or Germany. Shuttle to airport
is 9.50 euros a person and well worth it.

Great trip but now for the hard part, the wait! I will attach some pics
as I know most of us love the visuals. I'm trying to attach some pictures but it says they are too big any suggestions on how to get the pic size down?