Notes from Hades

ometimes, my travel comes in clumps. Such was the case in June. At the beginning of June, I went to Berlin. This time, I was able to see Checkpoint Charlie. It was one of the primary entry points to the U.S. sector of Berlin from the Soviet sector. Right before the wall fell, it was huge, with multiple roads coming to it and several booths. It has been restored to a condition much earlier than that, where it was just a single shack on the street. They had actors dressed in U.S. Army and Red Army uniforms, each carrying the appropriate flag, stationed in front of it, and there was quite a lot of historical information in the area. For instance, I learned that where the Wall used to stand, they have put a double row of cobblestones. So, as you walk around the city, if you see such a row of cobblestones cutting through a street, you know that the Wall used to be there. I was also able to go up in the Berlin Tower. It looks like a giant spike on which a golf ball has been impaled about one third of the way down. It offers an incredible view of the city, and something that struck me when I was there is how flat the land around Berlin is. No mountains or even hills were visible in any direction.

Like they did the last time we met in Berlin, our hosts took us on an outing. This time, it was Dresden. Dresden was the seat of the Electors, and later the Kings of Saxony, before the unification of the German states. It was also the famous site of a firebombing by the RAF during World War II. Many of the buildings still show signs of the event. Much of the historical downtown area was destroyed, and later rebuilt. Pieces of architecture that survived, or which were reused, are blackened to one degree or another. Newer pieces are easily distinguished by their light color. The overall effect is an interesting irregular pattern of light an dark on many buildings. Two items were the highlights of the trip. The first was the Schloss, the former palace of the Saxon kings, which has been turned into a museum. Some incredible pieces were there, the highlight of which was a miniature reproduction of the birthday party of a Mughal emperor (the son, in fact, of the one who built the Taj Mahal), done up entirely in precious metals and stones. An incredible piece of work that was about four feet across. The other place we visited was the Frauenkirche, which has been described as the Lutheran St. Peters. It is large, but not as large as you would expect, and it was only rebuilt in the early nineties. There was little incentive, or money, in East Germany to rebuild religious centers, no matter how historic.

No sooner did I return from Berlin, than I had to go to Paris. This time, I was able to take some time out to see the Musee D'Orsay, which is where the impressionist paintings are displayed. Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and many others. In many ways, it was a nicer museum than the Louvre. Less overwhelming.

This issue, we see the completion of both Machiavelli games. Congratulations to Mike Scott and Berend Renken for their victories. Next issue, Bolognese and Purebred will start.

The next deadline is Tuesday, August 17 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Please do not call or fax orders after 10:00 p.m. Pacific time. My wife and I tend to retire early. Also, if you want to fax in orders, call first. We hang up on unannounced faxes.

Bolognese. Machiavelli. Gunboat. Have 5, will take up to 3 more. Starts next issue!

Purebred. Machiavelli. Have Ward Narhi, Bob Robles, Pasquale Giovine, Dave Partridge, and Walt O'Hara, Mike Scott, Kevin Wilson, Jerry Roalstad,. This game is full. Starts next issue!

Golden Retriever. Seafarers of Catan. Have Chris Geggus, Dave Partridge, Dave Hooton, Mike Scott. Will take up to 2 more.

Rottweiler. Industrial Waste. Have Andy York, Dave Partridge, Eric Brosius, Richard Weiss. This game is full.

Pick of the Litter. Silverton. Will start after Hunter ends. Have Eric Brosius, Dave Partridge, Dave Hooton, Paul Bolduc, will take up to 2 more.

Kremlin. Will start after Pateel ends. Have Walt O'Hara, Mike Scott, Bob Robles. Will take up to 3 more.

Outpost. Will start after Basset ends. Have Eric Brosius, Andy York, Andy Lewis, Dave Hooton, Dave Partridge, will take up to 5 more.

Goa. Have Brad Martin, Dave Partridge, will take up to 2 more.

Power Grid. Players will have the choice of 10 maps and several deck options. Have Dave Hooton, Dave Partridge, will take up to 3 more.

Phoenicia. A game similar to Outpost set in ancient times. Have Cary Nichols, Andy York, Dave Partridge, will take up to 7 more.

Age of Renaissance. This will use the EuroGames rules. Have Paul Bolduc, Chris Geggus, Bob Robles, will take up to 3 more.

Puerto Rico. Will start after Plantation Dog ends. Have Dave Partridge, will take up to 4 more.

Machiavelli. This game will start after the next Machiavelli game finishes. Will take up to 8.

Machiavelli. This game will start after the second Machiavelli game finishes. Will take up to 8.

In general, game ownership is recommended, but not required.

Note that a subscription to S.O.B. is not required to play in a game run by flier, but that a game fee will be charged to non-subbers.

S.O.B. is a zine of unusual postal games, and anything else I feel like including. Your publisher is:

Chris Hassler a.k.a. Cerberus

2000 S. Armour Court

La Habra, CA 90631

Phone: (562) 690-7827

Fax: (562) 690-7827

chassler@roadrunner.com

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