Tony D'Onofrio
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Finally, My First Benz has Arrived
Continuing our global tour to learn something new, our next stop is Mannheim Germany, where I had a chance to finally ride in my first Benz.
Mannheim is a city located in south-west Germany at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers. The first mention of the city was in 766 BC. Surprisingly it is the place where you will find the second-largest baroque palace in Europe (Versailles in France is number 1).
The city is famous for several important inventions. In 1817, Karl Drais invented the forerunner to the bicycle. In 1880, the Siemens company constructed the first electric lift. In 1886, Carl Benz invented the world’s first automobile whose replica I am riding in this picture.
Karl Benz was the first person to own a driver's license. After complaints from Mannheim citizens about his car's terrible noise and smells in 1888, he formally requested Grand Ducal Authority for written permission to drive on public roads.
It is believed that the ‘Mercedes’ part of the brand name ‘Mercedes-Benz’ was taken from Mercedes Jellinek, the daughter of businessman Emil Jellinek. Emil was one of the first buyers of Mercedes-Benz cars, and the name stuck,
Mercedes Benz was the first company to create a hybrid car in 1906. Safety crumple zones and anti-lock brakes also first appeared in their vehicles. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz was among the first to test self-driving technology in 1995.
This picture was from a recent Christmas Markets river cruise and it is a clear visual reminder to never stop having fun. Not sure how far I will get with this Benz, but walking through the steps of history was a high-speed thrill after all.
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