Capt. Spanky's off -leash tour Published Oct. 29, 2014 By Capt. Spanky 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Hey Ramstein! Anticipating the rain to come for the next few weekends, my human told me he planned a trip to a beach in France ahead of time. Knowing that a good traveling journalist never reports on the same location twice, I gave a howl in protest. My human laughed and clarifi ed that we were headed to Bitche in France, which was not the same kind of beach with oceans and sand. Winding through the lush hills and forests south of Ramstein, my human explained what we were about to see. I could not help but wag my tail throughout the 57-minute drive. Overlooking the town of Bitche lies a massive fortress, The Citadelle de Bitche, which has seen its fair share of battle. I learned that the fortress has been around since the 1600s, and after many rebuilding phases, was unconquerable between the 17th and 20th centuries. The fortress even did time during World War II as a part of France's Maginot Line. Panting and tired from the grueling walk uphill, we arrived at the receptionist's desk, where she gave my human headphones, which guided us through the citadel. At the top I had a great view of the surrounding countryside and I think I could even see the Rhine River! The tour took us down into the inner-workings of the citadel, full of cool, dark passages and rooms. Back up top, we ate lunch at a cafe and sniffed around the gift shop for souvenirs. Feeling inspired by the tunnels I saw, I decided to dedicate time towards creating my own underground passages beneath the back yard when we got back to keep my bones safe!