Our professor—Toni
Toni looking pleased with himself after snapping a few clandestine photos at a tourist site.
We’ve teased Toni a lot—all friendly—about being our precise German on the trip. It’s true that he likes things to be just-so. It’s not surprising that in addition to being a stickler for order and life according to plan, Toni has also been a professor of physics at the University of Cologne.
He followed that profession for many years, until the mid-1990s when he was lured to Berlin to work in marketing for Deutsche Telecom. He’s lived in Berlin ever since and still does some consulting for the company, but mostly he indulges his love of travel.
In fact a few years back, Toni travelled with Lu (our tour leader) in Africa. On that trip, they were both passengers on another overland truck. They formed a lasting friendship, and it’s been quite common to see them heading off together to explore some tourist site.
Toni finished this overland trip yesterday in Luang Prabang, Laos. He’s done the rest of the stops in the past and he was ready to return home to his girlfriend. Poor John and I were lucky enough to meet Toni (and see his lovely penthouse apartment) prior to the beginning of the trip—while we were getting our visas in Berlin.
And in case you forgot, Toni murdered me in the Truck Cluedo game. That event wrapped up a few weeks ago with a three-way tie of those still alive—and Keiran as a clear winner for the kill-count.
It’s also worth noting that in spite of his penchant for the rules, don’t expect Toni to honour a no photos/no cameras sign.
Where to next? 
Hi Peggy,
I really enjoy the introductions to your travelling companions. Given that Toni likes things to be, as you said, ‘just so’, he might like to try his hand at a bit of editing. Don’t tell the Canberra Society of Editors, but editors are renowned for being quite fond of detail and consistency.
Best wishes
Louise
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