20/5 Trains to Mainz

Sunday 20 Train into Germany

Made a cracking start by booking 2 hostels before breakfast, which was again excellent. Took our time walking back to the station with the new bag on wheels. We left the Epic bag and J’s old backpack behind.

The train trip through the rest of the Alps was picturesque with vineyards, villages  and the odd castle. Quite abruptly we broke out into the plain and thereafter the terrain was pretty much flat all the way. We changed at Munich, where Chelsea had beaten Munchen the night before. The station was a huge mess of litter and broken glass. We thought the Germans might have cleaned it up by 12.30.

We were a trifle edgy during the second leg to Stuttgart, where we had only 8 minutes to board the next train. We pinned our hopes on the tracks being either side of the same platform but they weren’t. But we made it easily and were established in our correct seats before the train pulled out. It was another very warm sunny day – probably 30c and it was very hot in the train. This was an older carriage and we had been on the move for about an hour before somebody came round and opened the windows.

Our compartment had filled up by the time we got to Mainz and we asked them all to step out while we got the 3 heavy bags down off the overhead racks. We were ready to roll when the train stopped but then we came up against a bag that had been left in the passageway. By the time we shoved it into the adjacent compartment, a platoon of geriatrics had got on board and were doggedly shouldering their way down the corridor. The spearhead was probably an old Panzer SS who was determined to shove his way past me and my backpack and then the BIG bag on wheels that totally blocked the passage. He had a walking stick as well, but I eventually levered him over and round the bag and then turned to face the two old girls following on his heels. No way were they going to back up and they didn’t realise what I was towing behind me.  Somebody managed to talk them into backing into the space between carriages so I could get past. Luckily they were the only ones boarding at that door.

Our hotel was directly outside the exit from the station and we checked in with no fuss at all. The girl gave us a couple of maps and showed us how to get to the river and where the best parts of the old city were. We asked if it was safe and she looked at us with total incredulity. This is just a small willage she explained – we just have thousands of students and nothing bad ever happens here.

We took her at her word and were soon walking along the Rhine- a very fine river about 200m wide. There were multiple walk/cycle tracks on the edge and lots of people out enjoying the balmy late afternoon sunshine. A couple of very long cargo barges powered past and then the KD river cruise boat docked. This is the one we have booked onto in 2 days time. A few of the people came out with luggage but they said there was nowhere to store it on board. Oh well we can carry the computer and anything else valuable in the yellow bags and if they want the rest they can have it.

We veered aside to head along the edge of the old city – we will do the rest tomorrow.

Cool fountain just covered in interesting characters

We found our way back to the station where there was a supermarket of sorts open and bought some rations. Haven’t seen a baguette yet but the German bread is healthier and keeps better. We have a tv in the room that shows BBC and CNNN news and of course wi-fi which we have seriously missed.