I was very proud and happy with myself for becoming such a world travel, as Marc calls me. From gleis, to gleis (platform) between Germany, The Czech, Austria with changes and 1 hour stop over's "I did it"....I bought my ticket to Singen and made myself comfortable on the train for a 4 hour trip to Nuremberg where I should change to Stuttgart. I noticed that I have a change at Saalfield which I then thought was probably just a different route. I had this niggling feeling inside though, a little voice that luckily made me confirm this, 15 min before we arrived in Nuremberg. To make a long story short: I had a ticket to Singen near Berlin (OOPS). Thanks to a helpful, friendly (English speaking) DB staff member on the train, I arrived in the correct Singen near the Bodensee where Hans and Nola collect me, on time.
A couple of minutes later we arrived in Hemmenhofen, where once again I was spoilt. We enjoyed a delicious meal (one of many) and as per usual Hans had a list of beverages to choose from. This time I felt like "Pretty Woman" with strawberries and champagne, almost on tap over the next couple of days. The next day we enjoyed a BBQ lunch with bruschetta, beer next to lake, delicious home made pizza and more prosecco and straw's.
The picturesque Lake (Bodensee).
Ice Cream in Geienhofen.
A great spot under the trees.
While I was living the good life, Marc was on a flight to Frankfurt, looking forward to do the same. On the 24th he took a train from Frankfurt to Stuttgart where we collected him. We picked up Omi and had a lovely German lunch. Back at Omi's flat we had coffee and yummy strawberry, chocolate cake. I know....it seems that, eating was our favourite pass time in Germany. It was!!! Well, that and going into supermarkets and just looking at all the amazing food stuffs that I only dream of here in Bangalore.
Handy man Hans arrived at Omi's flat, ready to fix any problem she may have. It's a good thing Omi still has her wits about her otherwise she might have got a fright when she opened the door.
Lunch at a German restaurant. Ein Schnitzel und ein Randler (beer shandy) bitte?
Friday we went through to Zurich (60km from where Marc's parent's live). Marc and Hans had a meeting while Nola and I just wondered through the streets. I started feeling a little flu'e on Thursday and didn't feel great but I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to cross Zürich of my list. Once again just window shopping down Bahnhofstrasse, this time not because it was a public holiday but just because Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Tiffany and Co and the likes are not really my scene. Ok, Ok...I wish it was my scene. Never the less it's always good to see how the other half lives. Even more fascinating..walk, on gobble stone streets in their high heels. Also, if you like wearing a suit boys...Zurich is the place to be!
Walking the streets of Zurich.
We drove through the beautiful Swizz country side, stopped off on the hill top for some refreshments before heading back to Hemmenhofen.
By Friday it sounded like my voices was giving up the ghost and when I woke up on Saturday morning it had. For the next 4 days you could say "I ran out of talk time" and for those of you that know me..."I bet you can't imagine that"!!
We still made the best of our holiday. A walk through Stein am Rhein, a Fest with a couple of brass bands.
Stein Am Rein - Positioned at the point where the Untersee arm of the Bodensee narrows into the Rhine 20km east of Schaffhausen, little STEIN-AM-RHEIN is an almost perfectly preserved medieval village, famed throughout Switzerland for the intricacy of the sixteenth-century frescoes which adorn an array of houses in the village.
Prost!
a 50 piece brass band...a real cacophony but yet quite catchy (for some)!
Marc took the rubber dingy for a test paddle on the lake. Unfortunately I didn't go with as I didn't want to end up with pneumonia. Next time...
More beer under the tree
Best home made pizza we've ever tasted (bacon, salami, olives, rosemary, onions, garlic, cheese, sun dried tomatoes)! Yum!!
We took a drive out to a "Wild West" village where they have a breeding programme for American Bison. Marc couldn't resist the totem pole's temptation to pose as "Big chief standing bull"!
On Wednesday we drove to Frankfurt, stopped off at a brewery for a taste of the local Bavarian brew before heading to Bernd and Marianne's.
The Mass of beer was almost bigger than Nola!
"How nice is this"?
Flori, sprecht hund!! This dog must be the cleverest I've ever seen. She led the way on our forest walks and even barks when Bernd asks her "how does a dog speak" amongs other doggy tricks!
Hans and Bernd schprechen sie Deutsch! Probably discussing their hunting tactics, or was it their investment tactics.
Thursday morning Nola, Marianne, Me, Marc and Hans drove through to Frankfurt. I guess this was mostly for my benefit as it is another city I can now cross of the list. And it was worth it...history, great shops - again mostly window shopping:-(, people watching, great fashion, Döner Kebab, and Haagen-Dazs ice cream.
Me, Marianne and Nola
Hans giving the back ground on his old stomping grounds.
Haagen-Dazs; I'd have to say "the best ice cream I've ever eaten"!
I loved this street...
We had dinner and later Hans and Bernd went off to sit in the Hochstand (a raised hide) as Bernd has hunting rights in his forest. Marc in turn chose to just observe the forest wild life. The ladies enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine and liqueur while I gave Marianne a 1:1 lesson on her new handy.
The Stipproweit's, Beuthe's and me
At 4:15 on Friday morning it was raise and shine....London here we come!
Breakfast (O, how I miss those breakfasts), farewell to Nola and Marianne and off we went in the speed wagon to Frankfurt airport. We said our last goodbyes to Hans and Bernd and bid Germany "aufs Wiedersehn" until next time. "Hope to see you soon"!
Thanks again Hans, Nola, Bernd and Marianne for everything!
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