The Kieler Woche is about the biggest party the North of Germany sees all year. It's fairly huge and runs from Friday to Sunday week.
We checked in yesterday, the final Sunday, to be there to catch the fireworks.
A bit of bummer on that point .. around 11pm we sat down for the fireworks with about 500 other people only to discover they were being launched from *behind* a new apartment building that wasn't there last year. A little disappointing.. so we moved.. along with the herd!
Anyway, a little earlier we wandered through the streets of Kiel checking out the sites, stalls and markets. Impressive turn out really. Loads of people although they tell me that by comparison it was hardly as packed as it really gets.
We tried the bratwürst - you know, a ten inch sausage served in a 3 inch bun! I didn't understand this until I had one.. it makes sense, really. The sausage is so good you want to fill up on that and the bread is kind of like an edible napkin.
Earlier still when we arrived in Kiel we went to visit Katrina.. we being Sarah, Elza and me! Cooked pizza and washed it down with a few choice drinks .. the choice though wasn't that good although the cheap sparkling wine, dash of orange juice and a splash of lemon vodka did taste pretty good! Even so, I decided to stick to the Becks!
Check out the photos.. I'm about to upload them now.
Oh.. it's Monday and already ten past five. Where has the day gone?
We've had breakfast.. and coffee!
Very much enjoying a well earned holiday. Sounds like I may have a job as a haüs meister - caretaker - for the local child care network ( 4 houses ) and / or a gig at a local school doing a couple hours garden care each morning. Either way, the requests are starting to line up for the home handyman to make a start .. painting doors, fixing window sills, replacing shower screens and more.. funny to be in demand.
Will c. Taking the hint though and making the most of doing the holiday thing. The plans are starting to come together for going to England and Ireland. Will visit Denmark in the next week or two and we still have a little island that sounds appealing - no cars, lovely beach, good weather and getting in before the German holidays start at the end of July.
Going well. Enjoy the photos .. haven't looked at them yet.. hopefully I snapped a few good ones. :)
Monday, June 29, 2009
We were up early this morning .. well, relatively!
It's about half twelve now and we're about to go. The weather this morning was beautiful with clear blue skies but in the last half hour it's completely clouded over. We're expecting rain storms from about 2pm this afternoon. :( We'll see.
Time seems to fly. Maybe I'm just more aware of it.
..
..
La la
..
..
So we went to Schleswig and saw the castle there. It was built sometime in 1702 I think although the property was formed around 1106. Quite old. They had a few exhibitions of portrait paintings, treasure chests, knights armour and more.
Interesting. I have a few photos I will upload to an album on facebook.
Anyway, it only rained a little in the afternoon - during the 10 minutes we decided to sit for coffee and cake! Worked out nicely though. Sat inside for a few minutes in the cafè and then it cleared up. :)
Well, it's Monday the 29th now so I oughta get on with writing what we did last night... Kieler Woche! Yah!!
It's about half twelve now and we're about to go. The weather this morning was beautiful with clear blue skies but in the last half hour it's completely clouded over. We're expecting rain storms from about 2pm this afternoon. :( We'll see.
Time seems to fly. Maybe I'm just more aware of it.
..
..
La la
..
..
So we went to Schleswig and saw the castle there. It was built sometime in 1702 I think although the property was formed around 1106. Quite old. They had a few exhibitions of portrait paintings, treasure chests, knights armour and more.
Interesting. I have a few photos I will upload to an album on facebook.
Anyway, it only rained a little in the afternoon - during the 10 minutes we decided to sit for coffee and cake! Worked out nicely though. Sat inside for a few minutes in the cafè and then it cleared up. :)
Well, it's Monday the 29th now so I oughta get on with writing what we did last night... Kieler Woche! Yah!!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thursday Already!
Well it's thursday and the week has flown by...
Ooops! Now it's Wednesday of NEXT WEEK!
Much to update. I've made notes so it oughta be fairly straightforward. Finding time to write, party, travel and live and cook and learn and speak is quite a management activity.
Enjoying Muchly.
Ooops! Now it's Wednesday of NEXT WEEK!
Much to update. I've made notes so it oughta be fairly straightforward. Finding time to write, party, travel and live and cook and learn and speak is quite a management activity.
Enjoying Muchly.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Going Home
Plan now to get from Kleve to Rendsburg.
Prob take the train although a car share is possible.
A car share might cost $30EUR, maybe $60 for that trip.
A comfy train trip, first class.. now that´s worth using the 1st class ticket for. Whip out the EURail pass and with all the bravado you can muster look the conductor in the eye as you show him your ticket. It looks genuine (it is!) and totally different from every other ticket he checks hundreds of each day. It´s not worth his while finding out what it is, so long as he believes it is legitimate and he can acknowledge it.
All things being equal he smiles and moves on.
Kinda cheeky although train travel here is so expensive that a little fudge here and there makes a '5 day travel in 2 month ticket' such good value.
Then again, realize that this one trip put me on 3 trains with 3 conductors that checked my ticket three times. I was stamped once in 6 train rides and the conductor still wasn't sure what the ticket was!
However, that meant that good ol´ DeutschBahn "Doitch A Bahn" didn´t really give away much .. with so few international travellers (compared to locals) it means that I`m either sitting in a first class carriage or crouched somewhere between the second class carriages.
It´s kinda of all or nothing.
A DB reservation can cost 5-30 euro for the first class seat - that's over and above the ticket price - which means that it does get quite expensive.
There are few discounts available for locals. City travel is much like Melbourne, Sydney, Brissy or Perth. Travelling through Berlin is quite cheep; its a big city and travel within it encompasses every living need. I get the feeling the German government doesn't really want it's residents to move about too much; perhaps a hang-over from a bygone era?
Once this ticket expires I think I´ll ask the guy at the reserviat desk for an global pass ticket. Then again, the next phase is cheep plane flights. I'm going to fly to England for about 23EUR, on to Dublin for about 5EUR and who knows wherever else!
Thinking I will stay six months at least. My original plan from a few years ago put me in Europe for 2 - 3 years on first inspection and I could easily stay that long. I suppose that means tending to the survival fund with a little extra for expense back home.. car storage, bub, fines, registrations, and whatever else.
It's good here.. I like it.
Prob take the train although a car share is possible.
A car share might cost $30EUR, maybe $60 for that trip.
A comfy train trip, first class.. now that´s worth using the 1st class ticket for. Whip out the EURail pass and with all the bravado you can muster look the conductor in the eye as you show him your ticket. It looks genuine (it is!) and totally different from every other ticket he checks hundreds of each day. It´s not worth his while finding out what it is, so long as he believes it is legitimate and he can acknowledge it.
All things being equal he smiles and moves on.
Kinda cheeky although train travel here is so expensive that a little fudge here and there makes a '5 day travel in 2 month ticket' such good value.
Then again, realize that this one trip put me on 3 trains with 3 conductors that checked my ticket three times. I was stamped once in 6 train rides and the conductor still wasn't sure what the ticket was!
However, that meant that good ol´ DeutschBahn "Doitch A Bahn" didn´t really give away much .. with so few international travellers (compared to locals) it means that I`m either sitting in a first class carriage or crouched somewhere between the second class carriages.
It´s kinda of all or nothing.
A DB reservation can cost 5-30 euro for the first class seat - that's over and above the ticket price - which means that it does get quite expensive.
There are few discounts available for locals. City travel is much like Melbourne, Sydney, Brissy or Perth. Travelling through Berlin is quite cheep; its a big city and travel within it encompasses every living need. I get the feeling the German government doesn't really want it's residents to move about too much; perhaps a hang-over from a bygone era?
Once this ticket expires I think I´ll ask the guy at the reserviat desk for an global pass ticket. Then again, the next phase is cheep plane flights. I'm going to fly to England for about 23EUR, on to Dublin for about 5EUR and who knows wherever else!
Thinking I will stay six months at least. My original plan from a few years ago put me in Europe for 2 - 3 years on first inspection and I could easily stay that long. I suppose that means tending to the survival fund with a little extra for expense back home.. car storage, bub, fines, registrations, and whatever else.
It's good here.. I like it.
Sontag 21 Juni 2009 Kleve
We´re in Kleve right now. Came back late yesterday afternoon from the party in Rotterdam. It´s about a 2 hour drive.
Photos on facebook: street signposts and autobahn shots. Intercity express train shots.. Regional Express. Trucks. Cars. Buildings. People. Places. Rotterdam on the street. A coffee in Rotterdam. Doner Kebabs. McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, fresh herring gutted and filleted by a street vendor. Beer and lots of it. We make good pace through some interesting countryside and new language territories.
Sometimes English is simply not an option. However, when you demonstrate an attempt in German the response is reciprocated often with far better english than you could otherwise muster German expression.
Much work to do with several series photos.. The Wanderer At Large! Through my eyes and the lense of the camera the actors change though the story is the same. Wonderful time.
Complete immersion. German, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Australian. And not much English! To live here is to learn to read the signs, which are all NOT in English, and are in German or Dutch. It´s a funny realisation to be with Germans and go to Holland where most of them have no idea what the signs mean either:
They drove half an hour. I flew 20 hours, trained for 9 hours then a further 4 hours, flew for an hour on Ryan Air in a cramped position for a 6´ boy.
A reasonable flight fare at $74EUR although the three others flew return for 22eaEUR all inclusive for booking one week earlier. Two days earlier it would have cost about 30EUR. 4 - 7 days gives the best option at the lowest cost. Jump in early. Plan a little.
EURail pass not worth using for this trip. Fly here to Düsseldorf for $74 and Maurice picked us up from Wheeze Airport. We drove to his place in Kleve. Met Caroline again. Fredrika arrived Saturday midday. Good to talk again. Pack up, drive to local supermarkt for supplies including beer and breakfast. Früstük. (breakfast) Check spelling.
Food: Exquisite
Sliced salami platters, blocks of cheese 500g for $2EUR and the good stuff for $4 to $7. So cheep! Sliced Gouda predominant. Bread, Toast, spices, Currywürtz, Mustard, Creamed balsamic vinegar, juice, sparkling water, brüten, salat.. and more! WOW!
Some audio recordings and movies taken as well. Production work involves catalog photos. Some 300 new photos since Saturday morning. Est´s nur early Sontag abend.
13:18 21 July 2009
Photos on facebook: street signposts and autobahn shots. Intercity express train shots.. Regional Express. Trucks. Cars. Buildings. People. Places. Rotterdam on the street. A coffee in Rotterdam. Doner Kebabs. McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, fresh herring gutted and filleted by a street vendor. Beer and lots of it. We make good pace through some interesting countryside and new language territories.
Sometimes English is simply not an option. However, when you demonstrate an attempt in German the response is reciprocated often with far better english than you could otherwise muster German expression.
Much work to do with several series photos.. The Wanderer At Large! Through my eyes and the lense of the camera the actors change though the story is the same. Wonderful time.
Complete immersion. German, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Australian. And not much English! To live here is to learn to read the signs, which are all NOT in English, and are in German or Dutch. It´s a funny realisation to be with Germans and go to Holland where most of them have no idea what the signs mean either:
They drove half an hour. I flew 20 hours, trained for 9 hours then a further 4 hours, flew for an hour on Ryan Air in a cramped position for a 6´ boy.
A reasonable flight fare at $74EUR although the three others flew return for 22eaEUR all inclusive for booking one week earlier. Two days earlier it would have cost about 30EUR. 4 - 7 days gives the best option at the lowest cost. Jump in early. Plan a little.
EURail pass not worth using for this trip. Fly here to Düsseldorf for $74 and Maurice picked us up from Wheeze Airport. We drove to his place in Kleve. Met Caroline again. Fredrika arrived Saturday midday. Good to talk again. Pack up, drive to local supermarkt for supplies including beer and breakfast. Früstük. (breakfast) Check spelling.
Food: Exquisite
Sliced salami platters, blocks of cheese 500g for $2EUR and the good stuff for $4 to $7. So cheep! Sliced Gouda predominant. Bread, Toast, spices, Currywürtz, Mustard, Creamed balsamic vinegar, juice, sparkling water, brüten, salat.. and more! WOW!
Some audio recordings and movies taken as well. Production work involves catalog photos. Some 300 new photos since Saturday morning. Est´s nur early Sontag abend.
13:18 21 July 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
From 4:34pm to 21:50pm 15/6/09 Party, Pizza and a Place to soak up Berlin
Well, today there is much to say.
We have just come back from the local Trattoria.. a georgeous italian resturant with wood fired pizza.
They served a bowl filled with thick sliced bread similar to cibatta. Two bottles of olive oil, a chillie oil and a bottle of quality balsamic made for the perfekt dipping sauce.
Then came the pizza.
These things are massive. We each had a pizza about the size of a family pizza at home.. served thin crust with wafer thin bacon like procciuto. A smattering of olives, cheese - käse, tomaten plus some spicy things to make it a messicano .. very yummy - zehr lecker!
I ate about 2/3rds before learning how to ask for a doggie bag. Quite funny though the maitré di - kellner - understood me immediately.
We´re back at Mo´s place now.. max, flauschie, mo and me.. having a little night cap. I think it will be an early night for me.
I have to collect my computer and bag of clothes. The nuisance of having a bag of stuff that is precious is annoying.. I now have to travel 40 minutes each way to go back to Max´s and retrive my stuff.
Taking everything with you is so much easier. If you have too much then simply pack less next time.
So I learn more with each trip. That´s why a few shorter trips are ideal preparation for a longer travelling adventure. It´s nice to have a suitcase full of bits and pieces however its better to be unencumbered while exploring a new city.
Working out the right size bag to carry just the things you need, which may be 24, 48 or 72 hours or longer is tricky. Carrying few clothes presents interesting challenges in staying fresh and clean though it can be done.
A few minutes of english tv before the program swings back to the full time german. Sometimes in the first few weeks it can become a bit intense and it's good to get a balance with a little aussie programming.
I also learnt a great streaming website that has many shows broadcast in australia.
Sarah and I've swapped a few messages. At every turn things just keep getting better. She has the hurricane festival from Thursday to Sunday. Which is why I'm staying away longer this time.
Study, travel, investment, business and more fun in the sun are definitely on the agenda. Manz options.
Well, here's hopefully for an early night. These stupid keyboards, the damn z and the y are interposed on this key layout. Slows you down considerably to swap it.
Alternativelz, I tzpe the waz that Iäm accustomed and then do a search replace later. This works far more effectivelz although it also requires that iäm consistent in mz coding. Easz enough to spot and simplz cut and filter a file like this one into the two sections that comprise the alternate forms.
Of particular note it does reduce the number of hanging characters as the z is tzped more often than the y.
good fun .. mach späs.. however itäs spelt.
Either to Dresden tomorrow morning or one more day in Berlin then time to explore a little.
Cheers!
We have just come back from the local Trattoria.. a georgeous italian resturant with wood fired pizza.
They served a bowl filled with thick sliced bread similar to cibatta. Two bottles of olive oil, a chillie oil and a bottle of quality balsamic made for the perfekt dipping sauce.
Then came the pizza.
These things are massive. We each had a pizza about the size of a family pizza at home.. served thin crust with wafer thin bacon like procciuto. A smattering of olives, cheese - käse, tomaten plus some spicy things to make it a messicano .. very yummy - zehr lecker!
I ate about 2/3rds before learning how to ask for a doggie bag. Quite funny though the maitré di - kellner - understood me immediately.
We´re back at Mo´s place now.. max, flauschie, mo and me.. having a little night cap. I think it will be an early night for me.
I have to collect my computer and bag of clothes. The nuisance of having a bag of stuff that is precious is annoying.. I now have to travel 40 minutes each way to go back to Max´s and retrive my stuff.
Taking everything with you is so much easier. If you have too much then simply pack less next time.
So I learn more with each trip. That´s why a few shorter trips are ideal preparation for a longer travelling adventure. It´s nice to have a suitcase full of bits and pieces however its better to be unencumbered while exploring a new city.
Working out the right size bag to carry just the things you need, which may be 24, 48 or 72 hours or longer is tricky. Carrying few clothes presents interesting challenges in staying fresh and clean though it can be done.
A few minutes of english tv before the program swings back to the full time german. Sometimes in the first few weeks it can become a bit intense and it's good to get a balance with a little aussie programming.
I also learnt a great streaming website that has many shows broadcast in australia.
Sarah and I've swapped a few messages. At every turn things just keep getting better. She has the hurricane festival from Thursday to Sunday. Which is why I'm staying away longer this time.
Study, travel, investment, business and more fun in the sun are definitely on the agenda. Manz options.
Well, here's hopefully for an early night. These stupid keyboards, the damn z and the y are interposed on this key layout. Slows you down considerably to swap it.
Alternativelz, I tzpe the waz that Iäm accustomed and then do a search replace later. This works far more effectivelz although it also requires that iäm consistent in mz coding. Easz enough to spot and simplz cut and filter a file like this one into the two sections that comprise the alternate forms.
Of particular note it does reduce the number of hanging characters as the z is tzped more often than the y.
good fun .. mach späs.. however itäs spelt.
Either to Dresden tomorrow morning or one more day in Berlin then time to explore a little.
Cheers!
Note on the road..
At the moment we´re here in Berlin, about 6 stops south west of the hauptbahnhof (hbf) eating gerkins with feuriger Chilli.
A slow and relaxed day it´s near to half four in the afternoon and we´ve hardly thought about doing much. A trip to the electronics store plus a vist to a photo shop and a knife gallery.. well I am in need of a decent cooks knife, especially as they often ask me to cook.
Its fabulous.
planned to go to Dresden. will be there tuesday and wednesday. late thursday i go to kleve and arrive around 8.30 in the morning. we´ll jump in the car at Dusseldorf cause a friend is picking us up. Max, Flauschie and Mo are flzing. Their tickets cost about 22 euro for there and back. Trzing to book onlz four dazs in advance the ticket price would be over 90 euro, inclusive of all charges.
so i´m taking the deutschbahn, DB. The trip costs about $31 for a one waz although the first class ticket would cost about 179. Not sure whether to use the eurail ticket.. 3 or 4 journeys left or pay and sit in 2nd class. On the overnighter that means a chair that reclines, as in an airplane. A sleeper car for 49 euro accounts for a train trip and a good night sleep in a hostel so it´s prettz good.
just about to head out from our haunt.
Its owner is home soon from work so needs his space back.
Going exploring berlin...
A slow and relaxed day it´s near to half four in the afternoon and we´ve hardly thought about doing much. A trip to the electronics store plus a vist to a photo shop and a knife gallery.. well I am in need of a decent cooks knife, especially as they often ask me to cook.
Its fabulous.
planned to go to Dresden. will be there tuesday and wednesday. late thursday i go to kleve and arrive around 8.30 in the morning. we´ll jump in the car at Dusseldorf cause a friend is picking us up. Max, Flauschie and Mo are flzing. Their tickets cost about 22 euro for there and back. Trzing to book onlz four dazs in advance the ticket price would be over 90 euro, inclusive of all charges.
so i´m taking the deutschbahn, DB. The trip costs about $31 for a one waz although the first class ticket would cost about 179. Not sure whether to use the eurail ticket.. 3 or 4 journeys left or pay and sit in 2nd class. On the overnighter that means a chair that reclines, as in an airplane. A sleeper car for 49 euro accounts for a train trip and a good night sleep in a hostel so it´s prettz good.
just about to head out from our haunt.
Its owner is home soon from work so needs his space back.
Going exploring berlin...
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Getting to the Festival In Kleve
The day began as usual; shower, dress, breakfast and coffee.
Sarah starts work at eleven. Plenty of time to walk me to the station first.
I'm taking the 10.35 ICE to Kleve. The InterCityExpress will be three trains today and take aboout 7 hours to arrive at my destination.
First leg: Rendsburg to Hamburg.
Nächste stop: Dusseldorf
Final leg: Kleve.
The first leg takes a little over an hour. I have a first class ticket and the accommodations are well appointed.
The second leg isn't quite so comfortable. After joining the train at Hamburg I realise that first class is fully booked - that's the chance you take not paying a booking fee, which can be up to 30 euro!
The train is packed. An empty booth looks inviting though the reservation cards spell an ominous sign. I take a seat. Alone.
Several stations pass without incident. I feel the urge to squirm a little when strange faces stop to inspect the reservation card. Puzzled looks cross their faces and then they move on. I relax a little. Perhaps they won't make the train..
My worst fears are realised when a family boards and it becomes apparent they hold the reservation. "Don't worry" they assure me.. "we have 5 seats so maybe you will be lucky.. stay, stay.. it's okay".
An elderly couple wander past.. then return. Apparently they have a reservation. I'm looking nervous and the old geyser feigns confidence.. "Yes, I think this is my seat.. sorry son".
Not speaking the language presents some challenges. I couldn't very well demand to see his reservation ticket, if indeed he had one, but it seems at the very least the polite thing to let the old man relax in the comfy chair and find a seat myself.. er.. elsewhere.
You know, the 4.40pm express Spencer Street to South Geelong is usually packed. About the best spot is in the carriage doorway. It's not so bad; out of the way of the passing foot traffic and the inter-carriage doorway. And it's only an hour or so..
Well that's the train to South Geelong. This bloody thing goes Hamburg to Dusseldorf and that takes over four hours. Four long, restless, sleep-deprived hours. Damn! Why didn't I make a reservation?
Well, changing trains at Dusseldorf I find the right platform, not a moment too soon. Ahh.. the lap of luxury once more. Most of these ICE trains have onboard wireless internet and poweroutlets to run the laptop. Great for getting work done.. or watching a movie. :)
As the train rolls along I notice the scrolling display at the end of the carriage. After telling me die nächste Station ist blah, it informs me that we are silently flying along at 250 KMH. That's 250 Ka, Em, Ha.. 250 clicks! So smooth.
Kleve is a small station. It has a single platform. Pretty easy to find my way out.. for a change!
I call Max, my mate from Brisbane - the guy from Berlin - and he's just finishing a coffee, be there shortly.
Some 15 minutes later a little red car pulls up. Practicing his Aussie accent he manages a pretty good 'Howz it goin' mate?' He's got the aussie thing down pat. Stepping out of the car he hands me an empty beer bottle, says cheers and helps throw my stuff in the boot.
A moment or three later he realises, 'Oh, that's one's empty.. here's a freshie' and grabs another himself. 'Here's cheers! Welcome to Germany'
I kind of look around to see who's watching. It feels a little wrong to be standing on the street, swigging a genuine Becks beer and no one bats an eye. Normal. Huh.
Okay.. the trip into town gets even more peculiar. We're going into the Sparkasse (bank) with a beer in hand! Walking down the street we pass many people. No one seems to notice we're drinking in public.
Okay, so this is .. a .. little different.
Then the moment it all made sense.
Finishing our beers, we head for the petrol station. Max needs smokes, a drink and a magazine for Freeda - our driver.
When he said drink and service station I thought Coke, apple juice maybe ginger beer. But nope, there it is, right there on the shelf. Good God! It's Beer!
Grabbing a few ice cold bottles, just the local stuff mind you, we head back to the car. I kinda get the feeling i'm going to like this place.
Well,that's how I got to Kleve and about all I remember! haha.. not really.. although it'd make a good story, don't you think.
Tune in next time for more and get the low down on just what happened.. or what I *can* remember anyway. ;)
Thought for the moment: Inside is so wonderful especially when the summer outside is raining and about 14 degrees! Looking forward to Saturday and Sunday.. 25 to 30 degrees.
Check back soon and I'll post a first impression article. What I've seen of Germany so far is lovely. Absolutely lovely. I'll write about it.
Bis Bald
Tschüss
Auf Widersehen
Ciao
Cya
L8r
Bye
Sarah starts work at eleven. Plenty of time to walk me to the station first.
I'm taking the 10.35 ICE to Kleve. The InterCityExpress will be three trains today and take aboout 7 hours to arrive at my destination.
First leg: Rendsburg to Hamburg.
Nächste stop: Dusseldorf
Final leg: Kleve.
The first leg takes a little over an hour. I have a first class ticket and the accommodations are well appointed.
The second leg isn't quite so comfortable. After joining the train at Hamburg I realise that first class is fully booked - that's the chance you take not paying a booking fee, which can be up to 30 euro!
The train is packed. An empty booth looks inviting though the reservation cards spell an ominous sign. I take a seat. Alone.
Several stations pass without incident. I feel the urge to squirm a little when strange faces stop to inspect the reservation card. Puzzled looks cross their faces and then they move on. I relax a little. Perhaps they won't make the train..
My worst fears are realised when a family boards and it becomes apparent they hold the reservation. "Don't worry" they assure me.. "we have 5 seats so maybe you will be lucky.. stay, stay.. it's okay".
An elderly couple wander past.. then return. Apparently they have a reservation. I'm looking nervous and the old geyser feigns confidence.. "Yes, I think this is my seat.. sorry son".
Not speaking the language presents some challenges. I couldn't very well demand to see his reservation ticket, if indeed he had one, but it seems at the very least the polite thing to let the old man relax in the comfy chair and find a seat myself.. er.. elsewhere.
You know, the 4.40pm express Spencer Street to South Geelong is usually packed. About the best spot is in the carriage doorway. It's not so bad; out of the way of the passing foot traffic and the inter-carriage doorway. And it's only an hour or so..
Well that's the train to South Geelong. This bloody thing goes Hamburg to Dusseldorf and that takes over four hours. Four long, restless, sleep-deprived hours. Damn! Why didn't I make a reservation?
Well, changing trains at Dusseldorf I find the right platform, not a moment too soon. Ahh.. the lap of luxury once more. Most of these ICE trains have onboard wireless internet and poweroutlets to run the laptop. Great for getting work done.. or watching a movie. :)
As the train rolls along I notice the scrolling display at the end of the carriage. After telling me die nächste Station ist blah, it informs me that we are silently flying along at 250 KMH. That's 250 Ka, Em, Ha.. 250 clicks! So smooth.
Kleve is a small station. It has a single platform. Pretty easy to find my way out.. for a change!
I call Max, my mate from Brisbane - the guy from Berlin - and he's just finishing a coffee, be there shortly.
Some 15 minutes later a little red car pulls up. Practicing his Aussie accent he manages a pretty good 'Howz it goin' mate?' He's got the aussie thing down pat. Stepping out of the car he hands me an empty beer bottle, says cheers and helps throw my stuff in the boot.
A moment or three later he realises, 'Oh, that's one's empty.. here's a freshie' and grabs another himself. 'Here's cheers! Welcome to Germany'
I kind of look around to see who's watching. It feels a little wrong to be standing on the street, swigging a genuine Becks beer and no one bats an eye. Normal. Huh.
Okay.. the trip into town gets even more peculiar. We're going into the Sparkasse (bank) with a beer in hand! Walking down the street we pass many people. No one seems to notice we're drinking in public.
Okay, so this is .. a .. little different.
Then the moment it all made sense.
Finishing our beers, we head for the petrol station. Max needs smokes, a drink and a magazine for Freeda - our driver.
When he said drink and service station I thought Coke, apple juice maybe ginger beer. But nope, there it is, right there on the shelf. Good God! It's Beer!
Grabbing a few ice cold bottles, just the local stuff mind you, we head back to the car. I kinda get the feeling i'm going to like this place.
Well,that's how I got to Kleve and about all I remember! haha.. not really.. although it'd make a good story, don't you think.
Tune in next time for more and get the low down on just what happened.. or what I *can* remember anyway. ;)
Thought for the moment: Inside is so wonderful especially when the summer outside is raining and about 14 degrees! Looking forward to Saturday and Sunday.. 25 to 30 degrees.
Check back soon and I'll post a first impression article. What I've seen of Germany so far is lovely. Absolutely lovely. I'll write about it.
Bis Bald
Tschüss
Auf Widersehen
Ciao
Cya
L8r
Bye
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