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