After a late breakfast we took our last walk to a train station, for this summer.
It is always kind of bittersweet, the last train ride, or the last time in a café.
We are on our way from München to Düsseldorf, where Ralph and Angelika will be waiting for us. We have two and a half days to spend with them at their home in Neuss, before flying to Oslo and home.
Neuss is a suburb of Düsseldorf, just across the Rhine River, maybe ten minutes from the train station and fifteen from the airport. It is pronounced “Noyz” not “Newss."
We are on an ICE train for the next six hours, doing up to 300 km/h.
We have our lunch: sandwiches, pretzel, cookies, chips, wine and water, so we are settled in for the long haul. The tickets cost about €85 each, with reserved seats (Always a good idea on the main city routes. Today, the car is packed). We are in car 33, second class, three cars in front of the dining car and first class.
BUT… when we switched trains after the first three hours, there was track trouble, and so the train was over full, and we had to stand even though we (and most others) had seats reserved.
At least we got to stand by an open window, which made it fun.
So we hung out and watched the world go by for about 45 minutes, until they kicked all of us “standers” off and told us to catch the next train along.
So we did, and ended up on a nearly empty, high speed direct. All in all, we came in one hour fifteen later than planned.
Ralph and Angelika are disgusted by the recent train service, and how it is falling apart.
The best part of the train trip today was the forty-five minute stretch between Mainz and Koblenz, along the Rhine River. We stayed in this area, in the town of Bacharach, back in 2011. It was fun to see the castles, and watch the long, low boats cruise slowly by.
It reminded me of what a great time we had here, walking along the river, taking the boat to see the castles, and drinking the good, dry Reisling wines.
I wanted to jump the train and stay a while, but our friends are waiting, and our plane leaves in a few days.
We had just enough time to wash up, and then it was time for dinner: a BBQ in their back yard.
Three friends came over, Ludwig and his wife. He teaches at Ralph's school, and she is a piano teacher. The other guest was Gertrude who teaches English and German at a school nearby, and was friends with Angelika at the University.
Two of their daughters are here as well, Sarah, the oldest at 29, is a lawyer and lives in Berlin. Judith is one of the twins. The other twin, Eva, may show up Monday.
Judith made us all a "Hugo" which is the popular drink of the young people in Europe this summer. I liked it, Gail didn't, but I will bring it back to California and you can decide for yourself.
We had a nice time visiting in the back yard, until it grew chilly and we moved inside. It was midnight before we went to bed.