Friday, August 1--Taking the Train to Vienna

We had a good breakfast at the NH buffet and got a taxi to the station.  We knew we had a short connection in Hanover, but wanted to get into Vienna a little earlier in the evening.  So we boarded the train in good cheer and got ourselves a "sitting room" all to ourselves.  There were six seats so we could spread our stuff out and a door that closed.  More privacy, air conditioning......it was good.  We felt it was time we took advantage of our first class Eur-rail pass. 

But luck was not on our side.  We got into Hanover 8 minutes late.  The smiling conductor told us they would hold our connecting train, but he was a liar.  We got off the train, found that we had to downstairs, down the hall, upstairs again and catch the train to Wurzberg.  No elevator or moving stairs. So we did the run.  Just to find that the train was pulling out.  Arrrgghhh!

We went back downstairs wondering what in the heck we were going to do. We found our way to an information booth and the nice man working there informed us he didn't speak English.  But with a little sign language and he figured out what we were trying to do, and gave us a new schedule. We had two, hour-long layovers (Hanover and Wurzburg) and would arrive in Vienna at 11.  Arrggghhh again! 

The German people we tried to talk to were supremely UNhelpful.  For instance, when we got off the train in Wurzberg there were more stairs.  My knee was already aching from carrying my suitcase up and down stairs in Hanover.  I asked an official on the platform if there was a lift.  He said "no lift" and pointed to the stairs.  I said (and mimed)  "how do people in wheelchairs ride the train?" and he said "no lift" and walked away.  Grrrrr!  At any rate, we did take advantage of the first class ticket and had comfortable seats the whole way.

Watching a movie

Selfie in our personal section

Stabbing myself with a fork in frustration and boredom.  No harm was done in to the fork in filming.

Took this picture in Wurzburg while walking to pay 1 Euro to use the bathroom.  It was only .50 in Brugges

The only reasonable place to eat in Wurzburg was McDonalds.....the only time we stooped so low!  You can see Jeff's excitement ( nothing like a cheeseburger Royale, thought I might run into Samuel L. Jackson)

Withholding judgment in Nuremburg

Lovely sunset over Germany from the train window.

Taking the train for 10 hours gave me time to think about the trip so far.  We are about half-way done with our travels.  It is really going fast, as every day is a new adventure:  So, my thoughts so far....

First, traveling is hard work!  We are having a wonderful time seeing amazing sights, but the actual carrying, packing, and walking around is really tiring.  The great thing is that both Jeff and I are feeling stronger each day.  We are walking further with more stamina and energy.  Our schedule is pretty well set.  We get up about 8 and breakfast.  Then spend time in the hotel getting organized and writing and then head out for whatever is on the agenda that day.  We come home exhausted at about 3-5 pm, take at least an hour nap and a shower, do our laundry and go out again for dinner and more wandering around.  We come home at around 11, go to bed at 12 or 1 am and start over again the next day.  On travel days, we pack up the night before and go to bed earlier and get up earlier. 

I am loving the way we are traveling.  We have made a pact that we will avoid museums.  In fact, we have lots of pictures of museums we didn't go to.  Walking slowly around a museum is more exhausting than walking briskly outside.  We like to walk around in parks and gardens.  We like to see and go into cathedrals.  We like to see and enjoy fountains, old buildings and historic sights.  We love to eat new and different food and strike up conversations with other diners and wait staff.  We like to get the feel of a town.....each one is different.  It is a challenge to find out what to see and figure out how to get there, but a fun and exciting challenge.

We have both been careful to take care of each other and our health and so far, we have been feeling really great.  It is hard to sit still on the train or in a plane for long periods, but we know we will be walking around when we arrive.  Jeff is a great companion.  He is adaptable, friendly and easygoing.  So much fun!

The people we have met, have been the best thing about the trip.  With only a few exceptions, everyone has been friendly and helpful.  Sometimes embarrassingly so.  For instance, tonight we were looking for a place to eat.  We were crossing the street with a young woman who was carrying a heavy box and had a brace on her knee.  We offered to help her, but she refused.  As we reached the other side, I asked if there was a good place to eat around here.  She stopped, put down the box and told us of a place nearby.  I asked if she knew if it was open on Sunday, she whipped out her cell phone, looked it up, and found it was closed. We talked for a couple of minutes, then, still refusing our help, she picked up her box and we said our goodbyes.  We found that over and over again, people who were willing to help us, showing the better part of humanity. 

One other thing....it is a real gift to be able to travel this way at this time in our lives.  We are meeting other travelers, but most of them are young.  A surprising number of them have young children also.  It is hard enough for us to get around with just the two of us.  I can't imagine doing the same with little kids.  In Amsterdam and London we saw lots of families traveling together.  There are lots of Asians, mostly as part of tour groups.  There are a few Muslim women in full garb and many in headscarves. In England there were lots of teens in tour groups.  We met a group of young men in Bristol that were from North Carolina.  We saw many young couples, or groups of 3 or 4 college age kids.  We've met people from Spain, Scandinavia, Kent in England, Seattle, Washington DC, Singapore, China, Japan, and all over Europe. It's been an amazing journey so far.

Jeff here - I am in full agreement with what Kat just said.  Travel is an education, sans the classrooms, books and midterms.  We learn about history, struggle, ideas, visions, humor, art, architecture, love, hate, joy, sadness, kindness, rudeness, the human condition and self.  Self meaning how to take care of oneself and each other in a foreign environment, when to be strong, when to say enough or to just take a break.  This has been a truly wonderful experience, I am truly blessed to be able to not only do this but to be doing it with my best friend.  A friend who has energy, drive and can read me like a book, (a long book like War and Peace)