September 9, 2013
No Pandering To Tourists.
In Amsterdam everyone speaks English, they learn it in the 4th grade. All train and tram stops are announced in three languages and almost all written material is multilingual as well. In Germany, not so much. I asked a train official a question and was curtly directed to the information board.....written all in German. Gee thanks.
No Ice For You!
It was cocktail time when we got to St Goar so we stopped into a pub. Larsen ordered the usual for both of us; vodka with lots of ice and a little water. Miss Sourpuss 2013, gave a grunt, with no smile attached, and proceeded to mix our drinks. She started with one cube in each glass. Larsen said, "More ice, please." So she added another cube in each glass. "No", says Larsen, "lots of ice." Finally a German woman told her to fill it up. "You vill have ein cube unt you vill enjoy it, else I take you to da bunker!"
Castles, Castles, Everywhere.
This stretch of the Rhine is dotted with castles; Often in site of each other. Check out the view from our hotel room. The first is Katz Castle across the river in St Goarshausen, the next is Rheinfels Castle on our side of the river in St Goar.
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Leave it to Larsen to find the brew house in a castle built in 1245. By the way, he is the only person we saw wearing shorts for the past two days. He doesn't seem to care if people snicker at him. We have climbed so may steps and walked so far each day, that I'm finding it difficult to maintain my weight. Ha!
We stayed at the Rheinfels Hotel (the red building) right on the river. I was a little nervousness because the price seemed a little too reasonable for the location. It was very nice, with a river view and great breakfasts in the morning.
Poor Man's River Cruise
There is a smallish KD cruise boat docked across the street from our St Goar hotel. For 13.00 Euro they will take you several miles past all the best castles. I was busy snapping pictures so didn't see Larsen leave. I"ve known him a long time so my first check was at the bar. Yup, there he was. The entire cruise takes about 5 hours and you can hop on/ hop off at any of the little towns. And so we did......
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It's A Small World
We got off in Bacharach ( there's a lot of flem in the pronunciation ) Super cute town. We walked around a bit then met our friend Pat for lunch. Although she is a US citizen, she has lived in nearby Lorch for many years. Pat flew to Florida and rented a car on her own dime so that she could help with Presidential campaign and that's where we met her. She speaks fluent German and was able to explain those things that were puzzling us. Too bad she couldn't come with us for the rest of the German segment.
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We chose outdoor seating under some beautiful hanging baskets......which attract bees......one of which stung me on the thumb. I got the stinger out with a credit card but it really hurt and I'm slightly allergic (my arm swells up like a sausage). People in the restaurant were telling me to put an onion on it. The manager brought an onion and a napkin and we wrapped it up. It really works! After about 30 minutes it didn't hurt and there was no swelling. Or maybe it was the wine. Nothing like drinking Rhein on the Rhein to make a girl feel all warm and fuzzy.
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Pat and I had a really nice lunch which included fresh chandelles in a cream sauce that had us swooning. Larsen had chicken nuggets and a bowl of chicken soup. He deserved what he got. Later that night, while I was having a schnitzel to die for, he ordered a burrito. The only thing Mexican about his meal was the name. Really Larsen? Nuggets and burritos?
Tipping
In all of Europe, service people are paid a living wage, have lots of paid vacation, and Health care. That's why a 10% tip is considered generous. I'm having a little trouble with Larsen. He says the cuteness factor needs to be considered. Cute = 20%.
This post was written on the train(s) to Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber. Not sure when I can post it up. No Internet at the hotel.