On Our Way To Germany - June 15

             We arrived back into Venice on Saturday and disembarked from the Cruise Ship.  Backpacks on and luggage in tow we set off for the train station.  Neil was worried as this part of our trip I did not pre-book and I usually pre-book everything.  Others had told me to just go to the station and buy a ticket, so that is what we did.  It all worked out great.  I told Neil how exciting this was.  We were backpackers going through Europe.  He then added, yes 60 year old backpackers.  Until he said that I had not thought of us as old.  I guess it's true you are as old as you feel. 

          The language can be a bit of a barrier when travelling to other countries but I have to be honest and tell you that we did not find it all that difficult.  A lot of people speak at least a little English.  If you say a key word like, Market,  they will point you in the right direction.  Words like, taxi or toilet, are universal.  Also it is advisable to have a translator program downloaded before you travel on your phone or iPad or whatever you have.  If you don't have access to the internet, then be sure to take a few pictures on your cell phone of items of importance to you before you travel as you can always show people the picture and they will understand.  When taking a tour be sure to ask if the Guide speaks English.  Although, we found on most tours they handed out audio boxes with ear phones so you can listen to the guide in whatever language you speak.  They sure know how to cater to the tourist market over here.

          We had to change trains three times to get to Oberstaufen, Germany.  No map in hand drove Neil crazy as he was not comfortable not knowing where we were or if we were even heading in the right direction.  Me, well, I just go with the flow, sit back and don't worry, it's all good.  I'm used to getting lost but always seem to find my way to where I am going eventually, so I guess it doesn't bother me.  Heck, I got lost on the Ship every day.  Neil would constantly ask me where I was going as it was always the wrong way, lol.  We did eventually get a map and I know he felt much better. 

          Changing trains can be a little difficult if you are travelling like us and are loaded down with luggage.  When you change trains, you have to get off of the one train and to go down underground, walk a little ways up the hallway and then go back up the stairs to a different platform to catch your connection.  One place had an elevator, we discovered too late, and the next two had a luggage conveyor belt along side the stairs.  Very cool.  So as you walked up the stairs you merely walked along side your luggage and took it off at the top.  Now getting onto the train itself, well, we worked out a system where I would climb on first and then Neil would pass me the luggage onboard, Then he would climb on last.  The train ride is very smooth and allowed us to see much of the country side that we would of missed if we had of driven.  We also met people on the train that were very interesting.  We had good conversation and fun to past the time.  One couple who sat with us were from Edmonton, Alberta and were on their honeymoon.  They were seeing many countries and having an amazing time doing it.  After they disembarked and Mother and her daughter got on and sat with us.  They were very excited to learn we were Canadian and English speaking.  Her daughter is learning English and was to do an exam the next week.  They thought if they talked with us she could learn more.  What a delight it was for us.  Marion, the mother, spoke pretty good English and her daughter Franziska did extremely well.  They told us about Germany and we told them about where we from in Canada.  Franziska would love to see a real Polar Bear and moose some day so before we left the train we gave her a Canadian Toonie that had a Polar Bear on it and a quarter that had a moose head on it, she was thrilled.  We exchanged addresses and I let them know I would send them my book "Why Is There A Raisin In My Meatloaf?" as soon as it is out on the market in about a month.  Marion said it would be good practice for Franziska and her siblings for reading English. 

          On our travels we went through Innsbruck, Austria, and Munich before arriving into Oberstaufen.  From here we took a taxi to the FriesenClub Mondi-Holiday Resort and checked in.  A very nice one bedroom apartment with a small balcony awaited us.  The view - outstanding!  This first night we just had supper and went to bed as we had been travelling for 13 hours to get here and were very tired.  Not a lot of pictures this time folks.  Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

 

Picture from train station in Venice

 

 

Neil with all of our luggage

 

View from our Resort Apt. window in Oberstaufen, Germany