A fool's journey

Germany Stop-over Plan

Thursday March 2: Arrive Frankfurt
Saturday = Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Sunday = Bad Windsheim
Fussen, Germany
Reutte, Austria
Garmisch Parten-Kirchen, Germany
Innsbruck, Austria
Hall, Austria
Friday = Munsingen
Saturday March 11 = Geislingen An der Steige
Heidenheim
Sunday = Munich
Salzburg
Hallstatt
Linz
Cesky Krumlov
Friday = meet near Dresden
Sunday March 19 = Depart Frankfurt

posted by Evan @ 6:40 AM

Frankfurt March 3, 2006

Cool.. Ahh, yes. Brisk, crisp, cool air. Sunny and snowing when we landed yesterday, only an hour behind schedule. It took longer to taxi in an then wait to get off the plane than it did to get my bag and breeze through immigration and customs. Friederike was just outside waiting for me. 2:45 pm or so local time, which is 4.5 hours earlier than India time. We took the train to her flat, and then she went back to work, after introducing me to the home made fresh kuchen.

I unpacked and repacked for my German visit. Right away I realized the carribiner I had attached to my checked luggage was missing. It is one of those locking ones that takes two hands to open - so someone had to have taken it off along the way. I used it to secure my bags to the bus or train so I can sleep. At the last minute I put it on my checked bag bacause I was worried they might not let me through security with it, since it is a brass knuckle sized piece of climbing equipment. Makes me glad I used the parachute cord to bind up my bag before checking it. At least I do not have to worry about what else is missing. And I realize all tags from my bag are missing. So I wonder how it even got to the proper palce. Well I guess this means farewell India and petty theft. Irked? Yes.

Had dinner with Peter and Friederike. Yummy potatoes with melted gouda cheese. And salad. I am feeling better. Was able to drink 8 ounces of water upon waking in Mumbai. And I was able to nibble solid food during the flight - three different chances - with the three different meals. All of it stayed down. So it was the first day of solid foods since last Saturday?

Went to sleep at 10 pm (24.5 hours after my wake up call in Mumbai to go catch the plane). Very quiet. No beep beep of traffic.

Woke up early and found a bakery. Had a pretzel with butter. Yum. Hungry? Yes. Good? Heavenly. Oh, my.

Feels very strange. Very few people out. Like a ghost town. And I do not even see the walk signals. Which was a bit dangerous near the trolly line.

So two out of threee accomplished. Next? A cold beer.

And surprsingly, I am not feeling cold here. Peter loaned me a nice thick coat - yes, one of his precious Carharts. It is about 32 degrees. And I am fine. Slept well under a light down comforter. Had to stick my feet out to keep cool enough.

Went to the market after breakfast with Friederike and her sister Henriette. Wow! Makes my head spin. It all looks so pristine. Now I have a small clue what it must be like to see a grocery store for the first time. Abundance! I made a small meal out of all the samples - bread, meat, friut, cheese.

And they are selling a combination of fresh herbs that are used to make a green sause that is a Frankfurt specialty. Had it on my first visit. Hope to try it again this time.

Now to plan my German stopover. Perhaps a bit of apple kuken first.

posted by Evan @ 3:49 AM

Deaparting India from Mumbai

Boarding starts in 10 minutes. Cyber Cafe guy agreed to take US quarters for my internet time. Scheduled to arrive in Frankfurt at 1 pm today - Thursday March 2.

No connection with Dilip and Shashi in Mumbai. So maybe they never made it here. Perhaps her new visa didn't come through.

Made it to the Ajanta Caves. Excellent. Makes my must see list. Was very sick. High fever, vomiting. I think more virus. People here say it is due to climate change, but I think it is just new germs for me.

made use of my re-hydration powder. Since I had vomited so much - and it felt like my electolytes were out of whack and not taking food. The first half liter stayed down. The second half liter did not. After that, unable to swallow any more of it.

Couldn't even swallow water. Started third round of anti-biotics. After 4 days, feeling better. Have subsisted on lime soda pop for a few days. (for me to even drink soda is rare - but I could swallow it for some reason - since it is new for me?)

Stayed in room quite a bit. Ventured out to go to Ellora Caves, and discovered they are closed Tuesdays. So I missed that. Got back to Mumbai on overnight bus. With some moaning along the way.

Very much looking forward to Germany welcome.

posted by Evan @ 3:12 PM