Interlaken to Frankfurt

Kathy was in bed last night by 9:30 so she was chipper and ready to go this morning at 6:00. She thought it was later than it was so I jumped up and finished getting packed and ready for the day. When we got down stairs it was only 6:30 -- Sometimes it is almost like she can run circles around me. At 6:45 they opened the breakfast room early for us....and we had our standard meal. Headed for the train station --It was a nice cool walk after the rains of the evening. It had cooled off very well. When we arrived at Interlaken East we learned that we should have gone to Interlaken West -- so there was a bit of confusion, but it was all right since the train also comes to this station. However, we had made arrangements for assistance at the other station---so they called and we rearranged things.

The train is really nicer than the Eurostar -- these Germans know how to do things! It is spacious and in first class the seats are leather with space between. The trains here have a place to hang your coat and plenty of room for luggage. People here use the trains like we use cars and the trains produce less pollution because they are electric. I would love to be able to use trains for travel rather than having to drive back to Texas or Fly --- There are not nearly as many tourists this year probably because of the economic situation. And we have encountered fewer Americans and Australians. There are still lots of Japanese, Arab, and English traveling.

We crossed the boarder into Germany around 10:00 and it rained off and on throughout the early morning. The clouds persisted as we journeyed past countryside of rich farm fields low hills and towns. It was easy to see why our ancestors chose to live in parts of the United states based on the familiarity of the geography. It is also easy to see how they brought the farming practices with them to the U.S. This part of the German countryside could very easily be Illinois or Iowa. The train began in Interlaken almost empty but by the time we were nearing our destination the cars filled up with people. There are plug-ins for computers at each seat so even if your battery were dead you could use your computer. The train attendants look very much like airline attendants and the whole experience is as good as air travel. No wonder people use the trains in Europe. An older couple sat behind us and saw my computer. We had a discussion about technology-- they were probably ten years older than I and were extremely technology aware.

It seemed like a long trip but certainly pleasant enough. When we pulled into the station we were able to get off pretty well and then found the place to reserve our next leg of the journey with assistance. Next we found the cab and then headed for the Ibis Hotel which it turned out is on the edge of the city. It is a bit more like an American hotel. It is still on a much smaller scale, but very modern and clean. The bathroom is of interesting design. It is almost like a cabin set down into the corner of our room.

It is circular and you must step up into the unit. There was nothing nearby to get a sandwich so we got "snacks" at our hotel -- This was not snacks as we think of them --out of a machine. These were snacks like soup-- and bread. We got the Goulash which was a little like Dinty Moore Stew. Then got a recommendation on an authentic German restaurant. We took a Taxi after cleaning up to Gasthaus Am Eisernen Steg, and it was well worth the trip. I had the Pork Knuckle with cabbage which was interesting (this is a very traditional meal in Bavaria). I would struggle with the pork that seems ever-present on the menu here. The cabbage was like sauerkraut only sweeter. Kathy had Grilled Rib -- which was nothing like Bar-B-Que at home. This slice was like a steak. Her meal was accompanied by a mashed potato. Matt had the Frankfurter with German Potato Salad. Of course, he ended up having Pork Knuckle and cabbage, Grilled Rib, and his own Franfurter! I will miss Matt who manages to clean everyones plate including his own. Kathy and I will have to order just one meal and split it so our variety will come to an end when Matt goes home tomorrow!
We concluded our meal with Applestruedel and caffee. Strudel here just can't be topped! The strudel comes with a dip of rich ice cream and whipped cream. The apples are not to sweet and they also are in abundance inside the flaky pastry. Even the whipped Cream isn't sweet...but that seems to amplify the the flavor. The restaurateur had pictures from the late 1800s on his wall. The family looked much like my Great Grandparents. I asked if this was his Grosse Mutter -- he said yes --- then showed his mother's baby picture and told us where she was from in Germany. Then he asked where we were from -- and I said my family originally came from Landesbergen -- Kathy's family was from Borkum and Lubeck somewhere else but of course we are now from America.

All of this communication was through a combination of some German, some English, and gesturing. One is never completely sure if you have understood the communication or not. But I report here -- what I think he said. Funny isn't it that we struggle to understand one another even when we speak the same language!

We returned to the Ibis and finished packing, and went to bed early. It was still light outside although it was around 10:00 p.m. Just two more days until the Equinox and the longest day of the year!