Towards Bad Wimpfen

Switzerland ?  Beautiful scenery - Expensive? - the traders have learnt the skill of riding a wounded bull in the general direction of prospective customers! - our survival strategy? - To escape Chur as quickly as possible - our chosen means of escape ? - The ICE  train towards Stuttgart.

The conductor approaches - male or female? - who could tell! - where is your credit card ? - wrong credit card - this will be a problem in Germany says she - we find right card - we are pleased - she doesn't display any emotion - stamps the tickets - we are on our way - the mobile mini bar otherwise known as a vehicle for Swiss extortion wheels down the train - we know the Swiss - we wave him on!

The scenery is pleasant but we have been spoilt - the local passengers put their heads in their papers as the train speeds along - they raise their heads from time to time to exchange smiles - what are those tourists doing clicking their camera shutters? - the train speeds along past swollen rivers - rivers so swollen that even the locals rise from their seats.

The border is reached  - the locomotives are changed - on towards Stuttgart - we are tired - the feet stretch out onto the opposite seats - we doze - we wake - the conductor is pointing at our feet - her expression says it all - our feet engage with the train floor .

Stuttgart is conquered - we strike out towards Bad Wimpfen - two changes to go! - first change?- we miss it - wait - the second change? - successful - Bad Wimpfen here we come!

Listen to the German announcements - that  sounded like Bad Friedestalh - this must  it -  get off here - the bags are aggressively deposited on the station - the travellers join them.

This does not feet right! - Brian and I are dispatched - Brian finds two German women - they feet compassion for  him - you have alighted at the Salt Works!  - they ring a taxi truck  - even without knowledge of the German language  it is clear that that they are directing the Taxi to pick up four people and lots of luggage from the Salt Works.

The Taxi arrvies - the driver has been briefed to puck up a group of Australian nomads of dubious intelligence from the back entrance to the Salt Works - he arrives - a broad grin and in great cheer - Bad Wimpfen and Hotel Rosengarten at last!

The arrivals commence - familiar faces - unfamiliar faces - anticipation rises - will  this one be as  good as the last? - Bernie orders a massage for the morning - she has travelled well but not so well as to obviate the need for the tender hands of the young Croatian expat.

Downstairs - a drink before dinner? - the bar crowded- the rounds? - those of Albury's Star Hotel - the Adams, the Harpers, the Reillys,  the Rodds,  the Crossly - the unfamiliar faces? - lots of them - their anticipation patent - their preparedness to play? - already on display!

Towards the old Town for dinner - a group meal? - no hope - this is a tiny town on a Thursday night leading to their festival weekend - its street restaurants can not sustain a large group of interlopers - As if by magic the group divides and divides - the outcomes of the division? - smaller, more agile collections of the like minded! - the remaining restaurant seats in this delightful town become occupied by noisy Australians and smiling amused locals.

The division to which we had become attached chooses the Adler pub - traditional - the locals have assumed their preferred spring seating - they cede their winter preferences to the tourists - we assume our places at bench tables inside.

The menus arrive - in German - English?- no English! - we struggle - the communication process falters - the communication process fails - the pub owner suddenly turns or her heels - have we offended her? - she returns - she has seconded one of the locals as our personal communications advisor - Elizabeth is a hit - the local English teacher is delighted to have an opportunity to practice - she explains the menu - she makes recommendations on food - she recommends the wine  - she suggests the local beers  she calculates the bill - you must eat Swavian she says - you must drink the local wine - very good she says! - she is a hit! - email addresses are exchanged - she will visit Australia.

This has been a great start!