We once asked for our passports to be stamped when we arrived in Slovenia, from Italy. Once the official was awake, it took quite a while to find the rubber stamp.
Yet I am still foolish enough to expect a bit of razamataz when we cross in to another country. Maybe a bloke in leather shorts to welcome us, a trumpet or two, flag waving, balloons and so on. We entered Germany , pleased with ourselves, shook hands, took some photos and had some wine for tea.
As well as liking swims, I like baths. In the sort of accommodation we occasionally visit, their is unlikely to be both a bath and a plug. It is surprising what can be achieved with one of those very floppy plastic bags, the sort that gets stuck in the sink, and floods the laundry, and a length of electrical tape. My first bath in a month, in a deep shower tray was most rewarding.
I have yet to meet a person who, when told we come from New Zealand, does not look dreamy eyed, and gives a huge smile. Everyone plans to visit, and imagines a beautiful and friendly place. Lets keep it that way.
We have packed well and economically for this trip. We have everything that we need and scraped in to the thirty kg airline weight limit nicely. But why,oh why did i. Pack the lovely purple whistle, bought in Canada, to scare off bears. I am slightly hopeful of a moment to give it a blast.
Delights, the biggest and the best.
When discussing a route into Germany we were warned of high mountains and very busy roads. So it was surprising to find a cycle only road, and hardy a hill. We then chanced on the Aidlebert Stiffler rail route, 30 Klm's of gentle down hill, through lovely forest and glimpses of lush farm land and Bavarian villages. We free camped in the forest, and read that we were in the the biggest continuous forest in Europe, reaching into Austria, Czech Republic and Germany.
Delight 2 The biggest church organ in the world is in Passau. It is five separate organs, each with its own sound character. We sat in the impressive baroque cathedral, and heard a short recital. While the music may not have been my favourite, the quality, strength and variety of the sound was truly impressive, as was sharing the experience with several hundred people.
Delight 3 Today we saw from a good distance a Roman temple, high on a hill overlooking the Danube Valley. We puffed up many steep steps to Walhalla, a faithful replica of the Parthanon. It is said, in the guidebook, to be the most important classical German structure of the 19th Century.
Valhalla, Bavaria on Donau
View from Valhalla
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