Germany

I wasn't able to reach an Internet connection all last week, and (thanks to Isi!!) I am able to update my Blog with the first post from my trip.    My trip to Bangkok with Thai International was so relaxing - I had three seats all to myself, the plane was fairly new and immaculate.    I can't speak highly enough of them - but then came Bangkok Airport!    Never have I seen such a huge airport.    It was literally more than a kilometer from the Airbridge to the main part of the Terminal.   Trying to find where the Lufthansa flight would leave from was quite an experience but eventually I was on the flight to Germany.    After the Thai flight, what a contrast.   Crowded.    Dingy.   Poor attention from flight attendants.   Poor food.    Etc. Etc. Etc.    Eventually we arrived in Frankfurt at 6.00 am.    It was bedlam in the Immigration area but finally I was able to collect my bag and meet up with Heidi & Wolfgang, who were starting to think I had maybe missed the flight!!

It was raining heavily but by the time we crossed into Bavaria the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.    We made a small pause in Ochsenfurth so I could take a few photos then it was off to Bad Windsheim.    Heidi and I explored the town all afternoon and it is a beautiful old town, well known as a Spa area.    Just think, Germans are entitled (under Medicare!) to two weeks every three years in a Spa - you drink the water, relax in the thermal pools etc. and it is all paid for!!!  

Over the next few days we visited relations out on the Czech border, drove around some beautiful areas near Bad Windsheim, took the train to Bamberg and on Friday Heidi dropped me off in Fuerth with some friends from many years ago.    Christl and I walked all around Nuernberg and had some Bratwurstl with potato salad for lunch (a Nuernberger speciality).    Then it was off to Schwabach to stay overnight with another old friend.     All these old towns in Germany are so beautiful, all in the medieval style, and so well cared for.    I will try to upload some photos so you can see the lovely old buildings.    My friends from Schwabach drove me back to Heidi & Wolfgang.    On Sunday they took me to the train to cross Germany.   I even managed the two platform changes at Karlsruhe and Freiburg with minimal difficulty, and finally arrived in Weil-am-Rhein in the afternoon, to be met by Isi, with her mother and grandmother, waving a big sign "Welcome Sandie" !!!   How nice it has been to catch up with Isi and to see Franzi face to face instead of over the telephone.   Her son Michael was waiting at home, so after coffee & cake (I can see the kilos I have shed creeping back on!) he drove us around the general area.     There is one spot here where you can stand in France,  take a few steps and you are in Switzerland then take another few steps and you are in Germany!!   

The weather has been hot all week, with lots of sunshine (around 28 to 30 degrees), however last night we had a thunderstorm so thankfully today is a bit cooler.    I believe we are off to the Black Forest this afternoon, and tomorrow we are going to Lake Constance.   Later in the week Michael is promising to take me to the Alps - won't that be an experience.    

Everyone here is so welcoming and generous and anxious to show me so many places that I am quite overwhelmed.    To any of them reading this blog - a thousand thanks.

It will probably be much later in the week when I put another post on, as I think we have a few things planned, but definitely before I leave Germany (and Isi's expert tuition!).