Visiting Germany in October 2012

Dieser Beitrag ist auch verfügbar in: German

Hello together.

Today a longer article :)

I was in the last 2 1/2 weeks on vacations at home. This time unscheduled (not for my birthday or for xmas) because my father hat big birthday. I had to come of course :)

I also used that unscheduled visit for a customer meeting… and – by chance – my Ukrainian friends was in the same time in Germany… so we made an international meeting in Frankfurt. :)

But one by one. I hope I’ll remember everything… my memory… :)

Thursday, 27.09.2012

The first day of my trip. Actually not much to say about it, because I arrived just a few minutes before midnight. Dad picked me up in Berlin, like always. Just with one hour delay because he was waiting for me at the new airport Berlin-Brandenburg… which is not open yet :) But the signs for it are already on the Highway. So.. little mistake.

At least we found each other at the end and at 3 we was at home.

Friday, 28.09.2012

Friday I was sleeping – first of all – until I woke up by myself. Then my mam had to bring me – in secret – the birthday present for my dad. I made a photo book for the birthday child (I liked the idea because we don’t exchange much pictures and my parents don’t see me much anymore) and it was sent to my mam.

In the afternoon we was going to Pirna. That is in Saxon Switzerland, a part of Germany. Father have there a holiday house in Pirna the the cleaning lady was not working this weekend. So he had to clean by himself.

It is a really nice area. It is a valley and in the middle of it is the Elbe river. It is great for cyclists, walker and kayaks. … But not really for diver. The river is too dirty and frequented by boats :( :)

Saturday, 29.09.2012

There is not much to say about the saturday. The highlight of the day was the dinner in the afternoon in an special restaurant. The restaurant is in the fortress Königsstein (which is much bigger then the castles in Cyprus… but we was to late to visit the whole fortress). And in the evening was a special dinner in the themed restaurant “In den Kasematten”.

It was very interesting and funny… even the price was a bit high. But it was – more or less – medieval. ;)

Sunday, 30.09.2012

Sunday we went back to Körbelitz. And finally – after we arrived there – father could get his presents (which we forgot at home). And it seems like the photo book was a goog choice :)

Monday, 01.10.2012

Monday was again sleeping late – first of all. Steffi and Lotta picked me up later and we went to the hairdresser… I really needed one. And they made me a human again :)

Later we went to the forest. I suggested to go mushrooming. I haven’t been for ages and Steffi and Lotto never went at all in her live. So, we was going to the next best forest.

But except a lot of spider webs and some mushrooms which I don’t know or know that they are poisoning, was nothing to find :( Not even one eatable mushroom :(

Anyway, the both ladies collected some stuff for crafting and we had a good walk anyway. :)

Was good to go a bit out.

Tuesday, 02.10.2012

Today we went finally to the Solebad, which was a wish of Lotta, when I am in Germany. She told me that already weeks ago via Skype :) So, today finally was the day :) We went all together to the Solebad in Bad Salzelmen / Schönebeck.

It was very nice and relaxing :) To hand out in the warm water… with whirlpool :) There are no big fun things like a water slide or something like that. But little Lotta had fun anyway… we other 3 as well :)

In the evening we made a BBQ and Marcus and Anke joined us.

Wednesday, 03.10.2012

Alex picked me up on Wednesday morning and we went to Magdeburg. We didn’t saw us for ages and she “booked” me the whole day :) So, we decided to running around in Magdeburg and see what’s going on :)

By chance it was just a funfair in the park. So we went there… but it was closed. Open from 3 pm… it was not even 1 :(

We decided to run around in the park till 3. What we did… and it was good. We was talking a bit, was taking pictures, drinking coffee and went up the viewing tower.

We was back at the funfair place at exactly 3pm. And the party was on already. Lots of people on the place. And we jumped as well in the crowd. :) But did not more then eating a sausage and went back to the car.

In the evening we’ve decided to make a small photo shooting at a villa which is close to Alex home. But it was to dark already to make good pictures.

So we went back home and enjoyed the rest of the day with a wine and a good conversation.

Thursday, 04.10.2012

Alex went to work in the morning already. Her mam (which is living next to her) drove me around 10 am. to the train station. Here I’ve met with Marcus. Today was shopping day :) I needed urgent a new trousers and a pair of new shoes.

We had 7 hours time… lots of time to have a look in every single shop :) But even with all this time I couldn’t really find anything. The trousers fashion this year seems to be very boring. All I could find was boring 08/15 standard jeans. Nothing nice or “extraordinary”. I saw one trousers I really liked in a shop… but 100 Euro was to much for it.

At least I could find some new shoes. Good walking boots. My old one falling apart already. But they done their job already. So, time for some new :)

After our shopping tour we went to pick up Anke from work and then back to the train station, to go back to Gommern. As far as good. But the stop in Biederitz didn’t wanted to end. The train wasn’t moving anymore… for 1 1/2 hours. :o

The conductress said that a tree was falling on the overhead wire and it should be fixed soon… but it wasn’t.

We had actually the plan to go quick home to Marcus to get refreshed and that Anke can change clothes and then back to Magdeburg to go in the evening the cocktail bar. Alex also wanted to come there and I needed to go with her again, because my backpack was still in her flat… and I needed it.

And now we stuck in the middle of nowhere. The train company (Deutsche Bahn) also said nothing about other solutions (rail replacement service). Some when they said the train is going back to Magdeburg.

So, Marcus and Anke called a friend to pick them up, cause they needed to go home. I went with the train back to Magdeburg.

It was still to early to go to the bar. They open at 7pm. I used the meantime to go bit more shopping and got stuck in the book store. Of course I found some new books :)

I was one of the first customer in the cocktailbar. But Marcus had booked a table anyway. So I’ve ordered already the first cocktail, while I was waiting for Alex and the others.

She came short after me. Marcus and Anke canceled. It was all to much stress that Day for them and who knows if the train was going already again.

We also stayed long there alone.

Friday, 05.10.2012

The Friday started really early. Getting up around 6 am. A quick coffee to get they eyes open… somehow.

Alex brought me to the train station and then with the train to Burg, where my Mam picked me up at 8. Today was Mams day :)

Actually we did not much. In the afternoon we visited my Grandparents in Magdeburg. For a coffee and homemade cake… mmmm I love the homemade cake from my Grandparents! Just Max had ants in the pants. He was afraid to come to late to his meeting of the volunteer fire brigade :)

Saturday, 06.10.2012

Again getting up early. Mam brought me to Königsborn where Steffi picked me up (it’s shit to be without car).

We was almost the whole day lazy and did not much. Just in the evening was BBQ time at Marcus place.

Sunday, 07.10.2012

Sunday was good weather and we decided to go with Lotta to the Bierer-Hill. It is after Schönebeck. A kind of zoo and in the middle a big playground.

The entrance is free, but you can spend some money if you like. There are some boxes on the way where you can put some coins in. I like this way… but know that a lot of people don’t even give some coins… why should they? (Yes, I was putting some coins in the box… cause to take care about the park and the animals cost money.)

I also (or especially) like the selection of the animals. Nothing exotic… almost only indigenous animals like beaver, ducks, donkeys, goats, foxes, squirrel and so on.

But for Lotta was the most important part the playground. :)

After our trip we went to Marcus again for a coffee and a chat. I stayed there then.

Monday, 08.10.2012

At Marcus… I can’t remember what we did… probably nothing. That’s why I can’t remember :)

Tuesday, 09.10.2012

… same :)

My Dad picked me up in the afternoon and I stayed over night in his home. Last night there.

Wednesday, 10.10.2012

Today I started to the next destination: Düsseldorf. But first long sleeping :) My Dad drove me then to the train station in Magdeburg, where my college picked me up at 12.

We had a long way to Düsseldorf. 5 hours car drive … much time to talk.

Some when at 7pm. we arrived in Ratingen. My hotel was nice. Bit familiar. In the ground floor was a restaurant and cafe and above the rooms. I got a small one under the roof. It included all I needed… bed, desk and a small bathroom with shower. And it was clean. For 40 Euro was it on.

Just at the end of the village. No train, no bus. :(

But this evening I didn’t cared about it. I was tired and just wanted to sleep… which I did like a baby.

Thursday, 11.10.2012

After a long time a “normal” working day again. Getting up early, breakfast and then going to the “office”… to work there the whole day on a desk. Absolutely not my day schedule… but interesting.

After work back in the hotel. I wanted to meet with Gudi, but she canceled. She didn’t felt well :(

Friday, 12.10.2012

Friday again getting up early to go to work. A long meeting with the boss of the company, to make planes for the future work. At 6pm. we left the office and going straight to the main train station in Düsseldorf. My ticket was booked already. So I could visit the big train station a bit, before I went to my gate.

After 2-3 cigarettes I went to my ICE. It should bring me from Düsseldorf direkt to Frankfurt Airport… and did it :) In just 1 1/2 hours I was there, to change into another train which brought me to Frankfurt main station. Sascha picked me up here.

And then we was driving home to his new house. Last time I visited them in Frankfurt, then was still living in the flat in the city. Now they have a nice house. But not in the city anymore. In a small village near Frankfurt. But the public transportation is really good here :)

After a nice dinner and a chat we went to bed.

Saturday, 13.10.2012

Saturday was my personal highlight day. To meet my Ukrainian friends on German ground. :D Ok, Ira wanted to go to the book fair and I was planing to explore with Chester the city.

Sascha and Mira had to go to Frankfurt as well in the morning, lucky me… like that I didn’t had to go with bus and train. Just from the south train station to the main station I had to go with the subway. But it was a thing of 5 minutes. Amazing… why we don’t have that in Cyprus?

Was nice to be back in Frankfurt. Even I’ve been only one time there… it was a nice feeling to be back… almost familiar.

Then the search for the hotel started, in which the both live. I’ve known approximately the direction. In the moment I wanted to check my SMS for the address of the hotel I’ve heard a familiar female voice “Hey guy… I know you!”. I looked up and saw in the familiar face of Ira. Such a big city and I am crossing the way of my buddy :) But she was already in hurry. German hurry is infectious :)

But she had at least the second to show me the way to the hotel… and then she was gone.

It’s is a strange feeling to meet her in Frankfurt…. but cool somehow :)

The hotel was just a few meter down the road. Chester still looked a bit sleepy :) So our first destination was Starbucks. Where to start better in a day in a big city then Starbucks? :)

But on the way there we’ve spotted the Main tower. It’s the biggest tower in Frankfurt (I think). And on top – in 200 meter height – is a viewing platform. … We couldn’t just pass by. So, we went up in 200 meter (with a lift which goes up with 18km/h!).

The view from up there is stunning. We had luck with the visibility. A must do for all visitors of the city.

Of course I made lots of pictures up there :)

After we went finally for our coffee and the planing of the rest of the day… and a chat :) We didn’t saw us for 2-3 weeks. And it was very interesting for me to be with him in a Starbucks in Germany and drink there a coffee with him. :)

We decided to drive after the coffee with a tourist bus through Frankfurt. Just relaxing, seeing and listen to the teller. The station for the bus was at the Paulus church and we found it very quick. Chester have an iPhone with this iGo (Navigation for walker). This is really useful when you don’t know the city. Ok, a city map would do also the job, but it doesn’t show where you are at the moment. ;) This technique is really good.

The next bus came shortly after we arrived at the bus station. It was a great day and the roof of the double-decker was open. We was lucky and there was still seats free in the upper floor. Like that we let us drive one hour through Frankfurt and was listen to the voice of the teller. Like that holiday makes fun :) Thereby we realized that the German and the English version of the text – which the digital teller was telling – is partly very different.

We got hungry after our sightseeing tour. Actually I wanted to invite Chester for original Frankfurter sausages. But somehow I couldn’t enthuse him for it. So we was walking a while through Frankfurt and ended up finally in an Australian restaurant. Ok, I was never in one. I ordered a crocodile burger. … Not the best way to try such exotic meat… but it was the cheapest one.

Crocodile is something new, but basically it taste like chewy chicken. I couldn’t find any big taste of its own. But it was anyway something new. :)

After our lunch I wanted to have a look in the shopping mall. I still needed new trousers. But it was open Saturday and the city (especially the mall) was crowded like hell. I was rethinking about it…

Better to walk a bit more calmly through Frankfurt city. … And we ended up somehow in the red light district and around the corner was some suspicious on the street which I don’t want to meet in the night. Then passing the train station and heading in direction to the Main river. On the way we saw an tourist information for North Cyprus (and wondered a bit, cause I didn’t know that there exist one :) ).

After we arrived on the riverside we was sitting down on a park bench to relax a bit and having a chat – before we went back to the hotel.

Ira was already back from the book fair and we decided very quick to have a look to Dauth-Schneider, a restaurant which I know from my last Frankfurt visit and where they serve local specialties.

We arrived at the restaurant around 6pm… which seemed to be a bad time without reservation. It wasn’t even one place free. Absolutely packed.

So we had a look in the restaurant next door, the Affentorschänke. The same story… crowded. But the waitress could offer us the last 3 places, on a table where already people was sitting.

I can’t remember what we was eating (something local). But it was good. Just nobody was really fine with the apple wine (cider). And I ordered of course straight a whole carafe :)

After our good supper we went back in the city. On the Römer place we found another nice cafe/restaurant and went in. The house itself is an old half-timber house (like almost all houses on that place). And Ira like them a lot :)

We was drinking a beer and was eating a bit sweets … and when we was ready to leave it started raining. So, quick to the next subway station and the both to the hotel.

The public transportation system is really great there. Not even one hour later I was back home (at Saschas house). Just the taxi driver at the train station was a bit dumb. He was driving just on the weekend and didn’t really had an idea of the area. After he passed the right address (I could partly realize that we passed it) I was asking him if he knows where the address is. And he said “No. Do you know it?” … ???? … When I told him that I don’t know it and I am just a visitor here, he felt bothered to switch on his navigation system. Once circle and we was again on the house… where he passed before.

Sunday, 14.10.2012

The Sunday was a shit day. Dark grey clouds and lot of rain the whole day.

I was thinking to relax the whole day and don’t go again to Frankfurt. What you want to do at such day?

But it would have been a waste of chance. I mean there I am already there and then even with my friends from Cyprus… couldn’t do that. So I went again with Sascha and Mira into the city and with the subway to the Willy-Brandt-Platz station and from there quick to the hotel… to get as less wet as possible.

Ira was already gone again to the book fair and I went with Chester again first of all to Starbucks :) And when we was there it started really to rain. Not heavy, but more then before. So we was thinking for ages what we could do at this weather.

But we couldn’t really find any idea. Some when we became hungry and decided to relocate to a restaurant. The choice fall on an Italian restaurant. At pizza and pasta we continued our thinking about the plan for the rest of the day. With the same success… none.

Then Chester came up with the idea to drive to Mainz to have a look in this city. So we did it.

Chester was driving really good… therefore that he knows only driving on the left side. :) But that changed nothing on the weather. Also in Mainz the heaven was grey and it was raining. We decided to rush into the next cafe for a coffee and piece of cheese cake and then quick back to Frankfurt.

Ira was waiting already in the hotel. She was packed with a lot of books. At least one found something during shopping :) We was sitting a while in the hotel bar and was drinking a beer and was chatting and watched the jump of Felix Baumgartner. :)

And then I went back home to Sascha more or less early. I had to get up next day very early again and Sascha also got a visitor from New York. A friend of him who is living there.

So we was drinking a beer together and then was chatting a bit… before we went early to bed.

Monday, 15.10.2012

And now are my days over in Germany again. Time to fly home.

We got up very early again. At 7 am. was my alarm clock ringing. The other 3 had to go to work and I needed to get the bus at 9:30 from the main train station in Frankfurt to the Airport in Hahn.

Everything went good. I got the bus at 9:30 and the travel time was estimated with 1:45 hours. Ok, there was a traffic jam on the highway and we needed at the end 2 hours. But it didn’t matters for me, my fly was scheduled at 14:35. So I had enough time.

The check in was already open when we arrived at the airport. So I gave my backpack there and then the waiting started.

The airport Frankfurt-Hahn is a very small one (but even bigger then I expected).

My fly was in time and in the evening I was back on the island… in the warmth again :) Kai picked me up from the airport and one hour later I was back at home.. home sweet home :)

Don’t get me wrong. I love to fly to Germany to see my beloved people. But to be honest I start counting the days after latest one week until I can fly back finally.

So, now I needed over one month to write this lines. I am sure I forgot half of the trip… I hope you’ll excuse me. :) Especially in the first days… because I started writing with the last ones. So the first ones wasn’t really in my memory anymore… in the detail.

Best regards

Gordon

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