Harms`Gastehaus Bad Nenndorf

So I can't really remember much about Hannover besides that there was nothing to see, nothing to do, the weather was bad and the campsite was overpriced! Dont get me wrong, I'm sure its a lovely place with nice weather and during the summer when the gardens are open which is where Hanovers charm is supposed to be. Wasn't our cup of tea so we moved on rather quickly. Byebye Hanover....maybe next time!

... to walk back to the inner city. We found some cool statues and a river that runs around the city Then we got some ice cream and Manny got Chinese since we had to wait for the next train to leave for Braunshweig. We learned that the cities in Germany are very cool places to explore and all have a similar set up, Hannover residents love to shop! There was a huge strip underground of just shopping areas that connected to the Hauptbahnhof and the U-Bahn.

So today was the day that we started our own adventure.. and headed to France and Germany. The wake up alarm came a little after the sms from Australia announcing a baby boy, and we dragged ourselves out of bed at 6.15am and had the worst shower, with the shower nozel that was only running boiling hot or off..no where in between..and the bathroom light now flickered annoyingly. So we showered in the dark. The last of our stuff we shoved into pretty heavy backpacks and we ...

Arrived in Hannover 1 hour after take-off from Frankfurt. We were at maximum altitude a total of 2 minutes before descending again. We got a birds-eye view of the countryside, red house roofs and the many wind turbines.
Got my luggage, 2 on wheels and 1 duffel bag. We all had to drag our luggage to the bus which was a considerable distance. This was so ...

... his 63rd birthday and were persuaded to a sip or two of whisky with us. His English was, as with all Belgians, very good. Coincidentally he was born in Neerpelt and seemed delighted we had stopped there. Next morning he came over and invited us to join them for coffee and strawberry flan.

6th July 2009
Steimbke, Haupstrasse 49 52.39'21"N 9.22'54"E
On our way here we stopped off in Nienburg and called on Marilys and Gerd for the first time.

... Autobahn.

By this time we were about 400km down, bums were getting sore and we were sick of the Autobahn, so we decided to cut the corner and went bush following the GPS. Of course it took much longer, :) what with closed ferries and bridges, then the rain started. Out with the rain suits and we pressed on. \

We finally arrived in Hildesheim about 12 hours & ...

... bad English by the driver we got sorted. This is what traveling is about muddling through.

We were whisked outside to the plushest VW people carrier I've ever seen. Only 4 individual brown and black leather seats in the back with walnut fittings, TV, and bar equipment but no drinks, but then no trip is ever that perfect. I could have used a drink, the way we flew off onto the No. 2 Autobann to Wolfsburg and the Ritz Carlton Hotel at the AutoStadt.

... is poor, and we don't stay too long. We climbed up one of the pillars and I snapped a couple of shots, and we were off to beat the rain. From there we drove through Detmold and saw some of the architecture. Once through Detmold, we went up to the Hermann statue, which was so socked in with rain and clouds we didn't even walk up to it - someone walked past and said ...

... Melanie and Andy, so it was a short drive. We arrived and I met Claudia's parents - they don't speak too much English and as we will see shortly my German is non-existent, so the best thing about the situation is that I cannot completely make an idiot of myself (at least I think so). Well, I probably could - but I didn't. We came in and we started playing with the kids and their train set that they had ...

... Ghana fans constant drum beat and causing security a few problems, just like a Saturday afternoon in Accra. Most of the Ghana fans were expats although I met one who claimed his brother had come from Ghana. Wonder if he'll go back? After the game walked back to Harrys through a massive police presence all rioted up. Found Harrys local BG was still open so met him after he'd polished off all the wine at the hospitality tent by which time I'd downed 3 wheat beers.