Back in Germany
Trip Start
Sep 08, 2008
1
7
40
Trip End
Dec 16, 2008
Mainz,
Rhineland-Palatinate,
Germany
Monday, September 22, 2008
We're working our way back north and back into Germany, at least for a couple stops!
Yesterday was a very interesting day. We left Strasbourg and returned to Offenburg, dropped off our bags in a locker, then went back to Lahr. We had a couple more things to find there.
We waled along Rheinstraße until Europastraße, trying to find the entrance to the base. At Europastraße, there is an airplane monument, but no sign of any base entrance. We walked along Europastraßce north but didn't see anything. Some buildings we thought looked a bit like a base, but it was difficult to tell. We got to Ersteinerstraße and turned west. The whole area seemed to be like light industrial, one-storey offices with a small parking lot. Nothing going on, it was a Sunday, so no people anywhere. We got to Rainer-Haungstraße and ahead of us there was a brand new, big box store on the south bit and then a dense forested area on the north bit. We walked around near some townhouses, some white walled ones and some green walled ones, but found nobody and nothing. Finally, a bit further north on Rainer-Haungstraße, we found a youth hostel (of all things) and asked the man standing in front if he knew anything about it. Nothing. The only thing he could confirm for us was that the base hospital used to be just south of the hostel (in the forested area) but it was gone now.
So that was it. No sign of any base there whatsoever. By looking at it, you wouldn't even know any Canadian had been there before us. It was pretty sad, really, it kind of put a pensieve mood on the rest of the day.
After looking at the apartment again, we took the train back to Offenburg, then took a high-speed train to Frankfurt. Finally, we took a train to Mainz, which is where we are today. Only my guidebook had anything to say about Mainz, and only recommended one hostel, so we had to go for it. We blindly took the bus as directed by the guidebook, and it took us FAR AWAY from the town centre. We ended up staying there anyway (what choice did we have?) so now we have a long walk into town for the next few mornings.
Today we are going on a scenic train ride down the Rhine Valley to St. Goar, then tomorrow, we will visit Mainz more thoroughly. All the museums and things here are closed Mondays, that's why we opted for this plan.
After our two more nights here, we are moving on to Trier for two nights, then on to Luxembourg City, which should be neat. After three nights there, we are going to Paris to visit Alex's sister, and also to vote at the embassy there. Or at least inquire about it. It is getting close to election time and I want to vote!
Funny side story for those interested: I had a dream last night that Stephanie Chipilski started a fire at Lower Fort Garry and everyone was panicking and I was the only one who could put it out because I was the only one who knew where the fire extinguisher was in the fur loft since nobody else in the fur loft did any cleaning this summer!!
I thought it was funny.
Take care, everyone!
Wayne
Comments
What about . . .
What! You're heading north and not staying in Bavaria for Oktoberfest?!-Love, Mom