Not at all Bad

Wednesday 14th October

We left Bad Konigshoffen on Sunday 4th October and only got about 20km up the road to Bad Neustadt where we had another lovely soak in their hot pools. Bad in German means ‘bath’. Whilst we were soaking and relaxing we met a family, Chris who was originally from UK, Sylvia who was originally from Poland and their daughter Samira who is 2 ½, we got talking to them and we ended up with a fantastic pizza meal at their home just out of Bad Neustadt. We have often amazed at the amount of languages some people can speak. Samira speaks both German and English but can also understand Polish as well – incredible. We really enjoyed their company!
From Bad Neustadt we travelled through to Bad Sooden-Allendorf, a pretty wee town that is split in two by a river, one part being Sooden and the other Allendorf. We had a good time just wandering around, we loved all the old houses that are attached together – you would have to be careful going home after a night out that you had your bed and not one down the road that looks the same as yours!
We then travelled through to Hamlin – this is the town that the Pied Piper of Hamlin originated – Rae was thankful to him having marched the rats from the town – although walking round the town it really is ‘Rat Town’, you can buy anything in the shape of a rat – bread, marzipan, biscuits, key rings and anything else touristy you can think of. In the centre of the town there is a big clock tower and three times a day there is a small mechanical show with the Pied Piper and the rats which make a grand entrance on a turntable much like a cuckoo clock – good for the little kids and also the big kids!
After a night in Hamlin we travelled to Wolfsburg which is home to the VW Factory – wow what an amazing factory and museum! The museum houses lots of old cars from the Model T’s, VW’s, Audi’s, Lamborghini’s right through to the brand new Audi R8. The area of this factory and museum totaled 26 hectares. The factory which produces the new VW’s and Audi’s was also on the site and once the cars have been manufactured they are stored in two towers that house 400 cars each – everything is done mechanically and we were fascinated to stand and watch two cranes placing cars 19 stories up then retrieving another car for someone to drive away in. When you pick up your new car - you need to find the right waiting area, then your name comes up on a big screen before your salesman greets you and then takes you downstairs to your new car – so well organized and so busy!
We then drove up to Luneburg which is also known as the ‘Wobbly Town’ – centuries of salt mining in the town have caused the buildings to have a noticeable lean on them – not quite as much as ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’. The buildings also have swollen walls which cause them to look like they have beer bellies.
From Luneburg we then drove through to Roy and Grit’s (the couple we met in Florence) home in Trittau just east of Hamburg. We ended up staying four nights at their magnificent home! We were really made to feel very welcome by these very generous people whom we will hopefully see next time in New Zealand. We woke on Friday morning to beautiful blue skies so we were off out sightseeing Hamburg, the second biggest city in Germany with 2 million inhabitants. Hamburg is a pretty city with lakes and a huge harbour on the river. The sea is 80km away. The harbour has an average of approx 38 container ships each day arriving at the port. We had a nice trip up the river and we then did the Hop On Hop Off bus trip of the town – Roy and Grit have lived in Hamburg for many many years but they also learnt new facts about their home town whilst on the bus! Hamburg is also the richest city in Germany – there are 8,500 millionaires and billionaires living here. After the bus tour we then drove around some of the stunning houses that the rich lived in! Because Hamburg is surrounded by rivers and lakes they also boast that they have more bridges than Venice! Hamburg is also known for its red light district – Grit and Rae had to sit in the car whilst Roy and Brent went for a walk down the street – not too sure why?? There was a big sign on the entrance into the street saying “No one under 18 or women allowed’ – Roy & Brent came back smiling, Brent said they just went window shopping!!! On Sunday we drove up to the Baltic Sea and walked along the board walk – a very pleasant peaceful place. We were both surprised how calm the sea was – definitely not like our seas. We left Roy and Grit on Monday morning feeling like we had had a holiday, with all the lovely different foods we enjoyed, along with living in a house and great company – just like a holiday!
From Hamburg we travelled further up North to Hooksiel which is on the North Sea – again another very calm sea. Hooksiel was a lovely town to wander around and do some shopping!
As we said Auf Wiedersehen we both commented on how much we enjoyed Germany and the friendliest of the people.
We have today arrived in Amsterdam – so we are now away to try the local delicacy whatever that may be….. cheese possibly???????

Until next time……