Sunday 31 May. St John’s

We are so lucky as there was no wind and no rain today. This meant that we could walk outside quite comfortably. After a Dennys breakfast (Lorraine loves it!) we headed into town and eventually found a parking spot near the water. Most streets are resident permits only. 

We walked up, up, up to Victoria St to see the brightly painted houses, known as Jellybean Row. There are a number of streets painted brightly like this. Then back downhill to cookies Shop Cafe for a hot chocolate and a cake. There was a guy there playing jazz on his guitar, and we had a good chat to him.

Back to the car and our next stop was Telegraph Hill, where the first Transatlantic radio signals were received by Guglielmo Marconi on 12 December 1901. There were great views out to the misty ocean and also back across the whole city. 

The GPS then took us to a nearby supermarket which turned out to be a very trendy little one. We bought some cereal and fruit for our next stop and I replaced the shower gel I seem to have left in Frankfurt. A bit of a break back at our hotel before driving back into town for dinner at a pub called “The Duke of Duckworth”. We had been told that this was the best fish and chips in St John and that we must go there. Lorraine found us a spot sharing a table with a couple of young women who were a lot of fun. We had a great time chatting with them and they told us exactly how we had to have a fish and chips … absolutely swimming in gravy and with a bit of tartare sauce as well. The fish was freshly caught cod and the mushy looking dinner was surprisingly tasty although once was enough with all that gravy.

I’m starting to get used to the huge car now and as they don’t have another one with a GPS we’ll stick with it.

Saturday 30 May. St Johns, Newfoundland

We were both awake early so up, breakfasted and ready in tons of time for the shuttle bus to the airport. I rarely eat breakfast but it was a nice change to have some porridge and a bagel. 

We had a wander up and down the shops at the airport while waiting for our plane. It departed half an hour late for our 3 hour flight to St Johns in Newfoundland. We were flying east which meant a time change of one a half hours, so leaving at 12.30 for a 3 hour flight we arrived at 5.00. And yesterday, when I flew from Frankfurt to Toronto, I left at 10.00 and arrived at midday. No wonder I’m confused about time.

The girl sitting next to Lorraine on today’s flight was a very nervous traveller and became really upset at the slightest turbulence, so when we hit a huge bump coming into St John’s, she was beside herself. It was pretty bad and the pilot had to abandon his first go at landing and come around for a second shot. Lorraine was very involved in the exciting bit of her movie and didn’t even notice that we were climbing. The second attempt was a success and when the plane finally came to a standstill everyone  clapped.

We waited quite a while in the queue at Thrifty car rental and when it was finally our turn were given a Volvo, a huge one. My weather app said the temperature was 3 degrees but feels like -6, and it was drizzling and windy so we couldn’t get into the car park and then the car quickly enough. Spent ages adjusting seats and getting the GPS sorted before heading very gingerly onto the road. All went well but I’m not really comfortable with the size of the car. I’ll see how I go tomorrow and if I’m not happy we’ll try to change it.

When we reached the hotel we grabbed our things and raced in out of the cold. There was a nice welcome from the two young men at reception. Luckily we could access Dennys for dinner without having to step outside. So no need to face the weather until tomorrow which is expected to be much the same as today. Eek!

Friday 29 May. Toronto

 

Up and out early for my 10.00 flight to Toronto. Thankfully it was an uneventful flight with Air Canada. We arrived at 12.00, half an hour early, and I cleared immigration and customs in no time, then found my case already waiting on the carousel. (The time difference is 6 hours so it felt like 6 pm when I arrived and midnight when we had dinner.)

A few minutes later I was meeting Lorraine in the foyer of our hotel  and then having a cuppa and a good catchup. We took a photo to show that we’ve linked up but it’s a shocker. There was really nowhere to go for a few hours in the afternoon so we sat and talked and caught up with emails etc.

Then down to the restaurant for dinner where I introduced Lorraine to that classic Canadian cocktail, the Caesar. It’s contains vodka, Clamato, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. The interesting ingredient is the Clamato which is a blend of tomato juice and clam broth. She seems to have rather taken to it.

Thursday 28 May. Frankfurt

A very leisurely start to the day today, before heading off to find the Gateway Gardens station and catching the S Bahn into the city centre. Then it was only a short distance to the HOHO bus stop. There was a bit of a wait so I bought a cheesy pretzel and a cool drink to keep me going. The second half of the pretzel became my afternoon tea along with a container of cherries and strawberries I found at the station.

It was a reasonably interesting city tour but quite different from the other tours I’ve done on this trip. This time it was a big city and a large part of the audio was pointing out various skyscrapers. Apart from a few churches and so on it seems to be a very modern city.

After the tour I had a bit of a wander but didn’t come across an Eiscafe although I’m sure there must have been one somewhere in the vicinity. So I mooched on back to the station where I got chatting to a woman about my age who had commented on the heat. I told her about my one hot weather top and she suggested I go to what sounded like Woolworths. The only people who start a conversation seem to be the older generation. I guess that’s pretty much the same at home.

When I got back to the hotel I caught up on a bit of U3A stuff, not much, but sometimes the internet doesn’t seem to like my U3A email so it was good to catch up. I also checked in for tomorrow’s flight and thought about clothes for tomorrow including my special squeezy socks. 

Then out for dinner as the hotel has a special event in the restaurant tonight, probably the Condor people. I went to the Italian restaurant down the street and was not impressed. My chicken and mushroom risotto was more like chicken, mushroom and boiled rice.  I did, however, like the limoncello and tonic which I indulged in for my last night in Germany. Would have had a German meal if I could find one.

And tonight I’m packing away my one hot weather top, which I am heartily sick of and which is not getting a wash till I get home!

Wednesday 27 May. Frankfurt

Lotte had to drive to Stuttgart for work today so it was a big hug goodbye at 7.00.

Alex and I spent the morning playing with Arthur and taking him back to the playground for some more time on the swing. Arthur agreed with Alex that the slide was much too hot to sit on. Fortunately the weather has been a couple of degrees cooler today so slightly less oppressive.

We three had a wrap for lunch and Arthur was supposed to be tired and ready for a sleep but he decided against that. Christina was going to keep an eye on him while Alex drove me to the station but Arthur came too and stayed awake all the way, which meant that I got a kiss goodbye and a wave. Hope he finally nodded off. It’s been a really lovely few days with my German family/friends and I am so grateful for their welcome and hospitality.

The train  from Kirchheim to Stuttgart was going very well until we reached Bad Cannstatt, where it stopped and stayed put long enough for me to miss my connection. I think there was a broken down train somewhere in the underground. The Deutsche Bahn App offered me some alternatives, so I switched platforms and hopped on a regional train for the last 5 minutes to Stuttgart. About half an hour later I was able to take another ICE train to Frankfurt Airport and the best thing was that coming in on the regional train meant I didn’t have to find my way from the S Bahn station all the way to the main station. That’s no fun, especially if you haven’t got long between trains.

I’m now tucked up in the Holiday Inn along with a lot of people who are here for the Condor Global Ground Operations Conference. The card on the desk in my room tells me that their new HQ is right here. I’ll have to look out for it in the morning. 

Tuesday 27 May. Neidlingen

Lotte had to work this morning so Alex and I looked after Arthur. After some talking and drawing and singing we popped him onto his little tricycle and set out for the park, where Alex and I got sick of the swing long before Arthur. 

 

Eventually we were able to continue on to the supermarket to buy hamburger ingredients for tonight’s dinner with Sabine, Jack, Stini, Tino, Luby and Milo. Arthur has charmed the lady in the supermarket and she always gives him a slice of sausage. It was a hot walk back up the hill to the house.

Alex did a great job making the hamburgers and I spent time with Arthur, who was a hungry boy and needed carrot and cucumber pieces to keep himself going. He went for a sleep soon after Lotte finished her morning’s work, so the three of us adults were able to have a relaxed lunch. This afternoon it was Alex’s turn to work. 

Lotte, Arthur and I were heading to a nearby town to buy some crocs or sandals for Arthur. We had to do a huge detour because of what appeared to be a big accident on the main road. The road was still closed when we returned. We were very late getting back and the rest of the diners were all there before us.

Alex’s hamburgers were very tasty and so was the cheesecake Lotte had made. It was nice to catch up with the other family members and to see Sabine and Jack again. They have all been so welcoming and of course, Lotte and Alex in particular. It will be sad to say goodbye tomorrow. Arthur and I have got on so well too. He’s a dear little boy.

Monday 25 May. Neidlingen

Today is a public holiday in Germany so lots of people have been enjoying the long weekend. We drove right over the mountain under which Neidlingen is nestled, through forest and green green farmland to Laichingen where there was a big market day. Lotte is an excellent parking spot finder so we were soon wandering through the market checking out all the stalls. Near where we sat to have our bratwurst lunch there was a giant pole with a fir tree on the top. It’s a May Pole and I saw them in a couple of other villages that we drove through.

As the day was still young we continued to Wiesensteig and a lovely picnic area with a cool stream at Filsursprung. Great for a paddle on a hot day and also for throwing stones in the creek.

Then this evening I was taken to a restaurant called Deutsches Haus in Gruibingen where Alex recommended the Wurst Salad. Very tasty. Arthur liked it too.

We were all pretty exhausted by the time we got home so an early night was in order. Lotte and Alex have given me such a lovely day.