If everything went smoothly, it'd just be boring

Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany
Awoke to the birds singing and blue sky (we were lucky - we could have both the curtains and the windows open). Bought cheese, ham, rolls and cheese at the supermarket and were in plenty of time for the ferry which left at 8.10. Not a lot of people about, but not deserted. There were 11 of us on the ferry.

We were a bit worried about the connection time at Attnang-Puchheim - we had 13 minutes, but Regional trains are slow sometimes . However - arrived on time, but the connecting train was 6 minutes late. So now we didn't want to waste any time at the next connection - we'd actually gone backwards to Wels (towards Vienna) as this is the quickest train route to Nuremberg.

Apparently!

We needn't have worried. Our 'expected' train was 5 minutes late, then 10mins and so on - until it just disappeared off the electronic board on the platform! I asked someone in uniform and he said he didn't know and just wait. Well we gave up waiting and went up and down stairs back to 'Information'. They had the train on their screen - and it said leaving at 10.48. Well, I really had to interrupt the poor man that was before me - and just as well, because the passengers (us) had been diverted to a bus!!

We still weren't sure what was happening, but we had a minute (yes ONE minute) to get down more stairs, cross the road, and find "the bus" . A couple of people were ahead of us (behind us in the queue at Info -lol) - but we left a group behind on the original platform. Any public announcements that were made were only in German. And there was nothing on the electronic board. Very bad communication/public address.

Anyway. We had a bus trip, then another bus trip, then a train trip. Then arrived at Passau - and our connection was a train from Wels. We could've stayed at Wels for 2 hours, put our bags in a locker, and explored Passau!! Oh well - the bus was interesting. BUT - this next train was 35 minutes late too! When it finally arrived, no one was sure if it was ours or not. The Germans as well as the tourists - my interpreter friend just said the equivalent of "I dunno." The train was obviously full since the previous one was cancelled. In case I didn't mention - this was an InterCity train from Vienna to Hamburg which ran every 2 hours.

Apparently, the reason for the first train being cancelled and the other delays, was that someone had stolen the copper wire used in signaling . (a common problem in England too?) Anyway - we got here. And we spoke to a lot of people - not that we understood each other!

This Ibis Hotel is ideally situated - right near the station. We got to our room on the top floor at 20 past 4. Went out at about 5.15pm and just walked. This is the third year in a row we've been here, so we just wandered and only checked the map a couple of times. A very easy place to walk around - not too crowded and has a great ambiance. Hard to get lost with so many remarkable features.

We tried a few different streets this time and ended up in the red light district! Inside the city walls on the south west. I wondered why all the windows had red lights and why there were so many windows! I'm glad the chair was empty when I glanced sideways!

Back to the Kultur Garten for a drink and dinner. Tonight was a DJ - not a band. Still an interesting evening. A lot of young locals this time - spoke to a lad from New Zealand who lives and works here now.

We were at Nuremberg last year and the year before, so check the previous blogs if you want to read more or see more photos. Tomorrow morning we go to the Nazi Rallying Grounds
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2025-02-15

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