20 June, Sunday

We walked to the station with Daniel and Smokey the Dog under cloudy skies, but no rain for a change. We made our connection in Stuttgart and headed north for Mainz. Once again, we had our own little compartment, so we were able to catch up on the trip log, eat lunch, and relax.

Oops, update required. After I pulled out the seats to make a bed and settled down for a quick power nap, a conductor came around and made it known in mostly German that we had to move to the next car because of some sort of problem in our car. They flushed everybody out of our car. This allowed us to meet the rudest people we've run into in months, if not years. The people in the car we were moved to were NOT happy. They acted like sharing a compartment was equal to sharing a shower! The conductor kept talking and they kept obviously asking why we and the others from our car couldn't go somewhere else. We knew we were getting off soon at the next stop, so we just stood by the door with two little-old-ladies.

Since we were traveling on Sunday, all of the tourist info spots were closed when we de-trained in Mainz. We figured out where the Rhine River is and headed that way, looking for lodging. All of the hotels we came across seemed either expensive for what they were, or had nobody manning the desk. We finally decided to splurge and stay at the Hilton for 120 Euros. When we discovered (too late) that we had to pay for Wi-Fi, we expressed our displeasure to the desk personnel. They were not moved. Be assured that we will leave here fully stocked with shower caps and sewing kits!

We had supper at a Cuban café near the river. The food was great and plentiful, and the margaritas had enough tequila in them for two. For future reference, it's just down the street toward the business area from the Hilton. I staggered back to the hotel and watched an Elvis movie in German for a while. I think it was a re-run.

Home on the train	Jake & Elwood	walking down the Steingasse	German Woolworth
Mainz Cathedral	Mainz Cathedral	cathedral model

nearby Gutenberg Museum

view from hotel room

German efficiency