Sunday was hot and sunny. I put sunscreen on before leaving the apartment. We spent a couple hours visiting Christa in Mannheim, then decided to take the streetcar\tram to Bad Durkheim for the afternoon\evening. I guess we took the incorrect #4 tram, that we thought was a direct shot to Bad Durkheim. It was not. We were supposed to change to the #9 along the way. And so, when we started seeing familiar stops on the way back to Mannheim, we got off to find the correct tram. A very nice student from Somalia who spoke both German and English walked us over to the platform heading to Bad Durkheim and waited with us until it came. I asked him if it had been difficult to learn German. He said it was more difficult than English, and that he was still learning it. He hoped to go back to Somalia one day, more educated and help his country. We thanked him and got on board heading in the right direction.
Bad Durkheim is a quaint little city that would be relaxing to spend a few days in. Quiet and clean, it reminded me of the old German towns I had visited years ago. It is best known for the Wurstfest, the world's largest wine fest held the 2nd and 3rd weekends in September. Man muss die feste feiern wie sie fallen! (One must celebrate the parties as they come!) That German expression was drilled into our heads by our German language professor, Herr Matson. He proceeded to invite the class to the local Oktoberfest the first semester of class, as a learning experience of course! That's where my wife Sue and I met my traveling partner, Monika and her husband Don. When Don could not travel with Monika to Germany this time, both he and my wife suggested I go with Monika. So here we are in Germany. Ein Prosit!
Known for its mineral springs and salt baths, it has long been a place where people came to recover from various ailments on their own, or as prescribed by their doctors.
We walked along the dripping saltwater wall where people came to breathe in the vapors of salt mists. Just the few minutes we were there caused my glasses to have a salty coating and my hands dried out. I tasted the dripping water and it is saltier than the seawater I've gulped (accidentally) in the ocean.
I spotted something from the walkway that I knew I had to explore!
It was about time to find my first beer in Gernany in 38 years. April, 1980, I separated from the Air Force and returned to Ohio after 3 years in Wiesbaden. One of my favorite beers, then and now, is Bitburger Pils. And so, it would be at the Restaurant, Durkheimer Riesenfass. I ordered a Bitburger Pils and my old favorite, Jagerschnitzel with Pomme Frites.
I new at the beginning of this trip that for a couple meals at least, I would set aside my vegetarian ways and enjoy some flavors from my past life. Yesterday was one of those days. Today, at the restaurant in Luisenpark in Mannheim, I returned to my regular diet. I ordered their Vegetarianische Burger. It was very good, but perhaps not as remembered by me as the schnitzel shown above.
Eichbaum bier is brewed in Mannheim and a visit to the brewery is planned. Eichbaum means Oak tree. They may or may not offer a brewery tour at the time of our visit, but Monika assures me they have a tavern on site to enjoy a glass or two. It is just across the Neckar River, not far from our apartment.
I don't know where we'll be tomorrow. Whether visiting friends, taking a tram to Heidelberg, or a train along the Rhein River. But I'll take pictures and set aside some time to write more about this little adventure.
Tschuss!
