Fresh air and dog and a bit more mafia

Whoop, that was ten withdrawals and my bank account in one day, 250 euros out so far and the whole trip planned.
Some good in the fact that Nadine has to work so much.
That, and now my knowledge to "the Godfather" movies is complete.
Tough life in this everlong holiday I must say.

My trip goes like this:

11/3: Bad Rappenau -> Frankfurt -> Düsseldorf -> Velbert where Miriam lives.
13/3: Miriam's place -> Düsseldorf

15/3: Düsseldorf -> Rotterdam to visit my dear smellycat Timo
20/3: Rotterdam -> Den Haag
22/3: Den Haag -> Amsterdam to hang out with Sophie
25/3: Amsterdam -> Brussels

27/3: Brussels -> Trápani, Sicilia3/4: Trápani -> Paris

7/4: Paris -> Haugesund -> Sauda

Good life, I must say.
Even though I might be a bit exhausted when I get home.
I have decided that my next shopping mission will be after a traveller's handbook.
Who on earth goes travelling in Europe for a couple months without a map or guide of any sort? Apart from me; no one with their head on the right place. 

Twice I've woken up too early by some wet sniffing in my face and an attention seeking dog. But on the other hand, who can be angry with a cute, innocent face on someone warm who lies down beside you in your bed?

A bit too early. And she knows!

Despite my mafia-movie-watching, these have been healthy days.
You know, the "Bad" in Bad Rappenau means "bath" and comes from the old days when ill and stressed people from big cities had to get out in the fresh air and healthy baths in the countryside. And the air here is wonderful.

Nadine was off work yesterday, so we got up, had breakfast and went for a loooooong walk with Motte through the lovely German forest in sunshine.  The temperature was between 10 and 15 degrees, with clear blue sky and happy dog running everywhere around us. We took the bikes some of the way, and had to try to save Motte from a brutal sexual debute once or twice, before walking was the big thing. 

Heaven?

 

Joy

 

Enchanting Jewish cemetery. One of few the nazis didn't find to destroy.

Motte's simple interpretation of the world doesn't keep her from knowing what happiness consists of. Rolling in dirt and old leaves.

...and smelling the dirty and probably repelling stuff you just rolled in

I must admit I never though about German nature as anything worth spending you thoughts on. My image of Germany was highways and big cities. The countryside here in the south is just wonderful. A little peace of heaven away from the trafficked roads.

 

Our goal: Burg Guttenberg. An old fortress that now is touristified in every way with restaurant, museum, shops and show with their trained raptors.

 

Shit happens...

 

We didn't want to pay for going in

 

...so we were happy to get permission to take pictures from the bridge for free

 

Just like it has been for centuries. Plus motorbike

One of the old millhouses. There are always stories about strange things going on in these...

Four hours spent, and cold drink consumed in a little restaurant in a millhouse on the way back.

When we came back, we were hungry, tired and - wait for it - sunburned! And happy about our new red noses, of course. Lord Winter can rest in quiet peace for the rest of the year.

Salad with chicken was on the lunch menu, and we ate pretty  a lot.
Then I spent forever checking out different routes and alternatives for the rest of my trip. I am strongly considering opening a travel agency some time. I soon know all that's useful of bus trips and webpages and hostel booking.

To be even more sporty (why not do everything on one day so you can relax the rest of the week?), we went to a zumba class Nadine sometimes goes to. But it was closed! Oh no, oh no.
So we went back and had grilled scampi and bread and a suspicious looking, smelling and tasting cheese. And ice cream for dessert....


Motte took care of her job as alarm clock at 07.10, just to lie down and sleep herself when I couldn't anymore. Both Nadine and boyfriend Marcel left before that (Germans work so much. I am speechless. 8 to 18 is normal.), so I was free to be as lazy as I wanted. That implied multitasking with eating breakfast and giving equal amounts of attention to dog, mac and movie.

When Motte started to fart worryingly often, I pulled myself together and went down in the park for a small hour.

Motte taking me for a walk

Birds. Mottes big fear. A flapping swan left my right arm approximately 6 cm longer than the other.

Home, food, "The Godfather".
Then Nadine was home, fun fun!
We picked up our clean clothes at her father's house (as she gets her washing  machine on Saturday), and came home and cooked some pasta, which we consumed while watching Mel Gibson being an American hero in "the Patriot".

We were wondering whether to go out or not.
For once, reason won and we decided to run instead. Nadine had a hard time deciding, because she stopped smoking the day I came, and thinks therefore she is getting boring.
And reasonable is boring.

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do

Tomorrow we'll get up early (she works at home) and go running, have eggs and bacon for breakfast and then I'll take the train from here.

I've had some good days here.

I have a new bed buddy

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain