If the last week of February deserved to be called "Public Transport Week", this past week qualified even more. But since the only means of public transport I have been using were trains (and no bus or anything else), I have decided on "Trains Week" for the headline of this post.
Monday (10 March) was the only working day when I was using no means of transport but my own two feet. Working from home was busy with a few appointments, and the weather was sunny at first before turning to rain, and it was chilly and unpleasant enough for me not to want a walk - besides, I'd been walking 20 km on the Sunday, so didn't actually feel a pressing urge to walk.
Instead of just the Wednesday, last week I also spent Tuesday (11 March) at the office. Once again, it was sunny for part of the day but rain arrived in the evening, but not before I was almost home; I got off the train in Kornwestheim and walked the rest. The late afternoon/early evening light was particularly beautiful against the backdrop of dark inky clouds, and for the first time in months I heard the distant rumble of thunder.
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| The golden-ness was even more golden, and the dark clouds darker than what my phone captured. |
Wednesday (12 March) was cold and wet, and I did not feel as if I was missing out on something by sitting in the office all day. The rain was badly needed, but actually not enough to really help the thirsty trees and everything else out there that wants to grow this time of year.
I had to get up very early on Thursday (13 March) in order to catch a train from Stuttgart to Frankfurt, where I was spending the day at a work-related event. The trains known as ICE (Inter City Express) in Germany only take about 1 1/2 hours to cover the 200 km between the two cities, and since the event started at 10:00 am, I didn't need to arrive the evening before and spend the night.
With about an hour to spare and less than 30 minutes away from the venue, I walked from Frankfurt main station through part of the city centre, across the river and along some beautiful houses to the event location, which is an arts centre but the ground floor can be rented for meetings and other events.
I had enough time for some photos along the way, enjoying the morning sun after a very grey start in Ludwigsburg.
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| This beautiful house was next door to our event location. |
The conference was good, with expert speakers and some useful information for me as well as meeting people in similar positions as myself. Last but not least, the catering was also really nice, as were the people I talked to during breaks.
We had an hour over lunch, and I used half of it for a brief walk along the river. The event ended with drinks, snacks and more pleasant chatting to the other attendants before I made my way back to the station - now in the rain.
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| Frankfurt main station must be one of the very few places in Germany where you will find a Prêt à Manger. |
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| The villa where I spent the day. |
My train was 40 minutes late, and I was glad to be home when at 20 to 10 pm I finally shut the door to my flat from the inside.
Friday (14 March) was again grey and cold. I hosted an online meeting of the regional group within the association of data protection officers I am a member of; this took up the first half of the day.
After lunch, I finished a few work-related tasks, did my usual cleaning and washing and then packed my little red suitcase.
It was the 1st anniversary of O.K.'s father's death, and his sister and her husband had invited us (and of course O.K.'s mother) to spend the evening together to commemorate. We did so with delicious home-made food and drank to the absent family members.
O.K. had an appointment at 10:00 am at his optician's on Saturday (15 March) to have a pair of sunglasses made. I came along and was trying a few frames on just for fun. And guess what, I ended up buying one! Which of the three do you think I chose?
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| Alien? |
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| Huge? |
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| Doris Day? |
I can't wear them just yet, since I want my optician to adapt them to what my eyes need, and right now I do not have time for the lengthy appointment that is necessary for that, but the frame is here and waiting.
Our next stop was a men's clothes shop where O.K. has been a customer for many years. He found a couple of new shirts and other things. We were back at the cottage in time for lunch and later, after a rest and coffees, we went for a short-ish walk around the village; the day was grey and cold so we weren't up for a proper long walk or hike. A brief visit with his Mum followed before we were ready for our evening meal.
Sunday (16 March) was still cold and grey, getting no warmer than 7C/44F. It was nice to sleep in, and after a leisurely morning, we went for another walk around the village. At the moment, at least 5 storks' nests are dotted among the houses, and I took pictures of three of them.
One of the bakeries is open on Sundays, and we got something from there for our mid-afternoon coffee.
From about 5:00 pm onwards, I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening on my own; it was a fellow musician's 70th birthday, and O.K. and a few others from the village band were playing for him.
O.K. was back home in time for a meal with me, and our customarily quiet Sunday evening with early bedtime.
In Frankfurt, it must have been good to meet with people who play similar work roles - comparing notes. By the way, what is that tall red building you included in your gallery?
ReplyDeleteP.S. I am guessing that you chose the Doris Day frames.
It was good to compare notes and hear how others approach the same issues.
DeleteThe tall red building intrigued me so that I went right up to it; with more time, I would have gone inside (it was open). If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you should be able to see the sign over the door: "Kunsthalle Portikus". They have their own website, also available in English: https://www.portikus.de/en/about
PS: You guessed right.
DeleteFrankfurt is one major German city I have not been to. As the financial capital, it looks a lot like our City of London where all the major banks and investors are situated. As for the sunglasses, I would say option 2 or 3.
ReplyDeleteThe mix of old and new buildings (mainly new, since Frankfurt was heavily bombed during WWII) makes it rather intriguing, but definitely NOT a place where I would like to live.
DeleteI went for option 3 with the sunglasses.
Your week sounds hectic. You made good use of your lunch break by crossing the river for a short walk. I think I probably would have taken the break to sit. I remember Frankfurt railway station having changed trains there for a train to Kassel. I was there at around 5pm and it was busy. I had time to buy a glass of wine. My guess with the glasses would be either the Alien or the Doris Day, I like both. I thought the second ones really did look huge but if you wanted to look different then they would be fine too.
ReplyDeleteIt was very busy but not actually hectic, although train trips in this country always feel a bit like Roulette - you thank Lady Luck when all goes well and you catch your connection, preferably without having to sprint across a large station full of people! At least in Frankfurt (unlike Karlsruhe and some other stations), you don't need to maneouvre stairs between every platform.
DeleteI went for the Doris Day ones (by the way, it was O.K. who said that those glasses reminded him of her). The huge ones were favoured by the young man who served us at the shop, but I felt that they were really too big for my small head.
Goodness me, you are always so busy. I loved the sound of that trip to Frankfurt, I think you said? I know it was a working trip but it still sounded nice. I think you might have chosen the last one, the one you call "Doris Day". (I like that first one, the pinkish frames also!)
ReplyDeletePret A Manger, I remember that from London! I used to like taking trains in England but now, they are not as nice as they were once were. I am old and remember when things were nicer!
Yes, it was a working trip but I enjoy most of those, too, and this one was really good!
DeleteYou are right, I chose the Doris Day one (see my reply to Rachel).
In the 1990s I was in London quite a bit, and often went to Pret a Manger for a meal, not wanting to stop for long during a busy day of sightseeing and exploring.
As for trains in England, I can't complain - my journeys there are sometimes better than the ones in Germany! The local train between Leeds and Harrogate can be very crowded and noisy, but of course that depends on what time we happen to be on one.
I love the first dramatic photo, and nice to see a bit of Frankfurt, too. I've never seen a stork or its nest "live". In the past there used to be wild storks nesting in the very south of Sweden, in Skåne, but not during my lifetime. In later years I think they have tried some breeding projects to bring them back though.
ReplyDeletePS. I thought the "Doris Day" glasses looked best on you, so I did guess you went for those!
DeleteTo see a stork in flight is rather impressive - their wing span is big, bigger than a heron's, and their flight pattern majestic. There is a good population in O.K.'s area, and even here in my town we have at least one nest in the palace grounds, and in Stuttgart there are several.
DeleteI am not used to wearing sun glasses and hope I'll still like the Doris Day ones when they have been customised for me :-)
What a busy week! I enjoyed your photos of Frankfort as I don't know anything about it. I see that you picked the Doris Day sunglasses - you are pretty in all of them, Meike!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellen - but I really don't think I am pretty in the "Alien" or the "Huge" model - they simply aren't for me :-)
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