Might actually get some sleep tonight. Last night wasn’t too bad – almost on this time zone which means I must be about to go somewhere else.

River Boats might be smaller than ocean going cruise ships but still – the routine on departure day is exactly the same. You pack up (in this case the morning of departure) prior to stumbling down the hall to breakfast wincing as you attempt to make it through a narrow hall stuffed with large numbers of oversized suitcases along with a couple of cleaning carts. I noticed in the first couple of days on the cruise that this was not a crowd that packed light.

A different outfit every night seemed to be in order. I had to settle for changing which sweater I wore with my good pants (or one dress with/without wrap) while George varied his shirt and tie. I could hardly believe that people traveling by train (more than 1/2 the passengers) would want to hall that much baggage on trains. But guess I have a lot to learn. Unlike with US passengers where it is reasonably easy to peg social status. Here there is a consistency to quality and style. I don’t understand the clues (obviously – no German here) but there seems to be a synchronicity to the evening dress which completely passes me by. It passes George by as well, but what would you expect from a guy who, after living most of the last 33 years in Germany still cuts his food, puts down his knife and switches his fork to his right hand to eat? All that fluent German and the minute he picks up a fork he identifies himself as an auslander.

Where was I? Oh, right. Nursing my banged up shins at the breakfast table. Followed by sitting around and waiting in the lounge for the bus. Followed by wandering around Passau while waiting for the train where we sat crowded in like sardines. It was good that we had seat reservations, but frankly, the car we were in made Ryan Air coach look roomy. Between the chick behind me who wanted my seat all the way forward so she could jam her huge suitcase in (seat was broken) to all the body oder going by at face height while seated I was more than ready after four hours to change trains.

Our train from Frankfurt was thankfully almost empty. I had the opportunity to have a lovely dinner with the Eldest while George headed back to the house. Then all I had to do was pack for tomorrow….