So what places were out? Dortmund, because we didn't have any reason to actually go there - same with Dusseldorf; Hannover, because we weren't that fussed and it didn't seem logically obvious to call in there with our transport routes; Stuttgart was dropped much earlier when Lake Constance was also dropped, as Constance is a summer time destination and we would not be able to go in summer - and without Constance we would have no reason to go near Stuttgart. Despite being in the area, Bonn didn't get a look in because although it used to be the Capital of West Germany, we're pretty sure there's not much worth going to see there! But what was left was still quite an itinerary, and even though it was largely focused on Germany there would be an International component - and quite an interesting one too. I could tell you what it was, and what the places were that made the list right here and now, but then again maybe I'll just make you read the rest of this post to find out.
Now, usually I would do this day by day but for a change, I have decided I will do it place by place!
The Harz
So we weren't going to the Brocken today. Which also meant Paul and Alice's special train wouldn't get to the Brocken - so what did that mean for them? would their train still go up to Schierke, or would it get routed onto the line south towards Nordhausen instead? Most of the time we were up at Schierke we didn't have cell reception thanks to the changing weather, but around now we got a bit and I messaged Paul with what we knew. They were already at Drei Annen Hohne with their special train, but it hadn't left yet and they had been told the Brocken was closed - but not where the train was going. About 10mins later we had the answer - their train was going South. Best laid plans and all of that and we weren't going to be able to see them or their train! So with nothing for it, Sasha and I caught the next train down the hill back to Wernigerode (requiring a change at Drei Annen Hohne). Upon arrival at Wernigerode the ticket office had closed for the day - it seemed chances of a refund on our tickets might be slim-to-none. I asked Paul to flick us a message when they were back at Drei Annen Hohne so we could meet their train at the station, and we had a bit of a snooze.
Wuppertal
Cologne
Koblenz
Trier
Luxembourg
Frankfurt (am Main)
Summing Up
The Harz
I think we could easily spend an entire week in this region exploring. Wernigerode is one of my favourite little places in Germany, I guess largely helped by the steam trains that are there but its a neat region with lots of little towns. It was great to finally visit Quedlinberg - and I dare say this visit to the Harz, while the last during our OE will not be the last ever. Was also great to do a last bit of steam train riding and photo-ing here as well!
Wuppertal
This town is surprisingly buzzy given its size, and the Suspended Railway is quite cool if somewhat quirky and even clunky - the new trains on them certainly allow a great view of what's below however! I'm not sure there is anything else we could have done here though, we spent longer there than I anticipated and having now been there, done that, I don't think we'd have much of a cause to go back - but never say never!
Cologne
This was a neat city to visit particularly at Carnival time - definitely something out of the ordinary, although it would have been nice to have been there for all the parades as well! While another day in this city could have been useful, there may not have been much more that we wanted to do here really. Had a great time, but I don't feel like I'm itching to go back.
Koblenz
It was great to see and experience Koblenz city itself for me this time. Was the amount of time we had here sufficient? for the city itself, I feel like that is a yes. However Koblenz is an ideal hub to explore the Rhine area, of which there are a number of neat little towns not to mention a lot of vineyards. I think this would be a great area to explore in summer sometime if we ever had the time and opportunity - definitely an area I would like to go back to given the opportunity!
Trier
The amount of Roman ruins in this city actually blew me away - I never expected so much nor so many to be still so intact. Had a great time here, however there's probably not much of anything that we're interested in left to do in this town - it might well be we never go back here, but I certainly know now that I like the wine from here!
Luxembourg
Enjoyed visiting this city (and country) a lot - its a real gem. The time we had here was enough - we didn't go over to the Kirchberg area with the European Parliament, but we weren't super interested in seeing that anyway. I had average expectations for this city because we hadn't heard much about it, and the people we knew who had been didn't exactly rave about it - but I had a great day there and way very pleasantly surprised! I may never be back, but at least Sasha and I can agree that we've both been to Luxembourg!
Frankfurt (am Main)
I was expecting something akin to Hamburg mostly, or maybe Munich - but Frankfurt was nothing like either of these cities. Its very much a business-oriented, Glass-skyscraper city (or more specifically, Canary Wharf) rising out of a German village almost. Has a very distinctive feel, but not a very warming one. Glad to have seen it, don't know I have any need or want to come back here though.
Most favourite parts of the trip? Fun in the snow at Schierke, Harz; Catching up with Paul and Alice; watching the Carnival celebrations in Cologne; the day trip to a very pretty Luxembourg; and the Ebbelwei Tram in Frankfurt and i suppose I should include that it was good to do some photo-ing of steam trains again. Any lowlights? probably just a lot of the train connections, particularly on the Monday from the Harz to Wuppertal but it wasn't really that bad - oh and that pub in Wuppertal which was what it was billed, but nothing more. For Sasha, this trip means more jubes on her map in the Western part of Germany where there was not much before, and for me it means more stars on my Google Map. Overall it means we've seen a large swathe of Germany now, this country we have been resident in for nearly 2 years. Did we see all that we wanted to? no, but that was the same of the UK - but we've seen most. Certainly its given us an appreciation for the country as a whole - not everywhere in Germany is flat boring green fields peppered with the occasional clump of trees, that's for sure!