Well, a great day out yesterday at the museum. They had such a fantastic interactive area for children aged 3-8. Meriana had the time of her life. The museum showed the advances in German technology through the times. Their machinery, aircrafts and ships had been opened to show how the object is made-up. I found the cross cut of the plane very interesting because it showed the plane in its entirety. From the oxygen masks down the the wheels and how they operate.
Another visit to the Christmas markets for more shopping and of course hot chocolate, but what we also discovered was the most freshest fish shuppin (fish n chips) ever.
Had a great time train hopping (something Auckland would benefit a lot from, the rail system not the train hopping)I all over the city.
Then back to the hotel to our warm bed and a good nights sleep.
An early rise this morning, (by choice). We had to be at the train station by 9:40 for our Stuttgart bound train.
The time at the moment is 11:15am local time. We're sitting here our in our train cabin (which seats six) looking at the passing snow covered fields and ice covered lakes. A scenery I've only experienced in a movie.
The train reminds me of the Hogwarts Express and the cabins are just like where Harry, Hermione and Ron would be sitting, I'm just waiting for the lolly cart to come by now hehehe.
Meriana has no interest whatsoever in the scenery outside, rather she prefers to be watching Shrek. A train ride through the snow covered German countryside or Shrek? Hmmmm preferences of a 3 year old!
We've been joined by a mother /son duo. The mother is in her window seat knitting what looks like booties and the son is on his computer studying.
I'm writing the blog and Meriana is sitting next to me watching...wait a minute she must of had enough of Shrek, because now she's moved on to Ice Age.
The train is silent, you can't even notice it depart the train station. The ride is so smooth, the seats are comfortable and spacious, I could almost go to sleep.
Angela said it reminds her of a scene from out of Narnia and how the children are all trained off into the countryside during the war, personally i think its like Thomas the Tank Engine, the train guards stand outside the carriage and sound their whistle once all passengers are on board.
Once seated and the train has left the platform the guard comes around to check your tickets.
Thoroughly enjoyed my time amongst your people cousin Gisela, no wonder Uncle Siegfried like Raetihi so much, its cold just like this place lol, certainly would come back to visit again. Thank you München, you've treated us well.
So, to carry on, we pulled into Stuttgart at 11:55, went to get something to eat (because our breakfast was at 6:45am) and headed strait for our train. To look at, it looks like. A double deckin bullet.
Away we go on the second leg of our journey from Germany to Paris. Little did we know' that because we booked first class we got meals with our ticket lol (that'll do pig, that'll do!! - any guesses what movie that is from?)
Now, the train got up to speeds of 250km/h, it was so fast that the pressure built up in your ears, worse than a plane.
We've had 2 stops so far and have just received messages from Etisalat (UAE phone company) that we have arrived in France. Local time now is 2:25pm. Another 2 hours and we'll be in Paris. Meriana is fast asleep which she so didn't want but fell asleep protesting hehehe.
This 2nd stop was in Strasbourg, France where another passenger joined our table in first class. If you ever travel through Europe, do it by train. So much to see, so comfortable, I coulda just sat on this train for a couple of days touring the European country sides.
For those of you who have travelled through Europe will know that to go from country to country you don't go through any borders or get passports stamped. We landed in München, got a stamp at the border and won't get another stamp until we fly out of Paris. Same thing happened in Belgium and Rome. We flew into Brussels, flew from Brussels to Rome and only got a stamp when we left Rome. I guess this is the direction New Zealand and Australia will be headed back to in the near future.
We're passing through the French countryside now and it looks very dismal out, something which has been a little foreign to these eyes since leaving the motherland in August, but a reminder of the bright and sunny Manawatū hehehe. Farmlands have been transformed into marshes, some even turned into rivers, in saying that, it has been great to see greenery all around.
Note, when you make a booking on a train, make sure you get an area with just you and your family so your spouse doesn't keep kicking you under the table to remind your that you're snoring hehehe sorry lady sitting opposite me. Well I got 5 mins sleep lol.
Update on travel speed, we actually went up to 320km/h
Safely arrived in Paris at 4:35pm, caught a taxi to our hotel where we are at the present. Local time is now 7:55pm.
I went and got us some kebabs for dinner, Meriana has had a shower and Ang is skyping home.
Tour of Paris tomorrow, but for now it's bonne nuit from Paris.
Another visit to the Christmas markets for more shopping and of course hot chocolate, but what we also discovered was the most freshest fish shuppin (fish n chips) ever.
Had a great time train hopping (something Auckland would benefit a lot from, the rail system not the train hopping)I all over the city.
Then back to the hotel to our warm bed and a good nights sleep.
An early rise this morning, (by choice). We had to be at the train station by 9:40 for our Stuttgart bound train.
The time at the moment is 11:15am local time. We're sitting here our in our train cabin (which seats six) looking at the passing snow covered fields and ice covered lakes. A scenery I've only experienced in a movie.
The train reminds me of the Hogwarts Express and the cabins are just like where Harry, Hermione and Ron would be sitting, I'm just waiting for the lolly cart to come by now hehehe.
Meriana has no interest whatsoever in the scenery outside, rather she prefers to be watching Shrek. A train ride through the snow covered German countryside or Shrek? Hmmmm preferences of a 3 year old!
We've been joined by a mother /son duo. The mother is in her window seat knitting what looks like booties and the son is on his computer studying.
I'm writing the blog and Meriana is sitting next to me watching...wait a minute she must of had enough of Shrek, because now she's moved on to Ice Age.
The train is silent, you can't even notice it depart the train station. The ride is so smooth, the seats are comfortable and spacious, I could almost go to sleep.
Angela said it reminds her of a scene from out of Narnia and how the children are all trained off into the countryside during the war, personally i think its like Thomas the Tank Engine, the train guards stand outside the carriage and sound their whistle once all passengers are on board.
Once seated and the train has left the platform the guard comes around to check your tickets.
Thoroughly enjoyed my time amongst your people cousin Gisela, no wonder Uncle Siegfried like Raetihi so much, its cold just like this place lol, certainly would come back to visit again. Thank you München, you've treated us well.
So, to carry on, we pulled into Stuttgart at 11:55, went to get something to eat (because our breakfast was at 6:45am) and headed strait for our train. To look at, it looks like. A double deckin bullet.
Away we go on the second leg of our journey from Germany to Paris. Little did we know' that because we booked first class we got meals with our ticket lol (that'll do pig, that'll do!! - any guesses what movie that is from?)
Now, the train got up to speeds of 250km/h, it was so fast that the pressure built up in your ears, worse than a plane.
We've had 2 stops so far and have just received messages from Etisalat (UAE phone company) that we have arrived in France. Local time now is 2:25pm. Another 2 hours and we'll be in Paris. Meriana is fast asleep which she so didn't want but fell asleep protesting hehehe.
This 2nd stop was in Strasbourg, France where another passenger joined our table in first class. If you ever travel through Europe, do it by train. So much to see, so comfortable, I coulda just sat on this train for a couple of days touring the European country sides.
For those of you who have travelled through Europe will know that to go from country to country you don't go through any borders or get passports stamped. We landed in München, got a stamp at the border and won't get another stamp until we fly out of Paris. Same thing happened in Belgium and Rome. We flew into Brussels, flew from Brussels to Rome and only got a stamp when we left Rome. I guess this is the direction New Zealand and Australia will be headed back to in the near future.
We're passing through the French countryside now and it looks very dismal out, something which has been a little foreign to these eyes since leaving the motherland in August, but a reminder of the bright and sunny Manawatū hehehe. Farmlands have been transformed into marshes, some even turned into rivers, in saying that, it has been great to see greenery all around.
Note, when you make a booking on a train, make sure you get an area with just you and your family so your spouse doesn't keep kicking you under the table to remind your that you're snoring hehehe sorry lady sitting opposite me. Well I got 5 mins sleep lol.
Update on travel speed, we actually went up to 320km/h
Safely arrived in Paris at 4:35pm, caught a taxi to our hotel where we are at the present. Local time is now 7:55pm.
I went and got us some kebabs for dinner, Meriana has had a shower and Ang is skyping home.
Tour of Paris tomorrow, but for now it's bonne nuit from Paris.
Another fantastic day! wahoo! exciting, can't wait to see Paris! xxxxxxx
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