Alpine Adventure- part XIV

Part XIV

Saturday, July 30, 2016- Lucerne, Switzerland

         We were up early. I was able to pack up and get our bags out into the hall or pickup. Ready for the bus, we climbed aboard at 7:45 and claimed our seats, happy to have made the bus. I promptly feel asleep for the next two hours. We first stopped at Schaffhausen, Switzerland to view the Rheinfalls. The series of white-crested falling water drops some sixty feet into the calm waters of river below.  Ancient castles, on either side of the Rhine here, made this a commanding control point for all river traffic northward. The Rhine itself only becomes navigable in Basel, Switzerland. It then flows North through Germany to the Baltic Sea. It is the main, north-south water highway of Germany. Our colleagues were framing pictures of the scenic falls. It felt wonderful for me to just sit in the sun. Small tour boats were launched from either side of the river, motoring up to the rapids and thrilling their passenger complements. It made me think then of the Maid of the Mist, and her sister ships, as they navigated the frothy waters beneath Niagara Falls and then braved the swirling matrix of the enormous amount of water falling over the two hundred and sixty foot drop, from Niagara Escarpment above them.

After Rheinfalls, we headed North and East through the northern tier of Switzerland and on into Bavaria and Germany. A perfunctory stop at the German border was necessary to pay a road fee for use of the highways. We motored by both Stuttgart and the famous spa of Baden Bade as we approached the mysterious environs of Die Scwartzwald (Black Forest.) The Romans had so named it (Sylvia Negra) when they first forayed into Germania. From a distance, the densely packed and lush conifers look almost black in appearance and ominous in feeling. It was also in the deep woods of Germania that the Romans had first lost two full legions of men, to ambush and slaughter by superior forces of native “German Barbarians,” as they then called them. After these defeats, the Romans were never again anxious to venture into the densely wooded and mysterious forests of Germania, preferring the gentler and more defensible regions of the Rhine River valley.

         The Region is lush with grape vineyards first cultivated by the Romans. Farms along the valleys are neatly ordered, with precisely laid out fields and lush looking flora. Perhaps because of their woodland heritage, the area is famous for its woodcarvings. Elaborate koo koo clocks, with revolving figurines on their faces, became a trademark of the region. We passed through colorful tourist towns like Furtwagen and Treeberg, before stopping at The House of Black Forests Products, home of master carver Adolph Hesse. One whole wall of the two-story complex features two layers of carved figures,  that cycle out from the wall on the hour, amusing all of us. Woodchoppers, chopping wood, and dancers moving up and down were finely carved and attractive figurines. Inside, we found every imaginable trinket and decorative piece that could be carved from wood. Ornaments, key chains, small figurines and bric a brac filled the many shelves. Carver Hesse was demonstrating his craft with a small carving knife. He said that he had learned his trade from his father who had learned it from his grandfather.

        On the second floor of the facility, amidst more elaborate carvings, sits a small cafeteria that attracted us like flies to doo doo. I must have been rallying here. I remember eating some exquisite Black Forest Torte with good coffee. Great stuff. Outside, sitting in the sun, we sampled some pretty powerful schnapps and some locally famous cherry liquor. It wouldn’t take very long to get hammered drinking these powerful potions. After the shopping spree, we continued on through southern Bavaria. We were headed to our now familiar hotel in Franfurt Am Main. We were then passing by Heidlberg, that ancient seat of learning. The University here had been founded in 1386. We could see the red sandstone Hochberg Castle sitting high above the town on the banks of the Neccar River. Mary and I planned to visit here on Monday.

       The inevitable “stau” (traffic jam) consumed us in its swarm. It is here where Nila, the “costly daughter” of the California couple, took charge. Using a “ways”  traffic app on her I-phone, she was able, with great assuredness, to reroute the bus onto local roads and avert the largest part of Die Stau. I was amazed that two professional drivers and a tour guide listened and followed her lead, which was spot on. She must be a pretty good salesperson someplace.

        The bus arrived at the Sheraton Hotel on Lyonner Strasser. Had it only been two weeks since we had left here? It seemed like a lifetime of experiences had elapsed since last we stayed here. Most of the tour was now over. We all us found time to slip Lucy and Tibor our gratuity envelopes and thank them for all of their many kindnesses during the tour. We then settled into our rooms and got ready for the farewell dinner that was to be held in downtown Frankfurt. Feeling a little peaked, I had enough energy left to want to be at the last shindig with people whom I had spent virtually every waking hour for the last two weeks.

       Faithful Tibor picked us up at 6:45 P.M for one last ride into Town, parking along with seven other buses near the tourist maelstrom of Die Romerplaz. We walked through the very crowded plaz. In the far corner of the plaz, sits the two-story refectory of Die Schwartzen Stern (Black Star) restaurant. The night was warm and beautiful. Hundreds of diners sat underneath tents in from of all of the cafes and restaurants in the plaz, eating, drinking and enjoying a summer night. We were seated on the second story of this very old restaurant. The long hall had the windows open, but it was a little stuffy. I don’t think they do air conditioning in these parts, or even need to in summers. Efficient waiters dolled out salads, salmon with potatoes and then a wonderful ice cream treat for dessert, with a glass of red wine. It was both tasty and appreciated

          Lucy thanked all of us for our cooperation on the tour. We had been exemplary passengers in being where and when we had to be,  on time. She also made a humorous presentation, passing out several gag gifts to passengers, all of whom took the teasing with good grace. I don’t think the Saudi gentleman understood the meaning of the potato peeler, that was a reminder for him to learn how to cook. Sometimes humor is untranslatable. The evening was warm and we were tiring with the day. We stood outside in the plaz and watched the ebb and flow of tourists on vacation on a warm summer night in Bavaria.

         The ride back was nostalgic. On one last performance, on the Microphone, Lucy sang mournful operatic tunes and offered her appreciation to all of us for our generosity and cooperation on the tour. She said thatshe would miss us. We certainly would miss her. At the hotel, there were parting handshakes and farewells in the lobby. Friendships had been forged in this brief sojourn. Most of the folks were headed out early in the morning, so no one stopped by the bar. We too headed for our room and the wonderful embrace of the sandman. It had been a longish few days since the onset of the Lucerne Plague. I still had some recovery to get through. We had two more days, here In Frankfurt Am Main. We would travel to see Heidelberg and experience one more fabled attraction in Bavaria. But, the tour was over and we were glad that we had come. It was an adventure, a learning experience and just plain fun to wander through the medieval Alpine precincts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We would not this way come again I though.

                                    -30-

                                    (1,361 words)

                           Joseph Xavier Martin