Germany - 15 July, 2004

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Travel Distance

Total (BMW 330CiC)

12,128 km

Total (other):

5,000 km

Total:

17,128 km

We do not really do much today during the day - it is nice to just take it easy for a while after all our hectic traveling over the last few months.  We have a light breakfast in the apartment and then take our time getting ready.  We read some and check our emails.

Then for lunch we decide to head off to a nearby village called Volksdorf.  We take the Schnellbahn a few stops.  We spend a few hours wandering around the streets checking out some of the shops and sights.  We have lunch and coffee in a local bakery.  It is amazing how many bakeries one village can support.  We saw them all over.  We also pick up some more fresh strawberries from one of the many stands selling fresh fruits.  They all seem to be staffed by the Gastarbeiter.

By mid-afternoon, we have returned to the apartment, where we take it easy for the rest of the afternoon before getting ready to head out for dinner.  We will be having dinner with some friends in Hamburg.  Once we are ready, we walk the short distance to the Schnellbahn and catch the train into town.  We are able to work out the system and after a few changes we get to the desired station.

We all meet up at our friend Steve's place.  We had met him and his wife Jenny in Bangkok and have kept in touch since then.  Steffi and Olaf also meet us there.  After a brief chat and drink, we head out for dinner. We go to an Algerian place that they have read about in the papers.  It turns out to be a great choice.  The service is fun and friendly - family owned and run, it seems.  The food is great.  We had a wonderful time.  We spent quite some time there hanging out and talking.

Then it was back to Steve's place for a drink and some more discussions before we drove back to Steffi and Olaf's place.