Flat plains drifter…Germany #25

Phew.Confusion solved.The board was “economic with the truth” by not showing Bremen as a stop until the train was actually coming in.They do this sometimes the little scamps…I have even found a free table despite it being packed as expected.I don’t know if this is because they’ve failed to put the reserve signs on the seats or I have just been lucky.Also the seats opposite with noisy kids have just vacated to elsewhere…yes the train’s late but all things considered I’m doing ok so far…

Does anyone else think it’s slightly weird that Germany has a city named Essen? It means “Eat”

Got to the hotel and the fella remembered me from a month ago.Asked about the trip etc so that was sweet of him.Must see hundreds of people weekly…anyway on the opposite side of the hotel this time and I have to be careful as I’m only three floors up facing The Hauptbahnhof & tram/bus station with huge windows.Last time I was facing a wall so was quite happy traipsing around buck naked however I don’t want to alarm the natives this time around…

Was hunting locally for an Eis shop cos’ I really fancied some ice cream but found myself going past Die Fliege and remembered it being nice & cool in there so beer it is out of the heat…the same old duffers are in here along with this old duffer…oh and Die Fliege is apparently the German name for The Flying Dutchman which also used to be a pub on the Warstones estate in Wolverhampton too if I remember correctly.I suppose we’re closer to the source here than a sink estate in The Black Country is…their musical taste is varied to say the least from Yes to Bananarama with a sea shanty in between…

That eternal question has raised its head again.Laundy or not laundry? It’s now the 19th and I’m back on Eurostar on the 25th.I think I can last,socks not a problem as I can always go bare.Under crackers also on as long as…well you know.T-shirts getting low again though but I think I can see it through if I double up however there might be someone saying “ god I was sitting by a right smelly bastard from Amsterdam” it’s a risk I’m prepared to take though.Sod the laundry!

Took a stroll around my floor in the hotel earlier ( ie got lost) I had no concept how many rooms it has.There must be 60/70 rooms on my floor and there’s six floors.Bloody hell.The rooms are ok too.A fair size with a bathroom…

We are now on to spandex bouffant haired 80’s power rock stage of the evening…and I can’t help but tapping my feet.I blame the Becks…at the moment the whole bar ( four of us + both barmaids) are united over the younger barmaid’s homemade Mexicano shots.Have to say better than any I have had in Berlin and that’s high praise…sometimes toilet signs can be confusing in pubs all over the world.Not here…

Got back last night and had forgotten what room I was in as I hadn’t taken the slip the hotel card came in and the keycards are clear.Luckily the reception was still there(same fella as before) says it happens all the time.They have more than 200 rooms here,which is less than I thought but still a good number.I’m just glad there was someone on reception…think he said it was his last hour so phew…

Laters…