The Romantic Road to Rothenburg

Just outside the wall that surrounds Rothenburg
see all photos »

I was more than eager to exit Frankfurt (see last blog) and head to the bus station early to catch our bus for the Romantic Road tour which was purchased on line a couple days prior.   After finally finding where our bus was, Anne gave the confirmation numbers to the bus driver who promptly informed us that we needed the paper printout from the internet.  In turn, we promptly informed him that we did not have such printout where we were then told to just go across the street to the bus line's main terminal for the required paperwork.   Easy enough.  I waited patiently, guarding our belongings, while Anne hiked over to the station to gather the necessary documents.  Two minutes pass by (bus leaves in about another three minutes), she returns, and states that the mean lady at the bus station wouldn't print us our tickets.  "Don't worry honey, I'll take care of this."  So I trudge across the street and meet the frumpy lady behind the counter.  "Um yeah, we need the tickets for the bus...we booked and paid on the internet and have the confirmation numbers here."  She replied, "Uze shud have made zee photocopy from zee lazt screen! I can't help uze."  "Well, we are not traveling with a printer, could you print us the copy from your computer."  And of course her canned response, "we can't du zat here!...Uze go on tomorroz's bus."  "Thanks, you've been a big help."

Some castle along the way. I can't remember the name.
see all photos »

I went back to the bus where Pika was waiting, and shrugged my shoulders.  "We'll have to catch the train instead."  Pika looked at the bus driver, shed a few tears, and seconds later we were boarding the bus for the Romantic Road.

Now I'm not entirely certain for the origin of hostility from the frumpy bus station lady.  Perhaps she is bitter that she is selling bus seats for something romantic, certainly something she has never encountered during her lifetime (or sex for that matter), and wants to make a miserable experience for anyone involved.  I did however later confirm with the bus driver that she indeed had worked at her position for 40 years, and this was her last year of employment.  I suggested early retirement.  We both laughed.

On top of the Town Hall's tower
see all photos »

The "Romantic Road" is a journey through Germany's countryside, with several stops in small villages and other attractions along the way.  Quite honestly, I was more impressed with the bus driver weaving his coach through the narrow cobblestone streets, with only inches to spare from total disaster on either side.  He didn't hit one building, car, or pedestrian.  A true feat considering the speed at which he maneuvered his craft.

We eventually stopped in Rothenburg, and the bus driver bid us farewell.   Before doing so, he warned us that our accommodations for the night was with a mean German lady of whom which he did not like.  Great, another crappy night.  The bus driver shook our hand, hopped back into his rig, and left us at the train station;  this would be the meeting place that the "mean German lady" was to pick us up.  And oh yes, she did pick us up.

Strolling the streets at night
see all photos »

With a rosy flush face, you know, the kind you get from drinking too much beer, she arrived right on time and chucked our luggage into the trunk of her car.  She whips a 180 in the middle of the street and begins to drive us to her house where we would spend the night.  Along our three minute shuttle service, she managed to yell out her window at another motorist, who incidentally yelled some German profanity back to her, run over a curb after taking a corner too wide, and wave her hand while simultaneously making a "pffff" sound directed at Anne when she attempted to put her seatbelt on.  Very entertaining.  Arriving safe and sound at her house, she checked us into our room and showed us where the free beer was.  She was actually very accommodating; giving us a tour book for Rothenburg, lending us helpful hints on what to do and see on our short visit, and also arranging a ride the following morning back to the train station....with her sober husband.

10 Porshes in a row
see all photos »

As far as Rothenburg is concerned, it's touristy, but great.  There were many small shops peddling cuckoo clocks, nutcrackers, beer steins, Hummel figurines, and anything remotely German.  I'm not going to divulge much more information on the city, as some of the memories we just want to keep for ourselves.  But safe to say, we enjoyed it immensely.  So much, that we took a nighttime stroll through its medieval streets which have remained mostly unchanged for the past several centuries.

Narrow streets
see all photos »

bkh