Sunday, October 27th
Last night due to great WiFi we were able to catch up somewhat on the blog. Our room was large but stark and maybe a bit too warm. Instead of shared blankets, everywhere we’ve stayed provided individual duvets which are, in our opinion, too heavy and tend to hinder snuggling. It seems you alternate between too hot or too cold during the night unless you get the room really cold before retiring.
Breakfast was served one door down from us. Afterwards we used what time we had left to work on the blog some more.
Packed up then headed to Wernigerode to see a castle, taking the long route through all the little towns along the way. It’s Sunday and everything is closed. They seem like ghost towns with hardly anyone on the streets. The only place we found open for lunch was Turkish. Had lunch.
Wernigerode was a bust. Parking is the worst part of being in Germany and this town was no different. We headed to Castle View in the town figuring we’d get a good external view and save some walking. The limited street parking is reserved for residents with parking stickers. So we found a nearby car park and pulled up to the gate with another car directly behind. Then we saw the Apple Pay logo. We’ve never signed up for Apple Pay and can’t now since Diane was just alerted that her credit card had been comprised. Only thing to do is back out, meaning the car behind us has to back out into traffic as well. Okay, we find a no parking spot to pull over to and get our thoughts together. Turns out that Castle View is the name of a subdivision where we are currently parked and has nothing to do with a view of any castle. Well crap!
Now we’re just winging it and follow a small road that is going up hill. Since the castle is at the top of a hill it kinda makes sense. We are right but we get stuck behind a horse drawn cart with no way to pass. We notice up ahead that the horse & cart and a car coming down the hill are jammed up at a bend in the road. Takes about ten minutes to clear the as the horse is not backing up. We realize that could be us on the way down and we stop the car and ask about parking. There is no parking. Crap again. By this time we could care less about the castle and are more interested in finding a restroom. Find a gas station, buy a little gas, use the WC and get a meager view of the castle from the gas station. Good enough and off to the medieval town of Goslar.
Drove through the mountains and found a vacant street parking space in Goslar. We are very suspicious but we’re gonna take our chances and leave the car. Walked up to one of the town gates for photos. Gate is interesting, the town, not so much. Everything is closed, back to the car and twenty minutes later the iPhone leads us out of town. (We no longer trust the car GPS with any kind of in town directions.)
We pick a town, any town will do as long as it has a hotel with good WiFi and a near by nail salon which brings us to Gottingen. A random town, not on any of our lists. Get into town and the iPhone indicates plenty of hotels and nail salons. At the first hotel we explain that in addition to seeing the room we need to verify the WiFi performance inside the room. Don’t think he’s heard that one before but he agrees. We start up the steps and Diane’s knees are begging for mercy. We stop and ask about a lift. No lift but he recommends another hotel. We head over and go through the same routine but they have a lift. We go to the room, which is a bit small but WiFi works.
We’ll take the room but what about parking Phil asked. They have two spaces around the block, seven euros a night. We get a key to unlock a parking space? Not real clear but we go looking for it. Let’s just say that nothing is easy and let it go at that.
The receptionist gives recommendations for dinner and a nail salon. It’s getting cold outside but our room only has one window that we can open so we leave the bathroom light on all night so that the bathroom vent will draw cold air through our window. Since the door has louvers we can close it and not be bothered by the light.
Dinner uneventful, but nice. Walked home. Worked on the blog. Seemed to be catching up. Snack and nightly night.
Monday, October 28th
During breakfast Phil again spills coffee on Diane, and everywhere else. After cleaning up, Diane gets her nails done and we meet up on the street to explore the town. Interesting place, lots of shops and so many people on bicycles. We find a bakery like nothing we seen before where we enjoyed unbelievable pastries with coffee. We even shared a second serving. Then we bought a selection of chocolates from the confectionery side to have later.
Back at the room, we worked the blog again.
That evening, after dinner, we window shopped and Diane bought Phil a new cap.