Driving

 A new approach to our German visit: unleash Peter on the German road system.

After another hearty breakfast we finalised packing and checked out of the Hotel.  We quickly found the Avis dealership and our booking was ready.  A grey Ford Fiesta!  I was hoping for a Volkswagen. Sadly, not to be.

Das Auto!

The first challenge… driving out of Munich during Monday morning peak hour traffic.  It required considerable concentration: driving on the right-side (not left-side), navigating medieval streets, watching out for cyclists (they’re everywhere), listening to the GPS.  Eventually, we were free of the clutches of Munich streets.  Then, we were on the Autobahn!  Woohoo!

It’s not quite ‘no speed limits’.  There are quite a few rules/protocols for the autobahn: trucks to the right lane; no overtaking on the right; etc etc.  But there are opportunities to put the ‘pedal to the metal’ or ‘go mental, it’s a rental’.  Todays top speed ended at 138km/h.  Even with such speed, there were other passing us… with significant ease.  My guess, they were doing in excess of 160km/h.

135km/h

Peter’s knuckles are a bit white!

Our destination was Berchtesgaden, 150+km southeast of Munich.  We made good time racing down the autobahn.  The Bavarian countryside as beautiful: lush green fields, dark green forests, yellow grain and polka-dotted with white and brown farmhouses.  Berchtesgaden is a very popular summer location.  It is in the Bavarian Alps and is surrounded by many lakes and camping areas.  There were many cyclists and hikers.  Some adding to our road trauma!

Some of the countryside.

We did have a little bit of rain.

We investigated visiting the Eagle’s Nest (der Adler Hof).  It is a curious thing that so many, many people from around the world want to walk the tea house that was Hitler’s home away from Berlin.  We decided to jump the queue and have apfel strudel instead.  The scenery from the guest house was amazing and oddly reminiscent of some of the scenery we had enjoyed whilst walking TMB.

Best value apple strudel in Germany.

Yes… we shared!

Berchtesgaden… done.  Then it was off to our overnight destination, Ingolstadt (80km north of Munich). It was back on the autobahn, accelerated down, and hang on!  It was surprising how quickly you adjust to travelling at 120+km/h.  We had a couple of occasions where we slowed to a crawl… 100km/h.

We quickly arrived at Ingolstadt which had been chosen purely because it was on the way to Rothenburg ob der Tauber.  The hotel is lovely, the room is quite large and the bathroom is spacious.  The hotel staff recommended the Gasthaus (pub) that was about 30m away.  We thought ‘why not!’

The pub had most people sitting in the beer garden and tables were mostly full.  We don’t think they have many tourists.  99% of the guests were locals who walked in.  A quick look at the menu and we knew we were in a home style Bavarian pub.  Karen chose a schnitzel with green salad and I chose a curry wurst with sauerkraut.  The schnitzel was impressive but Karen envied my curry!  We shared.  I don’t think Karen was too keen on the sauerkraut.  

The Gasthaus Bonschab

The schnitzel!!

The curry wurst with sauerkraut.

Of course, there was beer to wash it down.

Ingolstadt is a city that has a history back to the 9th century.  It is situated on the Danube River (it’s more green than blue).  We shall have a bit of an explore tomorrow before heading off to Rothenburg.

A good day: had apple strudel, a wurst, and sauerkraut.

I might be wearing lederhosen soon!