Hey there! I guess I'll just start this ultralong update. It's starting to feel like a job ;).
Day 35
After breakfast I set out again through Dreieichenhain (where they had a nice old wall) to Egelsbach. There I asked two people who where sitting/chilling in their garden if I could sleep in their garden and was allowed to sleep in the beautifull tipi. They left to their house after talking for a while and I was left alone, to make me a nice fire (which burned all night long and made my clothes smell of smoke) but it was nice.
Day 36
Waking up in a tipi was a nice experience (enen though I had been awake several times during the night when the fire suddenly started burning again).
The road was pretty boring the first part, but my mind kept me busy as usual. I bumped into a really well-equiped walker who had GPS and stuff like that several times, and also met a nice Mexican dude who was working as an oper (taking care of german kids) in the neighbourhood. Then I arrived in Oberramstadt on schedual, and asked around to wind up in the "Naturfreunde Haus". It was ok, but at night I had a beer with only 2,10€ in cash, thinking that would suffice. Apparently the beer cost 3,- euros and the woman was not very nice about it. "You can't just expect to not pay for your stuff!!!" so they made me walk back and forth to the town to get the remaining 0,90... that was not very nice.
Day 37
Breakfast included my cucumber and some sandwitches with cheese. (the restaurant was closed today, so no breakfast). The weather was rather ideal, not too warm not too cold. While on the road suddenly a car stopped and the man asked me where I was going while taking something out of the back of the car. He gave me 3 easter eggs and whished me a nice trip. Fun! Then after drinking an orange juice in a restaurant I climbed down the "Felsenmeer" (close to Reichenbach) which was great fun. Actual climbing/jumping and all of that with my backpack right between a gigantic group of little kids with parents and teachers who where climbing around there as well. Upon arrival all the way down, there was a man sitting on a giant tree trunk sculpting it into a giant. He explained that it was about a myth of two giants having an argument and throwing rocks at each other, but being too weak to reach the other giant causing all the rocks to be where they are today. Then I walked to Oberhambach where I found a really nice family with a great bed. I played lego basketball with the youngest son and talked interesting talk with the rest. Today kind of felt like a new start, with new motivation and a little bit of playfullness.
-I hope not every day report will turn out that long, otherwise I'll still be here in a month :O-
Day 38
After a nice breakfast with the family, and a rematch of lego-basketball (I'm sorry I beat you so bad haha :)) I left again. Nice weather, nice short conversations along the way and pretty good progress. In Birkenau I talked to a guy (because I was looking for a toilet) and he advised me to go to Buchklingen to a restaurant, because they where supernice people and he used to get free meals there as a mountainbiker kid. So I followed his advice and indeed, I met very kind people who offered me a room. As payment/to not feel too asocial I helped in the kitchen for about an hour and a half, preparing eggs and garluck. I got a nice dinner and then took a bath for half an hour :). These people look like hard-working but happy.
I'd really like to have this stuff finished, but It's pretty late already and I don't feel like working on this all night. I'll probably try to update the rest tomorrow.
And pictures will take a little longer, I'm thinking about using Flickr because then you can look at it all with cooliris and don't have to click>scroll etc. to get the idea.
Ok so see you later then!
EDIT: e-freak/protestant priest in Rossdorf: I'm sorry I didn't catch your message earlier :(. I saw it when I was already in Heidelberg so that's a shame. Thank you very much for the invite though!
I'm currently in Switzerland with a friendly openminded monk, and I am uploading all of my pictures to Flickr so that you can watch it as a gallery/with cooliris But apparently Flickr only shows the latest 200 pictures, so I`d have to buy an account to show them all at once. More stories etc. will have to be written later. Thanks for reading!
Flickr Picture gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/japhir/
Day 39
After eating a good breakfast and thanking the people I set out again, this time not to follow the walking route (Europäischer Fernwanderweg E1) but I was headed towards Heidelberg. Everyone said Heidelberg was worth seeing so I listened to them, and set out. After walking the etappe and meeting some people on the way I walked down to Heidelberg from the Silberberg (lots of tourists and great sight). I walked through the Old-town without paying a lot of attention because it was already 5 o'clock and I had to find a place to stay. Then I asked two students if they knew if Heidelberg had any Youth Hostels or anything similar. Apparently the hostel was in their direction, so I walked with them to the nice park along the Neggar. And then somehow I spent the rest of the evening with them, sitting/chilling along the river, then later playing soccer with some Italian guys and it was great to be able to have fun with people my age again :). Tristan and Michael then walked to Tristans home, and I walked along because the hostel was in that direction aswell. We said goodbye and I walked in the directions that where given to me. After a couple of minutes they came running after me, telling me I could also sleep at Tristan's if I wanted to. So we walked back, chilled a bit in his room watching youtube videos and such.
Day 40
After sleeping until pretty late, and eating a bit of breakfast we set out together (Tristan was going to visit a friend of his). We walked to some supermarket and then to the main trainstation where our ways parted, and I was alone again. (Which sounds really dramatic and lonely, but is nothing of the sorts, more like a fact that you establish.)
The first part of the road I mainly navigated with my compass (and by now also the sun), hoping to find my way back to the walking road, and obviously that went pretty well. Then after walking all day, I asked a mountainbiker (Christian) if he knew where to go, and if he knew any place to stay. He told me that in Nussloch there was an Easter evening with a group of youthly people coming together and staying up all night (and sleeping a bit). So after thinking about weather or not to go to such a Christian fest, or just to find someone and knock on the door I decided that it would probably be interesting to experience a real Easter fest, and that it would probably be fun too. And I was right! I first knocked on the Pfarrers/Priests door and asked if it was possible. He brought me to the house where I met the woman in charge of the youthly things, and wrote in my journal. Then one by one the other people came in, and it was great fun. We had some short prayer things and watched a film about a couple of monks on pilgrimmage to Italy and then played some games. Eventually I still caught 2,5 hours of sleep.
Day 41
The next morning I was awoken around 5 o'clock to go to the easter service. It was pretty nice with candles and an interesting atmosphere, but I didn't really like the parts of the bible that where chosen... They where the parts about God creating the world, then destroying it again (Noa) and saying (in his mercy!!) that he'd give us another chance if we'd worship him and so on. The endless whining about humans bing sinners doesn't really appeal to me personally. I prefer the parts of the bible where the love message is more important, and where we are encouraged to live life to the fullest as a way of honoring the creator. Singing was fun though :P.
After that most of the youngsters left, and I had breakfast with a huge group of people with the little group that was still around. Then it the time came that I'd have to go again. It was an interesting experience to get to know a group of people so fast, and then in a couple of hours be all by myself on the road again. But as said before, it's not a bad experience.
Walking went pretty well, but in every little break I took I felt like sinking into the earth for sleep, but I kept on going and then arrived in Neuenbürg, where I asked a woman who was walking her dog if she knew anything. She invited me in, and it was perfect! A nice family, 2 sons (of which the eldest had girlfriend obligations and had to go ;)) a hard working father, and a caring mother. I was able to wash my clothes (I really smelled bad) and played X-box, table football and watched a movie.
Day 42
After a good night's sleep the dad knocked on my door to wake me up. We had a nice breakfast and then I prepared to leave again. I walked through beautifull -finally green and blossoming- forests to Bretten. Then I asked a 60-year-old man if he knew any place to stay. He didn't really know anything, but on the street we engaged his neighbours and he called them over. The two guys of around 28 or so first called around a bit, and I was then invited to one of their houses. They where pretty junky-like, but it was interesting to see what kind of world they lived in. We then ate (vegetarian) Döner and watched a movie on tv. Later another turkish guy came over we talked about all sorts of stuff. (while enduring the smoke haha). It was cool to see that the guy where I stayed really loved his job. He's a slater, and told me he loved working outside, with the little children pointing up, telling their parents "there's a man on the roof!". Cool!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
I'm in Frankfurt!
Hey everybody! I'm in Frankfurt (am Main) and I'm doing great. The weather was really beautiful the last couple of days, and even though I just had to walk an entire day through city terrain it was nice.
Day 24, the rest of the day:
So after finishing this updating thing, I though "I can probably go just a little farther..." and so I did. I walked to Oberschelden where I tried knocking on some doors. Eventually it worked out, and I got a very nice sleepover adress with a family with 3 kids. It turned out that they where in some kind of free Christian community, and the father was an interesting discussion/conversationalist. (haha, I mean we had interesting discussions and conversations ;)). I did kind of get the feeling that they wanted to convert me or something, but it was nice nonetheless.
Day 25
After breakfast with the mother and the oldest son we talked some more about religion and then I left again. After walking through the rainy/sunny weather I arrived in Herdorf and started my asking around again. After a while I met Julia who was just walking her dog. She said that it'd probably be ok at their house, but her parents weren't there so she couldn't be sure. So I walked along to the house, where I met her sister and drank some water. Good to talk to young(er) people again :). After the parents came home and everything was ok, I was invited to come along to Cafe del Sol, with the sister and her friends (damn, I'm sorry I forgot your name ), where I had coincidentally taken a wee 2 days earlier.
Day 26
I woke up earlier than the others (and the father and mother where walking the dog) so I cleaned up my room/stuff and did some stretching exercises. Then, after a shower (I have seriously had a shower almost every day, just like at home ) we had breakfast and I set out again. The weather was pretty shitty, it rained every 10 minutes and it was cold all the time. In the late afternoon it finally became sunny. I asked around in a little village, but nobody knew anything, and I was directed to a youth hostel in Bad Marienberg (which was the next day’s goal). But I went anyway, because I knew I’d find a good night’s sleep there. So in total I walked around 35 km’s this day. I went to the “bar” in the evening and met 3 band people and talked about stuff. (and found out that Glocke in German does not mean Clock, but one of those giant bell things in a church). Then I went to bed because we’d have summertime tomorrow, meaning I’d have one hour less sleep.
Day 27
I woke up, had one of those hostel breakfasts where all you say is “hi” and then set out again. I felt rather exhausted after yesterday’s march, so I walked until Freilingen and then started looking for a place to stay. The trip was nice, since I walked along lakes and nice places. In Freilingen I couldn’t really find a place, and didn’t really feel like asking around much… So I went to the last possible hotel (the rest where all closed) and asked how much a room would cost. It was 40€’s! daaamn. So after asking some more I got another offer: 30€, but I’d have to pay cash so that the guy who worked there wouldn’t get busted. But I didn’t have enough cash money along, and there was no bank in that place. But the man offered me a drive to a cash machine, and I decided that this was ok for once (spending 30 euros I mean). I even got some free sandwiches with cheese and a hot chocolate.
Day 28
After breakfast (and packing for lunch) I set out again. Finally! The weather was great! (Not that warm, but good enough after the last couple of days). Walking felt a bit boring today though, because the environment wasn’t really superb or anything. After arriving in Montabaur I saw asked if there was a cheap stay over in the travelling agency, and then just decided to walk on a bit more. Then I saw some signs that there was a youth hostel and I decided to go there yet again. But noooo I forgot my cash money yet again! And had to walk all the way back to the bank. But a nice evening walk is a good thing too ;).
Day 29
I walked to Nassau today, through rather nice terrain, partially along the river Lahn. There I asked around and met Hans-Peter, who offered me a place at his house. But he’d have to work until around seven, so I decided to walk to his house in a relaxed way. He lives in Obernhof, another 7 km’s further. Halfway there I decided that I still had time, and that I could make me a nice tomato soup. But my drinking water was empty… and then I made the mistake to use some water from the little creek. I thought boiling it would kill all the bacteria anyway. Then I walked along, and was still early. Hans-Peter came home, and we had a nice dinner and interesting conversations. It’s really cool to see how many people who I meet are in some way similar in their thinking and conscience. I guess like attracts like.
Then I went to bed and at around 4 o’clock I woke up to find that my stomach felt hard and weird. I sneaked to the toilet and made a nice dump, but after that I still didn’t feel better. So I went back to the toilet, sat down, stood up thinking “hmm… I might have to puke”. So after opening the lid and waiting ten seconds thinking “is it gonna come or not?” I puked my insides out, and in doing so woke up Hans-Peter, after having tried so hard not to disturb him. But I felt a little better and could go back to bed and sleep until the next morning.
Day 30
After a very subtle breakfast of aught meal and thee I went out again, still feeling a bit queasy. The first hour or so was pretty tough because I kept feeling really week, but after eating an apple and relaxing a lot (and the great weather didn’t hurt too) I got my act together and could make some kilometres. I walked until Schönborn and started asking around again. The dog-walkers all pointed me towards the local Pension Muller, so I went there. The room cost 20 euros, but again the cash-problem, and a nice lady who was there too suddenly spoke up and said “I’ll pay it for him, how much do you want?”. I was totally flabbergasted and really thankful. Then, after installing all my stuff and coming back down to the café I met one of the dog-walkers who I’d seen earlier. We talked a lot, and it turned out he too was the similar-thinking type, having studied Waldorf stuff and so on. He ended up buying me dinner, and he’d try to arrange a nice stay in Frankfurt for me because his daughter works in a hotel there. (he didn’t call me yet).
I ate the best salad I ever ate here, and I really recommend people who are near this place go there! The lady was really nice as well.
Then I took a three quarters of an hour bath and went to bed early.
Day 31
After a shower, a nice breakfast and packing my stuff I set out again. The weather was absolutely marvellous and I felt healthy and strong again. I didn’t feel like walking very far though, so I walked to Strinz Margarethä and asked around again. I ended up sleeping in a hay barn again! Yay! Adventure all the way. The people where I stayed where very friendly and they made a nice vegetarian tomato soup especially for me.
The nature and environment where great today and I notice my nose is working much better than it used to. Smelling nature is good.
Day 32
I set out at around 8:30 and walked to Idstein today, where I ate pizza and Italian ice cream. Then I set out again, and walked to Schloßborn, where after asking around I was directed towards the local priest (pfarrer). He was about to leave to a baptizing conversation, but I was offered a coke and a pillow, and could wait outside in the sun. It was really strange to talk to this man, since he could really tell interesting stories about everything, but listening was apparently not really his thing. So it was a yes-nodding evening. But I had found a nice address with food, a bed and warmth.
Day 33
We had arranged to meet at 7:50 the next morning, to go to the Church in Glashütte and join the holy service there, to have breakfast afterwards. The service was pretty nice and all about honouring mother Earth and stuff that made me feel better about the church. (my discussions with the Christian family earlier had kind of upset my image of Christians ;). I thought every human being believed that the earth and nature are good, but they didn’t.)
Then we had breakfast and after that we went to visit Julia, who had walked for a couple of weeks in Italy to Assisi, and she might be able to help me with my route there. She wasn’t able to do that, but it was nice to meet a person of about my age who had done something almost as crazy as what I’m doing. Then I set out across the mountain biker-populated mountain Felsberg. Somehow the people who have made the E1 walking route decided that walking straight across the two highest mountains of the entire area was a good idea. It was very nice, but also very tough. So when I arrived in Oberursel I asked around, and came across 3 elderly ladies. They let met turn around to see if I looked dangerous or anything, and then said it was okay. Then I met another man who was sitting outside of the house. We had tea and “kuchen” (pie) and it was really funny to see the chit-chat going on. After the friends left I talked to the woman about all kinds of stuff, and it turned out that she too was one of the alike-thinkers . It was really interesting to talk with her. She also let me use her phone to call home.
Day 34
After a really nice breakfast with toast and eggs etc. she gave me some candy and even 10€’s to help me on my trip. I felt a little humble, but I had learned on this trip that accepting things is often the right way to respond to way too hospitable people. I am pretty sure I’m going to send her a postcard when I get home from Rome.
Then I set out again and walked through city life and beautiful parks and some not-so-beautiful areas to Frankfurt am Main, where I looked up the local youth hostel. (which turned out to be almost twice as expensive as a regular hostel :O). But I did it, and then went to this internet café.
I uploaded my images to Imageshack this time, because you can upload them all at once there, and it goes waaay faster (but I did have to resize them all first).
I hope I can implement the images here nicely.
I love you all, and look forward to your responses.
I just found out I can even make imageshack post my images :)
Day 24, the rest of the day:
So after finishing this updating thing, I though "I can probably go just a little farther..." and so I did. I walked to Oberschelden where I tried knocking on some doors. Eventually it worked out, and I got a very nice sleepover adress with a family with 3 kids. It turned out that they where in some kind of free Christian community, and the father was an interesting discussion/conversationalist. (haha, I mean we had interesting discussions and conversations ;)). I did kind of get the feeling that they wanted to convert me or something, but it was nice nonetheless.
Day 25
After breakfast with the mother and the oldest son we talked some more about religion and then I left again. After walking through the rainy/sunny weather I arrived in Herdorf and started my asking around again. After a while I met Julia who was just walking her dog. She said that it'd probably be ok at their house, but her parents weren't there so she couldn't be sure. So I walked along to the house, where I met her sister and drank some water. Good to talk to young(er) people again :). After the parents came home and everything was ok, I was invited to come along to Cafe del Sol, with the sister and her friends (damn, I'm sorry I forgot your name ), where I had coincidentally taken a wee 2 days earlier.
Day 26
I woke up earlier than the others (and the father and mother where walking the dog) so I cleaned up my room/stuff and did some stretching exercises. Then, after a shower (I have seriously had a shower almost every day, just like at home ) we had breakfast and I set out again. The weather was pretty shitty, it rained every 10 minutes and it was cold all the time. In the late afternoon it finally became sunny. I asked around in a little village, but nobody knew anything, and I was directed to a youth hostel in Bad Marienberg (which was the next day’s goal). But I went anyway, because I knew I’d find a good night’s sleep there. So in total I walked around 35 km’s this day. I went to the “bar” in the evening and met 3 band people and talked about stuff. (and found out that Glocke in German does not mean Clock, but one of those giant bell things in a church). Then I went to bed because we’d have summertime tomorrow, meaning I’d have one hour less sleep.
Day 27
I woke up, had one of those hostel breakfasts where all you say is “hi” and then set out again. I felt rather exhausted after yesterday’s march, so I walked until Freilingen and then started looking for a place to stay. The trip was nice, since I walked along lakes and nice places. In Freilingen I couldn’t really find a place, and didn’t really feel like asking around much… So I went to the last possible hotel (the rest where all closed) and asked how much a room would cost. It was 40€’s! daaamn. So after asking some more I got another offer: 30€, but I’d have to pay cash so that the guy who worked there wouldn’t get busted. But I didn’t have enough cash money along, and there was no bank in that place. But the man offered me a drive to a cash machine, and I decided that this was ok for once (spending 30 euros I mean). I even got some free sandwiches with cheese and a hot chocolate.
Day 28
After breakfast (and packing for lunch) I set out again. Finally! The weather was great! (Not that warm, but good enough after the last couple of days). Walking felt a bit boring today though, because the environment wasn’t really superb or anything. After arriving in Montabaur I saw asked if there was a cheap stay over in the travelling agency, and then just decided to walk on a bit more. Then I saw some signs that there was a youth hostel and I decided to go there yet again. But noooo I forgot my cash money yet again! And had to walk all the way back to the bank. But a nice evening walk is a good thing too ;).
Day 29
I walked to Nassau today, through rather nice terrain, partially along the river Lahn. There I asked around and met Hans-Peter, who offered me a place at his house. But he’d have to work until around seven, so I decided to walk to his house in a relaxed way. He lives in Obernhof, another 7 km’s further. Halfway there I decided that I still had time, and that I could make me a nice tomato soup. But my drinking water was empty… and then I made the mistake to use some water from the little creek. I thought boiling it would kill all the bacteria anyway. Then I walked along, and was still early. Hans-Peter came home, and we had a nice dinner and interesting conversations. It’s really cool to see how many people who I meet are in some way similar in their thinking and conscience. I guess like attracts like.
Then I went to bed and at around 4 o’clock I woke up to find that my stomach felt hard and weird. I sneaked to the toilet and made a nice dump, but after that I still didn’t feel better. So I went back to the toilet, sat down, stood up thinking “hmm… I might have to puke”. So after opening the lid and waiting ten seconds thinking “is it gonna come or not?” I puked my insides out, and in doing so woke up Hans-Peter, after having tried so hard not to disturb him. But I felt a little better and could go back to bed and sleep until the next morning.
Day 30
After a very subtle breakfast of aught meal and thee I went out again, still feeling a bit queasy. The first hour or so was pretty tough because I kept feeling really week, but after eating an apple and relaxing a lot (and the great weather didn’t hurt too) I got my act together and could make some kilometres. I walked until Schönborn and started asking around again. The dog-walkers all pointed me towards the local Pension Muller, so I went there. The room cost 20 euros, but again the cash-problem, and a nice lady who was there too suddenly spoke up and said “I’ll pay it for him, how much do you want?”. I was totally flabbergasted and really thankful. Then, after installing all my stuff and coming back down to the café I met one of the dog-walkers who I’d seen earlier. We talked a lot, and it turned out he too was the similar-thinking type, having studied Waldorf stuff and so on. He ended up buying me dinner, and he’d try to arrange a nice stay in Frankfurt for me because his daughter works in a hotel there. (he didn’t call me yet).
I ate the best salad I ever ate here, and I really recommend people who are near this place go there! The lady was really nice as well.
Then I took a three quarters of an hour bath and went to bed early.
Day 31
After a shower, a nice breakfast and packing my stuff I set out again. The weather was absolutely marvellous and I felt healthy and strong again. I didn’t feel like walking very far though, so I walked to Strinz Margarethä and asked around again. I ended up sleeping in a hay barn again! Yay! Adventure all the way. The people where I stayed where very friendly and they made a nice vegetarian tomato soup especially for me.
The nature and environment where great today and I notice my nose is working much better than it used to. Smelling nature is good.
Day 32
I set out at around 8:30 and walked to Idstein today, where I ate pizza and Italian ice cream. Then I set out again, and walked to Schloßborn, where after asking around I was directed towards the local priest (pfarrer). He was about to leave to a baptizing conversation, but I was offered a coke and a pillow, and could wait outside in the sun. It was really strange to talk to this man, since he could really tell interesting stories about everything, but listening was apparently not really his thing. So it was a yes-nodding evening. But I had found a nice address with food, a bed and warmth.
Day 33
We had arranged to meet at 7:50 the next morning, to go to the Church in Glashütte and join the holy service there, to have breakfast afterwards. The service was pretty nice and all about honouring mother Earth and stuff that made me feel better about the church. (my discussions with the Christian family earlier had kind of upset my image of Christians ;). I thought every human being believed that the earth and nature are good, but they didn’t.)
Then we had breakfast and after that we went to visit Julia, who had walked for a couple of weeks in Italy to Assisi, and she might be able to help me with my route there. She wasn’t able to do that, but it was nice to meet a person of about my age who had done something almost as crazy as what I’m doing. Then I set out across the mountain biker-populated mountain Felsberg. Somehow the people who have made the E1 walking route decided that walking straight across the two highest mountains of the entire area was a good idea. It was very nice, but also very tough. So when I arrived in Oberursel I asked around, and came across 3 elderly ladies. They let met turn around to see if I looked dangerous or anything, and then said it was okay. Then I met another man who was sitting outside of the house. We had tea and “kuchen” (pie) and it was really funny to see the chit-chat going on. After the friends left I talked to the woman about all kinds of stuff, and it turned out that she too was one of the alike-thinkers . It was really interesting to talk with her. She also let me use her phone to call home.
Day 34
After a really nice breakfast with toast and eggs etc. she gave me some candy and even 10€’s to help me on my trip. I felt a little humble, but I had learned on this trip that accepting things is often the right way to respond to way too hospitable people. I am pretty sure I’m going to send her a postcard when I get home from Rome.
Then I set out again and walked through city life and beautiful parks and some not-so-beautiful areas to Frankfurt am Main, where I looked up the local youth hostel. (which turned out to be almost twice as expensive as a regular hostel :O). But I did it, and then went to this internet café.
I uploaded my images to Imageshack this time, because you can upload them all at once there, and it goes waaay faster (but I did have to resize them all first).
I hope I can implement the images here nicely.
I love you all, and look forward to your responses.
I just found out I can even make imageshack post my images :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
