Day 5: Climb every mountain, ford every spa

Today's post will be much shorter than yesterday's since we spent it lounging around and taking the day at our own pace. 

Ryan and Linny spent the morning sleeping in and relaxing in their room. I (Angie, once again, hello!) slept late until 10:00 and Jeff watched stuff on his iPad. (Jeff Edit: I also slept in, all the way until 07:45!)

Sundays in Germany are meant to rest and relax. Most places are closed except for restaurants, pools, museums, theaters, and flea markets. I like that!

Jeff and I checked out the nearby mountain of Baden Baden called Merkur. It has a funicular that carries around 20 people (it says it fits 40 but that sounds highly dangerous and uncomfortable) up the steep mountainside. The ride is only a few minutes but it got pretty steep!

At least there is a safety stairs, in case of emergency.

The moss between the rails is soothing to me. 

Look out, it's coming right for us!

Up at the top is a café with outdoor seating and a fantastic view!

(Photo Stolen from Google Reviews)

If it's not cloudy. Which it was today.

Every day in this town has had a reasonably large amount of Gorilla Mist, but it's still very lovely.

There were a few breaks in the clouds, letting you see some of the towns or hills below. Well, let me see all that below. Jeff sat on a bench, safely away from any kind of view that would tell his body he was high up on a mountain with a steep incline. (Jeff Edit: Listen, if I was meant to be in high places with an unobstructed view of the endless void, I would've moved to Colorado with my brother like he talked about 20 years ago. My people come from lands of gently rolling hills and/or forests. We aren't meant for this sort of Icarian nonsense. I funiculared too close to the sun and got vertigo for my hubris. This is pretty standard. But I will keep trying, every time, because I know my wife enjoys scenic vistas and I want to make sure she has proper accompaniment when I am able.)

Meanwhile I walked around, went up into the viewing tower, took some photos, and enjoyed the view and peacefulness.

Then back down again because it was time for lunch with the Linnemans!

We were finally able to try the traditional German restaurant in town called Löwenbräu. 

And now, it's time for a mid-post author shift. It's me, Jeff. Let me tell you. This was some traditional food and certainly German. I tried some Real Actual Weinerschnitzel. It was... fine? It was fine. Like a very thin, three chicken-fried steak. Angie got the Käsespätzle, which is German noodles and cheese. She seemed to enjoy it quite well. Laura ordered a stein (a liter'a'beer) with her sausages and sauerkraut, while Ryan went with what appeared to be a child's portion in comparison - alongside a hearty looking Rinderfilet (which appears to be German for tenderloin filet) and potatoes. Food was good, portions were large, and the atmosphere was nice. Apart from some flies and a yellow jacket (from which I again saved everyone from, because I have a long history of enmity to all flying stinging insects) buzzing around a bit, that is. 

Laura's luncheon. The mustard and kraut were apparently wonderful.

A beer, nearly as big as me!

Ryan's Steak und Papas con Bacones

Mac and Cheese Noodles with Salat

indiana.jpg

After our late lunch, it was back to the hotel. Angie, Ryan, and Laura went to Caracalla Spa to decompress and destress. I wasn't feeling up to it, so I ate half a loaf of bread along with most of a jar of Bonne Mammon strawberry jam. Yes, after I ate 30 euros worth of Weinerschnitzel. You don't know me, shut up. 

From what I could gather after talking with Angie about it, the spa was lovely. The staff was nice. Her main concerns basically came back to, "well, it's no Onsen, but...". The water was cooler than expected, the pools were a bit crowded, and you have to pay to enter *and* for towels. That's some American Greedfiti, if ya ask me. If I'm paying 20 euros to take a fancy bath, the towels had better be included. But what do I know, I'm just a little guy. Or something. You've all stopped reading this by now anyway. If you haven't, make sure to comment your favorite bath you've ever taken. 

The exterior baths and fountains.

It's blue like him, inside and outside.

Now, we start the process of saying arrivederci (a word that a man in too-tight pants said as he sped away on a Vespa, so I assume is Italian) to Baden-Baden. We leave tomorrow afternoon for the bright lights of the big city of Rust. No, this is not a joke about flying home to Ohio. There's a town in southern Germany called Rust, which is home to the entire impetus of this trip the the first place:

<marquee>~Europa Park~</marquee>

Another couple of trains, a few buses, and several hours of dawdling around await us tomorrow - possibly involving Laundry. As the Germans have often said to me "That's nice of you to try to speak German, but I speak English.". I think that's a parting statement? Anyway, bye~