Arrived in Stuttgart via train about 11 am. Finding our way to the apartment or hotel is always an adventure. We usually book ones that are fairly nearby and sure enough the Mercure Hotel was only a 20-minute walk (they say) uphill, dragging luggage behind us! Great exercise, indeed. This was on top of the 3 mile walk/run we had already done around Strasbourg this morning just to get our blood flowing. Naturally, arriving at the hotel early in the morning means our room was not ready, so we stored our luggage and hiked back down the hill to the railway station, not to take another train, but apparently, the "main station" is the starting point for virtually anywhere you want to go in Stuttgart.

We walked past the station to find what we think is Schlob Garten, a very large, long beautiful park that is lined by the city's main shopping and dining plaza, Konigstrabe. At one end of the park, we were surprised to find a village of tents and crude signs. The sight looked like a flashback to Haight Ashbury -- hippies! But instead we learned they are protesters trying to stop a project to expand and renew the train station so that it will primarily feature underground facilities. Don't know why they are so bothered; seems like a good idea to us!

The weather here is lovely today. The temp is in the high 80's and humidity low. I think we got sun just walking around. Everyone tells us that we must have brought the weather since they've had nothing but a rainy and cool summer until now. That explains why young people were sunbathing topless in the park today.

All in all, I'd say we walked a good 10-12 miles today, at least our feet feel that way, but we are getting our bearings and are mapping out our game plan for tomorrow -- might look for more schnitzel and beer tonight.