We regretfully depart Mainz and head to Mainz Hbf (main railway) and validate our Eurail pass, which will be our means of transportation around Europe until 10 Jan 2013. Our first usage is the 1013am train to Worms (pronounced V-or-ms) and travel in style in 1st class. Takes only 26 mins as no stoppages and train is powering alone at approx 160k/m. After only slight confusion, locate Hôtel Boos. Very quaint and main foyer looks like an entrance to a castle. Room...

A difficult start to the day for moi as I am feeling unwell. Force myself into gear and we explore other areas of the city, concentrating around the main railway station, Mainz hauptbahnhof. Again spend time exploring the Lidl supermarket because we simply adore exploring foreign supermarkets. Once again, we are made to realise how high the cost of living is in Australia. In Germany, cheeses like Edam or gouda will set you back only around $5 a kilo, vitamin tabl...

More exploring around the Altstadt and Kirshgarten area. Wonderful food markets in main square, again so well priced in comparison to Australia. We also enter the Kaiserdom for the first time, the Romanesque cathedral that dates back to the 11th century. Very dark space but beautiful Art. Unfortunately for us, no English translations for historical information, something we have experienced regularly in our German travels to date. We explore the prospect of a Rhi...

Beautiful sunrise over the Rhine at 730am precedes another day of strolling around Mainz and the Yesterday, as it was Sunday, nothing was open other than the eating houses, so today, our keen shopping eyes are very active. Currently having cappuccinos and cremeschnitt, a very tasty apple cake. Rest of day spent in shopping areas in and around the altstadt area.

After a disturbed sleep caused by a constant stream of street noise, we leave Frankfurt and catch the train to Mainz: ICE Inter city express, 10 Euro each, expensive, considering Mainz is only 40 minutes from Frankfurt. Jesse meets us at the station and helps us locate our motel, the Mainzer Hof, which is situated directly opposite the Rhine River. Having had Jesse to meet us in both Frankfurt and Mainz has been a Godsend, really helping us with orientation, t...