Going from one bad thing to another in any other language just isn't as interesting. In German if you travel to a "Bad" you are likely to hit a spa of one kind or another. At least some hot water spewing out of the earth. In our case it seemed like we went from Bad Worishofen to Bad Honnigen and ended up at Apeldoorn with no hot water or mineral springs to be enjoyed.
Seems a lot of Europeans come here to enjoy the "waters" but they just don't seem to be catering to tourists from Canada. We've now stayed at two " Bad" places and have managed to find a swimming pool close by but little else open. Now we could have gone to the spa that looked like an indoor Caribbean beach complete with palm trees but it just didn'\t seem right while nestled on the banks of the Rheine. Ya just gotta go with the instincts some times.
Between the 'bad' experiences we did manage to get in a visit to Heildelberg. Now that is a serious place with an interesting castle and cute little side streets. Dorth said it reminded her a lot of Zurich but not as grown up. Seems like a good description to me. It is a beautiful setting but seems more groomed for business and shopping. Good views from the castle and good food on the waterfront.... and need I say good Beer??
Didn't have to check out of our hotel until noon so had the morning to explore. The afternoon drive to (another Bad) Bad Honningen took us through wine country and rolling hillsides. The only challenge for me was when a tram decided that it was a good idea to play a game of chicken with me. He won... but what was he doing on my side of the road?? Good thing Dorth saw him because I was pretty busy watching the pedestrians and bikers to notice a train bearing down on me. Besides.... the architecture was so striking and those men in spandex....Hmmm... what is a girl to do?
So, safe and sound, we arrived in a town that was closed. Now we drove through the Rheine valley, checked out the castles and oohhed and awhhed at all that there was to see. Why, at the end of our day, did everything seem to be closed. We drove through the town of Bad (get the idea) Honnigen through one way streets (the wrong way) and pedestrian (there weren't any) walk ways....and no hotels were open. Finally we found a pension that had a room. Good thing because I had hit my wall and needed a break. Cute little place..... good breakfast and a view of a castle
Next day we hit the road and headed north to Holland. This is where I put in my order for sainthood having survived driving on a German highway during the worst conditions ever. It was raining so hard that the water coming up from the wheels of the speeding cars made the atmosphere seem like fog. I had both hands glued to the wheel and a grimace on my face as we made our way past the largest industrial area of Germany towards Holland.
Across the border we opted for the country roads and enjoyed meandering around before settling down for the night in Apeldoorn.
Not sure what brought us here but tomorrow we will check it out. All I know is that it is surrounded by forest and is a place the Queen likes to hang out for summer holidays. Hmmmm... can't be all bad.