WERRA, INN, AND DANUBE

Quincy to Berlin

Introduction and Itinerary   Quincy to Berlin   Obernfeld and Duderstadt   Weratal Radweg   Schärding and the Inntal   Passau   Danube Bike & Barge: Day 1   Danube Bike & Barge: Day 2   Danube Bike & Barge: Day 3   Danube Bike & Barge: Day 4   Danube Bike & Barge: Day 5 plus Vienna   Danube Bike & Barge: Days 6 & 7   Munich, Berlin, and home      Return to Main Page

We drove the mile or so to the Quincy Amtrak station and left our car in the large parking lot. We had left it for a much longer time in various stations around the area with no problem other than a dead battery after five weeks during the winter.

After spending the night at the Kewanee Motor Lodge, we caught the Illinois Zephyr, meeting up with Becky on board, and continued on to Chicago Union Station. We had brunch at Lou Michells, a half a block from Union Station and a Chicago institution. From there it was a two block walk to the Chicago Transit Authority Clinton station on the Blue Line which takes you directly to O'hare Airport.

Strange doings on the Carl Sandburg: an engine painted to honor veterans.
There have been rumors that Amtrak is short of diesel engines. You wouldn't know it to see our train: two engines for 5 cars.
Gesche's back patio where we had brunch upon arrival.
Janelle, Gesche, and Vicki (Gesche's sister) enjoying breakfast
Relaxing on the patio after a well deserved nap.
Gesche's daughter Constanz and granddaughter Maya (spelling?)
Gesche's back yard. If you slip through an opening to the right of the flowers, you come to a small neighborhood park, complete with a small soccer field.
We had supper at the same neighborhood Italian restaurant as 3 years ago. We enjoyed the food and sitting outside on a warm Summer evening just as well as before.
Geshe's sister Vicki from a small town in Northern Germany (I don't remember the name) was also visiting. She had lived many years in the Detroit area before returning to Germany 25 years ago. We all enjoyed talking with her very much.
Sun Room where we had cordials after returning from the Trattoria.
Living room
Typical German Kitchen
The next morning after another big breakfast, we began our train journey to Göttingen. When we mentioned our planned route to the main Berlin train station to catch the ICE to Göttingen, Gesche's daughter Constanz who was visiting, said that part of our itinerary, the S-bahn from Friedrichstraße to the main station was under construction. A Shienenenersatzverkers (bustitution) was in effect. Using the internet she came up with a much better route: backtracking on the S-bahn from Mexikoplatz to Berlin Wansee and then a regional express to Berlin main station. This information save us from a possibly difficult situation.

Gesche and Vicki insisted that they drive us to the Wansee station, eliminating the walk to Mexikoplatz and a very short S-Bahn leg from Mexikoplatz to Wansee. On the Wansee platform we said auf wiedersehen to our most gracious hostesses

Deutsche Bahn (DB) the German rail company makes it very easy to purchase tickets via the internet. Simply select your itinerary using their excellent website, pay with CC, and printout an eTicket that the conductor scans - similar to Amtrak. You can book tickets up to 3 months before travel; and at that time very reasonable Sparpreis (savings fare) are usually available.
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