Altsfeld, Germany
Location: AT A BAR

John:  I rode into downtown Altsfeld and was immediately approached by six older German gentlemen, ages ranging from 66 to 66.  That's what they seemed to tell me.  Although, none of them spoke English, a few knew some words.  The main spokesmen were named Alfonse and Vitus.  Alfonse, a spry old guy with an impish humor, got on my bike and started riding around the town square.  I thought he was going to crash and hurt himself with the 50 pounds of packs.  More importantly... I thought he was going to wreck my bike.  He started laughing like crazy.  He led me around the town square, followed by the other five, pointing out things.  I couldn't understand much of what he was talking about. 

He took me over to a stone wall, where he pointed out a spot where they apparently flogged people.  Hanging from it was a metal collar which locked the victim to the wall.  He put it around his neck, as he grinned like an idiot (left). 

Then, they started leading me somewhere.  I had no idea where they were taking me. But it was okay... They took me out to lunch.

I got out my German/English dictionary so we could try to converse.  We'd spend five minutes looking up a single word.  We seemed to click when I got them to understand that my grandmother liked to make Sauerbraten (which I ordered at lunch). 

I the impression they didn't like Hitler, they mentioned him several times.  Alfonse said he had been in the army for ten years and he had fought against Russia on the eastern front there.  He just missed being shot three times.  He was literarily a real Nazi soldier.  I'm glad these guys made it through. 

Marburg, Germany
Location: AT A HOTEL

John:  Well, here we are in Marburg, a mere 56 miles through the wheat fields from Fulda, a little further than my legs intended to go. I pulled into Marburg and was going to go directly to the hostel but... checking out the town, found it to be University town supreme. I figured I didn't want to be hindered by one of the tight German curfews so I'm in the Bahnhof Hotel right by the train station.

So, I went roaming the streets and found the old town and several bars.  Real nice with cobblestones and old houses, went up to the "Schloss".  Went down to another bar, wine cellar type place.

I had one beer there then went to another across the street and walked in and out.  Another place and had a beer and one of those big pretzels, then another place.

I picked up some street "pomme frites" and sat down on some steps.  I nodded to this smiling girl who was sitting next to the "Snell Imbiss" fast food place.  I just kept walking past her and then sat down.  Then, she came over and said... well, first in German... if she could smoke a cigarette next to me.  A pickup line, if I ever heard one.  I said, of course.  She was a student at the university.  After talking, she invited me to her apartment for "tea".  She actually brought out some tea, then she lit a candle.  Interesting. Then she lit twenty candles.  Then she served a little cake.  Then she lit some more candles.  Then she said good night.  Boy, was I confused.  

Next stop is Berlin by train.  My plans were to get out of the area to escape the rain but ironically it's kind of a nice day now.  The ride takes eight hours.  It's sunny today for the first time in weeks.  The mountains are... looks like smog actually.  But it's kind of nice, for a day in Germany anyway.  And I'm ready to go to the races as we race to... Berlin.