De train, de train!

I left north Germany for Leipzig, in the former DDR. What and adventure. And may i ask, when did the German train system begin to suck? I had 11 minutes to transfer at the Hamburg-Altona station for the last stretch to visit a dear old friend, Marga. Throughout the entire portion from Husum to Hamburg, the train flirted with delays between 5 and 15 minutes.

It was back to being just 5 minutes late as the announcement came that we were pulling into the Hamburg-Altona station. And then the train just up and parked with out reaching the platform. Fifteen minutes we waited, with many passengers getting antsy. As we pulled in, the race was on with people running to make connections. When i got to my platform, my train for Leipzig was still being displayed on the departure table. And sure enough, an InterCity train was pulling in. I boarded and made the very self satisifed photo-op. Then came the announcement that this train had been canceled and the next train fro Leipzig would be departing fron the Hamburg-Central station which involved a short ride on the S-Bahn. I tried to get an email out to Marga that i'd be an hour late, but there wasn't any unsecured internet signal. But ende gut, alles gut... Marga, bless her heart, was waiting for me when i arrived in Leipzig. With the white asparagus season just under way, i was again delight to partake, this time with roast beef. mmmmm... Followed by a nice local beer and the German version of "Who wants to be a Millionaire."

My next stop will be Thursday in southern Germany again, to see and old university friend. Will he have white asparagus too? One can only hope. I do hope he doesn't try to meet me at his train station though. I have to transfer 4 times to reach his suburb of a suburb of a suburb. Chances are not great the Deutsche Bummelbahn will get me there on time...