Travel Book Logs

The month of September was a quiet time on TBL as I took a break from blogging. Ironically it was time off on travel to Germany that caused the interruption. So much for any credibility on being mobile and connected. I did not take my camera and I did not bother to look for wifi connectivity. In short I was really busy.

Travelling to Europe on work has become a lot easier with direct flights straight out of Hyderabad. This time I was off to Hannover, Germany for the EMO show. Covering the Machine Tool industry the show is a world class event that attracts attention from all over the world. Travel to Hannover was a breeze with a direct flight from Hyderabad to Frankfurt followed by a 2 hour direct train ride at 150 kmph to Hannover from the Frankfurt Airport train station.

I haven’t been able to travel elsewhere on train as I have in Germany. Deutsche Bahn (DB) is an outstanding railway service and the ICE trains offer superb connections to all major cities. On this visit I glanced at a brochure that talked of the French TGV connection to Paris at 350 kmph! Now that would be a train ride!

But coming back to Deutsche Bahn – the ICE Train service is so completely off the charts – specially when you arrive there from a place like India. First Class cabins are quieter than second class and at the times we were traveling a lot less crowded. It also helps to get seat reservations. In Germany you can board a train and pay after when the “Ticket Collector” comes around. On two occasions we bought Second Class only to upgrade to First after we had no chance of finding seats in Second Class. The reserved seating is in “Bahn Comfort” zones which I am yet to get the hang off but these are not completely necessary as most ICE trains normally have plenty of space.

Speeds of around 150 kmph are like clockwork. Frankfurt to Hannover in 2 & 1/2 hours @ 145 kmph. Hannover to Wurzburg in slightly over 2 hours @ 145 kmph. Stuttgart to Frankfurt in 1 hour @ 155 kmph. Travelling with the Bord Bistro Service is as good as it gets. With the Oktoberfest in the air, beer and bratwursts were in plenty. On one occasion I sampled the pasta with a bottle of wine and it was just right.

Blazing throught the German countryside on these trains with nothing more than a hum in the air and a good bottle of wine is an ordeal I can handle any time of the year.