Rendezvous in Rothenburg

Well, it was actually in the huge, ginormous Frankfurt airport after a trip around the world .......but romantic Rothenburg sounds so much better. 

Our stay on the canal barge was really something quite different from anything we have experienced before. The barges are very large, 40 metres long, and equipped with all the mod cons. The location was in a quiet, rural setting and we were very comfortable. We had an outstanding meal in the local village restaurant.....the hospitality, food (pork knuckle and other local delicacies) and ambience ....just marvellous. They sure know how to live life these Europeans.

View downstream form our barge.

After an early morning stroll along the canal and a hearty breakfast, we set off for Frankfurt airport unaware of the "adventure" we were about to undertake. It should have been a straight forward run up to Frankfurt .....but!

I really wish I had asked someone which airport to choose in the selection menu.....especially after we found ourselves high in some misty mountains with dark, dank forests all around and deer jumping onto the road. I had selected Frankfurt airport in the Sat Nav....but a small regional one ........and we had crossed three countries, France, Luxembourg and then into Germany to get to this lonely place when we realised we were lost. Not just lost, but royally so.....100 kilometres lost! 

A mad dash ( with a bit of "colourful" language) from a long way on the wrong side of Frankfurt got us to the terminal a couple of hours behind schedule but we managed to meet up with Michael and Wendy to begin the next phase of our trip.....the first night of which was spent in beautiful, quaint, picturesque, chocolate box Rothenburg,  a couple of hours from Frankfurt.

We arrived in time to have a stroll around the town and explore the medieval wall and battlements before the light failed and our stomachs needed attention .....and what a gorgeous place it is. Cobbled lanes and alleys with colourful shops, restaurants and chocolate and Christmas shops everywhere make it a very popular destination for tourists...and we could see why.

Another few hours exploring the town in the morning after breakfast completed our much too brief a stay.

Our hotel on the left, with the sun sign...early morning.

I could be wrong but it seemed to me that much of the morning was spent in Christmas shops but we couldn't do such a beautiful town justice in the time we had we were due in Prague...about four hours away.