As we traveled along the Mosel river valley we enjoyed the scenery on the lovely afternoon. The sides of the mountains were planted with many vineyards. This little cart on a rail is used to carry the worker up the steep mountain side so that he/she can reach the area where the work is being done. We saw many of these during our travels but this one we were able to get the best picture.
Near a place called Bernstein we found a lovely park area with free parking & free WC's so we took advantage of this opportunity. Helmut also took a walk back to the bus stop area to look at a map of the area that was posted there to get our bearings. We often used these posted maps (usually of towns) to help us find our way locally.
At the bus stop he met an couple who had just missed their bus to the next town. They would have a 2 hour wait. Since they were going the same way as we planned Helmut offered them a ride. In conversation with them H. discovered that the lady had lived on the platz of the street where H. grew up in Duesseldorf. what a small world.
In this area Helmut called his cousin from the Hasselhoff side of the family to ask if it would be OK to visit. We had a while yet to drive before reaching their town of Idar-Oberstein. Eventually we got to the area and then had quite a time locating their home in one of the little villages outside of I-O. We asked directions from several folks but finally a school boy was able to direct us to the right place on the top of a small mountain. It was passed our normal supper time when we arrived. Dorla and Herrmann took us to an Italian Pizza restaurant for supper. We stayed with them for the week end. More next time.
4 comments:
I am curious. Do the Germans refer to their biffys as WC's. I know that is the term used in England. Is that what you call them in Canada? Justs curious. It looks like you had another fun day.
Aunt Pat,
I remember being in Walhalla, North Dakota which is very close to the Manitoba border and going to a store. We asked where the washroom was and the girl looked very confused. Then I remembered that I had to say "bathroom". It's funny the differences within 5 min. of the border.
In that instance would you say restroom or bathroom?
REZ
Do you say "WC" or "Water Closet" (which is what WC stands for in Britain) in Canada, Germany etc.? I know that you Canadians call it a "washroom". Here, if it is a room in a house, it is most likely called the bathroom. If it is out in public--a rest room.
WC stands for Water closet - in Germany it would be
WC probably adopted from English for public places but it also might be toilette which is the German word for the facility wherever it is found. In one home where we visited one of us asked for the bathroom and was pointed to the bathroom where the tub was and no toilette.
Most homes of recent vintage (say last 50 years) have a toilet off of the entry way in a closet size room and probably a very little basin to wash your hands. The main bathroom will be near the bedrooms.
In the hotels and guest houses the facilities are generally arranged similar to north American configuration. Many of them only have a shower not a tub. Oh, yes, showers are built differently over there with deeper basins at the bottom and you might have some form of a plug to keep the water from flowing away immediately. Some even had a step up inside (or bench) where you could sit down.
We stayed in one economy hotel where the shower was in one cubby hole, the toilet in the next cubby hole and the sink in the corner of the main room. This place also had a plumbing problem that caused the room to get sewer smells when the shower was in use.
In Canada we usually refer to the whole facility as the "washroom". In advertising for homes for sale the facility attached to the master bedroom might be called the "ensuite" or the powder room if it only has a toilet & sink.
We hope that some how and some way you can find the facility that you want when you need it. We experienced as much of a derth in NW Ontario in the winter time as in
Germany in the summer time. Only advantage inn ON is that there are many many trees and hiding places along the road.
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