Saturday 14th October 2023

Freiburg

The hottest town in Germany showed its other side today with a wet and windy start to the day.

Shook off the early morning woes with a champagne breakfast followed by a walk through the huge market being set up in the surrounds of the Munster.

There was not much you could not get from farm produce, including the biggest and priciest selection of mushrooms, to flowers to six caravans in a row selling sausages of all flavours.

After that sensory delight we popped into the Munster and it was as big as a football field, but not as ornate as many we had seen. It did have a penchant for ringing bells from 500am.

We then slipped down the skinniest street in town to find the bus station and also a shop to get some walking gear to replace some we lost on previous two walks. We passed the beautiful former market hall on the way.

The light rain was not dampening the spirits of either tourists or locals, with the latter out on their bikes, again in all configurations. The little kids are on bikes at a young age and like everyone here are very polite with bike etiquette. Similarly the dogs are marvellously behaved- perhaps learning that restaurant etiquette helps.

We found both bus stop and a well stocked trekking shop and in increasing rain walked our way back to get more appropriate rain gear. Interesting that the clean and tidy disappeared here , with plenty of remnants of the students previous night going on’s littering the street.

A bit sad to see a fair bit of homelessness- guess it goes with big cities and a town where accommodation is stretched by an influx of students at this time of year.

The little canals were filling up and kids were sailing their little boats. Found the spot where the armada docks on our way around town.

More appropriately dressed we pulled out the guide book and did a City Tour. Retraced a few steps from yesterday and there was no feet dangling drinkers, nor was the students bar heaving like the previous night. We also found why students jumped into the river – it was to decorate a statue of a crocodile with chestnuts.

There was the usual swag of lovely buildings and tour guides with weird hats leading groups around the streets. Led to believe a red hat means you are single.

The towns famous 3 Hat Michelin restaurant named after the wolves was offering a degustation lunch for around €160 a head- we were heading for a €3 sausage later in the walk.

We walked back around the former tannery and fish market area which had a great mini brewery and at 11 in the morning who could resist a beer.

Walked through more areas where the students and lecturers hang out, including the equivalent of the Spanish Steps in Rome. There is also a coloured pattern that goes from green to red when it’s time for drinkers to go home – if you believe what locals tell you.

Ran into a family on a trip into town with their 3 kids on bikes – nothing like a 10 km cycle because it’s more convenient than driving.

The area was particularly popular with students for drinking and eating, so Jane slipped back into her Uni day behaviour.

After all that drinking we were looking for a toilet , forgetting we were not in Spain where it’s called a banyo , I mistakenly walked into a Vietnamese restaurant, fortunately it was next door to the WC- will need a trip to Specsavers when we return.

We toured the covered market which is effectively a food court and again it sold everything except German food- it’s apparently a popular cheap eats spot for students.

Oops Jane’s second trip to the bar.

Gradually headed back towards the markets to get our sausage on a roll and all 6 carts were doing a fine trade. Just as we got served a torrential downpour caught us out and we finished our soggy sandwich under the cover of a fruit stall,.

We dashed through the main gate passing a statue of the monk who invented gunpowder to reach the hotel and dry off. It was sad that McDonalds had placed a sign on such a significant building,

Did a bit of research on Toulouse where we are headed, indirectly through Strasbourg, with some Spanish airline we have never heard off – hope it’s still flying.

Also watched the Eurobowl final of the Gridiron which saw the reigning premiers get a flogging, before heading off on a very early dinner date. Must say football was little less extravagant than the US version and standard likewise.

Finally got the pork knuckle and apple strudel before a wander around town, which was now flush with tourists and more drunk students.

Plenty of fashion shops and I spied a pair of shoes that might double as dancing and golf attire – all mine for €300. Also found the ultimate chocolate Advent Calendar in a Haig’s Chocolates like store for a similar price- it would have been hard to squeeze in a back pack.

That rounded off another great day in Germany and it’s back to the land of croissants tomorrow.