So, that little trip I did – three countries, six gigs, ten stops, in twenty days. The postcard blog posts idea started well, then kind of, erm, but I did keep it going – with excuses. Next time I’ll do better. Oh yeah, there will be a next time, when the stars align again.
I’d only stayed one night at an Airbnb before this trip, and that was a BnB that advertised through Airbnb, so this was my first real experience of Airbnb-ing; and so many different experiences! Boy, my comfort zone felt terribly faraway at times! I also stayed a few nights in hostels, also very varied experiences from exceptionally good to godawful. More on all that later…
I did have some trepidation about how well I’d eat on my trip. Oh, not that I wouldn’t like the food, but how I’d figure out what things were and how to pronounce the words. My awkwardness and embarrassment almost swallowed me whole a few times! (that also includes being in strangers’ kitchens). Plenty of the time I lived off yoghurt, bananas, ham, cheese, and bread, bread, bread, ha, and individually wrapped pieces of Yorkshire Parkin I’d baked to take with me (for sustenance when I had nowt else). Oh, I did eat plenty from the food counters at all the train stations; so much bread – how I managed to misplace half a stone over there is a mystery!
The whole Interrailling thing went fine, just a few blips. The app is extremely good (mind I was keeping things relatively simple, not bothering to reserve seats or any overnight journeys with sleeping requirements). Different options and itineraries can be looked at and saved until you’re ready to make a final choice and book it in, and then the app asks twice whether you definitely want to go ahead and book. Sometimes I was literally about to step on a train when I booked it – ok, so that was in case plans went awry.
My train travels were certainly enlightening! I’m happy to report that German trains are not as perfect as they are perceived to be, oh, not by much but how nice to see some flaws (it’s a British thing to unfavourably compare our train services in particular to Germany’s). You humans are so fascinating to observe, and yes, different nations do have different traits, or stereotypical behaviours (oo, that word stereotype does upset some folk). Train passengers were one thing, but pedestrians in Germany and Austria, wow, I definitely wasn’t in the UK (traffic still oncoming round the corner when the green man is on – I flinched every time!)
My wandering feet did a lot of wandering and exploring. Some days I probably walked for five, six hours, just taking in the sights and sounds, admiring the different architecture. Statues and sculptures on walls became a thing for me, especially the ones flashing a knee (honestly, there were some many). Lovely parks over there too, I strolled through plenty between bed and venues. Venues, ah yes, the actual reason for being over there, Logan’s Close on their European Tour.
Yes, ostensibly it was for a friend’s party and LC, but really it was almost like a cover story that excused me also romping around Germany. Then, sadly, the party had to be cancelled; my journey to Bremen was quickly rearranged. Somehow it seems that our friendship was cancelled too, not a peep since – not that I haven’t tried! Okay, so be it, but, if I had known, then I might have forgone the Munich gig and headed off for Logan’s Close’s next gig in Trento. Hmm, Ingolstadt to Trento, then two days later up to Vienna just for my flight home – bet that’s some stunning scenery! Bloody humans!
Oh, the Munich gig was good, the guys were on fine form, but, there’s a certain hostel I’d not bother with again (later). Sure, I would have missed Eurovision, but then, Logan’s Close or Eurovision? No contest! The gigs I did get to, Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg, Prague, Ingolstadt and Munich were amazing. Time and time again, just little touches would blow me away, the attitude, the grand swirls, the spaces in their sound, the sheer exuberance, the obvious joy and shared smiles – all of it together, so potent, such an incredible high!!
God yes, I’ll be doing that again, just next time a little more aware! I shall leave you with a few aftershow pics in Ingolstadt…
