Germany Day 5
Germany Day Five
Let's talk about Germany's water, restaurants— and bees. I wanted to catch up on a few things since this day was mostly driving.
Germany’s water situation was quite the experience. You had to actively order water, and it could be as expensive as beer. Ice was nearly nonexistent, a mythical creature that was never present, no matter what you ordered. When we asked about it, someone said, "Why would you put frozen water in water?" As absurd as it sounded, I realized there was some logic behind it—just a different approach to hydration. The only free water we found was at hotel breakfasts, and they only gave tiny 4oz glasses. I ended up taking shots of water at the buffet, attempting to stock up before the inevitable beer buzz. We confirmed after some research (and water chugging) that tap water was safe to drink, but Munich's tasted suspiciously like bathroom sink water—definitely not my favorite. The water in the countryside, though, was much better.
Restaurants in Germany had some standout quirks. First off, the food selection was abundant, but the fruits and veggies were sparse—especially for my herbivorous wife, though I didn’t mind the heavy meat-centric meals. What really caught my attention, though, was how you had to work for your check. Once your meal was done, the server would vanish, and you'd be left trying to catch their attention. It was like playing hide-and-seek, and to get noticed, you had to finish your drink. I was happy to help with that! The servers carried small purses and expected exact change if you paid in cash—my wife loved that aspect.
As for the bees, Germany's were the friendliest I’ve encountered. They stuck around loyally at your table, staring at you like, “I’m just tryna do my job, buddy.” They weren’t aggressive, and surprisingly, they were huge fans of beer. It was odd, but they made for some interesting companions.
Now, Day 5. We woke up, grabbed breakfast, checked out, and embarked on a 3-hour drive, passing the time listening to a podcast about a mysterious murder. Our destination: The Black Forest— a little too deep into it, if I’m being honest. We probably should’ve picked a different podcast, but it made for some good conversation during the drive. When we arrived, we hiked to the top of Germany’s tallest waterfall, The Triberg Waterfall, trying not to fall along the way. That was mostly just me. Finally, we had lunch, where my wife convinced me to try the infamous “pork knuckle.” The name alone made it a must-try, and with my newfound courage (and hunger), I dove in!
The further we ventured from the city, the fewer people spoke English. I quickly learned that ordering in German was like opening Pandora’s box—once I placed the order, they wouldn’t stop talking to me in German. I stared back at them, hoping for some kind of miracle. My wife, ever the hero, finally stepped in and said, “Nein Deutsche.”
The pork knuckle took “fall-off-the-bone” to an entirely new level. It didn’t just fall off; it imploded. My wife couldn’t stop eating from my plate, which I couldn’t complain about—there was plenty to go around. It came with bread and mustard, and I made myself a sandwich, thank you very much. The meal was rounded out with German potato salad and a regular salad— you know, the kind with lettuce. But here’s the surprise: all the salads in Germany had coleslaw under the lettuce. A pleasant and unexpected twist!
We couldn’t wait to try Black Forest cake, which is soaked in Schnapps. I confidently ordered two pieces in what I thought was flawless German. The server laughed at me. Was my German that bad? Yes. He probably found it amusing because each slice was a whole 1lb— and soaked in Schnapps. Each piece probably had two or three shots worth. My wife made it about halfway through her slice, and I helped her out.
Buzzing from the cake, we window-shopped for Cuckoo Clocks. They were invented here, so naturally, we had to check them out. The clocks were cool, but I’m not sure how much of them I actually remembered— the cake was rough. After that, we drove to a lake to take some pictures (I think). Now we’re on the road to Baden Baden. My wife’s driving, and I’m just trying to stay awake after all that Schnapps!
Qullenhof Sophia, our hotel for the next two nights, was a great find. They offered a complimentary minibar, a regular-size fridge full of brews in the lobby, and—did we get Netflix to work? Yes, yes we did.
After settling in, we explored downtown Baden Baden. The town was colorful and full of charm. Across the street from us, there was a school that looked like its own castle—or maybe a fortress. It was the kind of place that made you wonder if you'd stumble into a secret passage at any moment.
Dinner that night was a German meatloaf. I’m not sure if it was ancient Bavarian fare or just a playful take on a tourist-friendly dish, but I loved it either way. It was basically a flat sausage—does it get any better than that? The flavors were simple but satisfying, and I couldn’t get enough of it. The Germans really know how to make sausage into something special.
The restaurant reminded us of Germany's fascination with lifelike dolls—there were quite a few scattered around, adding an eerie touch to the atmosphere. It was like dining in a museum of peculiarities.
Afterward, we stocked up on supplies at the lobby beer fridge. Thank goodness they don’t keep Schnapps in here—one adventure with that stuff was enough for me!
