Day 5 Getting to Germany

We took the train which was very nice (we found an open compartment in First Class and bagged it…) We didn't go up or over the mountains but instead  through a series of tunnels from one valley to the next.  The ride was smooth and fast.  The train was about half full so we ended up with a compartment to ourselves.  Nice reclining leather seats.  We picked up lunch at the train station before we left Zurich so we had a sandwich and some fruit for the trip.  The weather in Zurich was pretty nice, but by the time we got to Germany it was overcast.  At Karlsruhe it started to rain…

By Heppenheim is was nice again.  Steve picked us up at the train stations and we went to visit the Heidelberg Castle which was about 30 minutes away.  It was started in the 1400's and never actually finished… In part because it kept being knocked down in wars with France.  We made it just in time to catch the daily English Language Tour so we were able to go inside and see the interior rooms.  The guided tour was well worth the 4 Euros and we had a great time.  They are restoring the castle as they get money and while it may take a 100 years it will have much of it's previous splendor returned some day.

We went to dinner in a little out of the way German place in Heppenheim.  It was excellent and after Zurich wow it was such a deal!