Friday evening began with most of the Glasgow CAMRA members assembled at The Bon Accord for the Pub Of The Year Award (2010). Paul looks happy to have received this. Long may he receive many more such awards.
Angry Scene at Edinburgh Airport
An early rise on Saturday morning was not what Hector would have chosen. However Mr O’Leary insists that his flights to Germany are early morning affairs. Imagine Hector’s annoyance when a Doris dispatcher decided to challenge Marg on the size of her hand luggage. The farce that followed saw Marg open her bag, put on a cardigan, hand me the Daily mail and supplement, prove the bag fitted the ‘device’ and then repack her bag as it had been at the start. Meanwhile Hector was accusing the Doris of ‘theft’ when I am informed it should have been ‘extortion’. This bag has flown on numerous Ryanair flights. They were at it and they picked the wrong person to mess with- even when they did threaten to offload a very annoyed Hector.
Back in The Fatherland
Checking into the Altstadt Café at 10.30 is quite unusual, even though I had managed the same in September at the Golden Traube) on my last visit. We were eating Apfelstrudel and drinking coffee on the Bruckenschenke by 11.00. It would soon be time for a Curry-Heute.
What’s that coming over the hill?
The Taj Mahal in Bernkastel was the reason why Hector had Marg in agreement that we should walk over the hill to Bernkastel. On a dull, drizzly day this was not totally enjoyable. The muddy path and the increasing body temperatures saw two entities emerge on the far side. Thankfully the hillside auberge was open – even in November!
After the Karahi Gosht we checked the times of the buses back: only four and a half hours later. The locals appeared to be erecting some sort of ‘shanty town’ in the spaces in front of the medieval buildings. They must have something planned.
There was nothing more to look forward to than the walk back. In the dark. We might see Bambi?
No Bier Today?
The Golden Traube had to be the venue for our evening meal. Marilise welcomed us and Richard exchanged his usual banter throughout the visit. Rosé wine was Marg’s choice and so there was no Bier consumed, at all. Hector in Deutschland for over 12 hours…?
Marg had ordered Rumpsteak with Krauterbutter, Hector the Mosel Menu. The Chef was having a bad night. I turned down an omelette, Fish and asked what had happened to my Soup before they admitted that the entire order had been cocked up. Marg had her steak, decidedly not ‘Durch’, and Hector had the Fish. Two courtesy Desserts (each) more than made up for the missing Pork. The Hot Berries over Vanilla Ice-cream is…superb…
Bier Time
Hami’s was smoky. A couple of Gaffel Kölsch and we escaped to Frank’s. Marg was tired, Hector was tired. A couple of Reissdorf Kölsch and it was time to retire. 
Just look how wonderful Traben-Trarbach is this fine Sunday morning. This is definitely the place to be, so we left.
Sunday – Köln the home of Kölsch
Just the three trains took us to Köln. The IC was far superior to the normal RE; DB had made an offer for two singles that was way cheaper than the normal SW. Hector had Lasagne in Heumarkt whilst Marg had Soup. This is crucial information.
Bier in our time (OK, I have used this before)
The Gaffelhaus was the first port of call. Dr Stan has promised to take us somewhere close by next month where the third best Kölsch is served Direkt vom Fass. Logic suggested we go back towards Barbarossplatz and ‘do Reissdorf’ early. The Tardis at Poststrasse took us above ground adjacent to Kleingriechenmarkt – the home of the finest Kölsch, by far!Hector did the litre, well I had to make the visit worthwhile. Smoking in the main bar area – why is this tolerated, permitted, whatever? Bayern has certainly made the correct decisions. It is mystery as to exactly what the raison d’être is behind smoking rules in Nord Rhein Westphalia.
Back on the U-Bahn and a visit to Sünner (Salzgasse 13), will it had to be now or later…
Hector Bingo
Marg decided to have her main meal of the day. This is also crucial information. Marg recalls the occasionally told story of when Hector organised the Bon Accord trip to Köln-Düsseldorf. We split our group in two and ordered a 5l Tower’ each. A race ensued. Russell’s team was losing so we offered to help them finish theirs first. The self congratulations ended when they realised what had happened to their supply of Kölsch! We then ended our visit to Sünner in a more leisurely manner.
Do you remember Sion?
Hector had forgotten the Haxenhaus. Marg had not. We stopped off there for another Gaffel and a Baileys. Marg had the Baileys. Hector’s spectacles remained intact – unlike during my first visit where the pressure of the crowd was excessive. There was a grassy knoll too where my flashgun mysteriously disappeared…I blame Lord Clive.
Minutes later Hector and Marg sat down in the Sion taproom. Just the single test tube was consumed. I think. The main event – Früh am Dom was seconds away.
Strangely we were advised that the Keller was closing early, being a Sunday and so we took our place in the main room. No smoke in Früh, Gaffel or Sünner. This is civilised. At 22.50 they were still serving Schweinhaxen. Hector was not interested in these; it was time for a Curry-Heute at Kamasutra!
The Monday Holiday – or the day Deutsche Bahn let Hector down
The 11.40 from Köln to Krefeld stopped at Neuss It never moved another cm. Eventually we were advised that the train was going nowhere and the word ‘Strassenbahn’ was clearly heard. Having now missed a connection there was no way Hector and Marg were going to miss their flight from Weeze. Just the €110 for the taxi from Neuss to Weeze…
A Happy Ending
There is no point spending one’s entire holiday Monday travelling is Marg’s philosophy and so Hector was permitted to join the Chaps at ‘the other place’. On entering they were leaving: ah....the Drum and Monkey was selling Thornbridge Jaipur and Brewdog IPA. Oh well then.Guess what?
Marg could not pass the Mother India Café : she went to the new overflow venue and had a Curry-Heute! What is going on?
