July 12 - Basel to Stuttgart (Day 1)

We were sad to see our cruise come to an end. We put the official Rambler stamp of approval on Uniworld River Cruises.  The food was good (and plentiful), the drinks plentiful, the accommodations well appointed, and most of all the staff was first rate.

Amazing Marco

Tour Director Ramona

Daniel and the future Mrs. Oliver

Oliver, the world's best waiter

Nikolai the Head Waiter

And of course, Alex the Waiter and world class photo bomber

After we said our goodbyes, we headed for the train station and began our attempts to navigate the Swiss/German train transit systems (more later). This leg was relatively easy because our travel agent, Agent Dale had already printed our tickets for us, which negated the need to navigate the German lingo ticket kiosk experience.  After our arrival in Stuttgart (after one train change in Karlsruhe), and accessing our hotel room (right across from the train station, another home run by Agent Dale), we grabbed a quick bite at a traditional German place on the city square and then we set off by cab to the Mercedes-Benz museum.  Another Rambler stamp of approval on the crispy pork and the museum.

Pic may not show well but the most beautiful pastries in the Basel train station.

Basel train station

Shout out to Charles Cooley. Your Porsche doppelganger exists.

Swabian food.  We had the pork, 5th from the top.  Yum.

Crispy pork and potato dumplings.  Comfort food.

Beer, of the dark variety, of course

Beautiful fountain in the square. There was actually two of them.

Very modern design

One of the very first Daimler/Benz cars.

Early race car frame and engine

Stunning car. Looks like it should be in a 1950's cartoon.

One of the coolest Mercedes ever.

Mercedes race cars of various types.

Concept car with a (sparkly) solar roof.

Another concept car with a glass roof.

After our visit, we attempted to catch a cab back to the hotel.  However, the road into the museum area was closed for a corporate Olympics-type event with hundreds of participants.  Cabs could not get in and it was rush hour.  We could not figure out how to ride the one tram we at a very small station (no attendants or English signage to be found) so, with the help of Google Maps, we set off to hike the three miles across Stuttgart to get back to our hotel.  WE WILL research the local train system tonight, that is for sure.  Our hike pooped us out so we retired to our room for the night.  Tomorrow is our trip to the Porsche Museum and the three hour tour with our very own 911.

Until then, mach weiter (keep on rambling).