h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The German meet was a huge success.

Between the ten of us we came from five different countries.

Attendees in alphabetical order:

B'Elana (Ger)
Hapi (Netherlands)
Malabarista (Germany)
Matodemi (Germany)
Pierce the Pirate (Denmark)
Reddyfreddy (England)
Remarkable Firefly (England)
Sho (Germany)
Tavaron (Austria)
Trillian's Child (Germany)

plus mini mato, plus the Gruesome Twosome

The day started well enough: I got up early and managed to waste my time by reading and posting on here.
As our bus plan was out of date by a year, I decided it would be best to check departure times online.
Result: I was at the bus stop in time for 8.50 as given online - only that the bus had left at 8.47 according to the plan.
So back home to ask my husband to bring me to the underground, or else I'd not have reached the train cause buses only run every 20 min on a Saturday, and I had gone for the latest possibility.

Fortunately, I don't live far from the bus stop, the husband was very quick and we managed to arrive at the underground station a couple of minutes before the bus did.

My husband had offered that I should call him once I had arrived in the night so he could come and fetch me if I was stuck.
That was nice and it had the additional advantage that he asked whether I had taken my mobile phone - which I hadn't, it was still connected to its charger.

From there, all went OK. Got the train which left on the minute.
Not long after that, I got a text from TC: chaos in Mannheim, I'll arrive 30 minutes late.
Poor TC, there's always something going wrong with her trains. Several texts later, after DB had managed to confuse the hell out of their passengers by announcing the train would end in Cologne, then to tell them it would go to its destination after all - I was nearly at Düsseldorf station.
Found the info desk alright, with Malabarista, matodemi, minimato and TC already there. I'm not quite sure who arrived next: Hapi or Sho and daughters, but within a few minutes they all arrived.
I got a text message from RF that they were at the airport waiting for a train to the station.
So we just waited for another while and then RF1 and RF2 safely arrived, so we went off for them and TC to check into their hotels.
The weather was brilliant, sunny and warm.

While on our way to the hotel, Tavaron called, so Sho went back to the station to fetch her.

When we were eventually all together (Pierce's flight was only due to land at 3.30 or so), we went in direction of the TV Tower. Like the year before we had only a very vague idea of what to do (up the Fernsehturm in this case), but then decided it would be a good idea to have lunch first. We managed to find a place near the Rhine which offered decent food at reasonable prices.
Remembering that Reddyfreddy wanted to have 'typical German food' when he last stayed here, I recommended he should have the Leberkäse with - which he did.

While we were all busy chatting between bites of food a Brass Band suddenly materialised not far from us and started to play Oompah music, and the lads at a nearby table started to 'schunkeln'.
Really, it couldn't get any more typically German than this.

After lunch we went for some more beer in the Altstadt , the worked our way slowly towards the Fernsehturm.

It was OK, no open platform, though, which was a pity, especially in this wonderful weather. You could walk around the tower to get the full panorama, though, and at €3.40 /adult it's definitely a much better value than the London Eye, which is totally overpriced imo.

Meanwhile, the had made his way from the airport into Düsseldorf, so we went to meet him in a beer garden near his hotel.

Stayed there for several beers, then went to a nearby steakhouse for a - rather late - dinner.
As I had booked a train back at 9.17pm, I didn't order any food as I'd have had to gulp it down provided it would have arrived before I left in the first place. So at ten minutes to nine I said goodbye to everyone and went off to the station. Arrived there at 9.00, then looked which platform I should go.
Platform 16. Went up there, and the next train shown on that display panel to arrive and leave was not mine. Hmm.
Check on the large timetable: no train to FFM at 9.17pm at all! On searching a bit more, I found it announced as 9.27.
Looked for it on the display panel where it shows which wagons will be in what area when the train arrives - the train wasn't on that one at all!

So, back downstairs again to have another look at the large display pane there. It still said 9.17 platform 16.
Back to the platform again.
Well, the train did leave from there, at the time my ticket said, and I arrived at Frankfurt exactly when I was due to arrive.

Went down to the underground station and the display panel said: next U to Schäfflestr.
I happen to know where that is, and it definitely was NOT where I wanted to go. I thought tiredness had got the better of me and I had managed to go to the wrong platform for some reason. Back upstairs, check - no, it pointed out the direction I wanted to go. Downstairs again, and I thought my eyes had played a trick on me - but no, it still showed the wrong (for me) destination.

Apparently, a further station has been added to the line since last I went with public transport, and it must be so recent that none of the printed plans have it included. I really think it could be pointed out somewhere, though, that the U still goes where it used to go before.

I was lucky, the next U came 5 min later. The next bus home was due two minutes after I had arrived at the bus stop, so there wasn't really a point in calling the husband, and so I was at home at about midnight.

It was a great day, and I hope we'll meet soon again.

PS: The girls were absolutely lovely and well behaved, and Gruesome #1 took a few photos with her 'fun' camera - can't wait to see them.

My photos are at

http://picasaweb.google.com/TheBelana/GermanMeet

Great - sound as though you all had a good time.

We had a great time too - I'll try to get the photos online today.

That would be great, Sho.

PBS, we certainly had a fantastic time, and we were extremely lucky with the weather, too: it's currently overcast, with intermittent rain and about 15°C here.

Travelling with DB is like travelling with DSB!

Good report, nice photos.

It was a great meeting, and Düsseldorf's weather was at its best - the last days it was an on and off with rain, or much too hot. Today it has been raining all morning - so we picked the best day for the meeting.

Only thing I really worried about was, to get us wherever we wanted to go. But with Sho's help and TC's map that wasn't a problem after all. I usually know my way around, but I am not very often near the centre of Düsseldorf, and I come from a different direction when I do (plus I take busses or trams from home to where I want to go so I don't have to find my way from the mainstation).

Pictures will be online later....

Thanks, tartaronne. Maybe you'll make a meet some day? That would be great.

when we get the funds(he wishes)Lil and me will invade

Just win the lottery and off you go.

you'll know when we arrive

That would probably of advantage.

You lucky people - I wish I'd been there!

Glad you had a great time!

I must look like a Düsseldorfer because I ended up giving instructions to get to places to two total strangers.

I'm used to just walking around and around until I get roughly where I want to be.

long story B'El, but a few year ago, there was a milk bottle going round Germany from me(within the Buffalo's - R.A.O.B.)

Wish you'd been here, Icy.

Prof, you're talking in riddles.

part of my reputation B'El

Yes, some day, B'El - it is the third year I cannot meet for x-mas in EEK-land . The meeting is next week - I believe. Or has it alreay started? Hati

It'll start soon - tonight from what I've heard.

More photos (for those not subscribed to Sho's journal):

http://public.fotki.com/GruesomeTwosome/dsseldorf-meet-9th-/

don't all be frightened by the Gruesome Twosome!!