![]() A glowing sign at the front of the car informed us of our speed and arrival time. The experience was calming and relaxing, with passengers whiling away the time reading, tapping away at laptops, or sleeping in comfortable reclining seats. I had plenty of space for my bulky bag, and the legroom - imagine that! legroom! - was like nothing I've experienced on a commercial flight. The experience underscored how miserable air travel can be. Later, I was served a meal on real china with proper flatware. A little voice inside my head thought it was a bit extreme, but it was quickly drowned out by a uniformed Deutsche Bahn attendant politely asking if I'd care for a drink and offering a selection of complimentary newspapers. ![]() It puts the airlines to shame, what with the plush leather seats, oak tables, high ceilings and sparkling glass doors. I booked the cheapest ticket I could find ($160) but found myself in 1 Klasse, or first class. If the Regionalbahn is the Walmart of German rail, the high-speed Intercity Express (aka ICE), is Nordstrom. The high-speed train that would carry me to Vienna was literally five steps across the platform where my dirty little RB pulled in, a perfect example of German organization and efficiency. Visions of a mad dash through the station filled my head, but the conductor told me not to worry. But I was stressed out about my connection, which my ticket indicated I would have four minutes to make. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |