On to Strasbourg, the apparent 2nd Morocco 7/23/08

Wallet: Day 17
Jeans & Sweatshirt

What a crazy night we had. Our hostel room was in shablmes and 9 guys' stuff scattered all over. We scampered down to breakfast to enjoy of the best ones we've had in a while. Plenty of fresh fruit and even a grilled cheese maker...MONEY! We gout our stuff out of the clutter and barely made it out for the 10 AM check out.

We chilled in the amazing atrium for a few minutes and talked about what we wanted to do that day. I wanted to see the nearby concentration camp so we made our way to the train station across the street.The tour was due to leave at 10:15 and we got to the meeting point at 10:20. I forgot that we were in Germany and when the say 10:15 they mean 10:15. Another tour guide told us we had already missed the tour but helped us by calling the tour leader. The train to the concentration camp had already left so we would have to wait another hour and a half to catch it. Opportunity lost but I am sure that I will be doing another Germany trip so I will make sure to see the camps.

We rehuddled and decided to check out the BMW factory. It is a short subway ride and sits right by the site where the Olympics were held. The moment we emerged from the subway I had a feeling of uneasiness in my stomach, at the site were I was standing Israeli Olympians were held hostage and later murdered. A tough sensation to describe but I felt haunted.

The BMW factory and museum sit just across the street. As we made our way over we spotted a BMW 7 series with the large Hydrogen writing on the side. We were both so impressed by this amazing technology, with the only emissions from the vehicle being pure water. Very cool stuff.

The Factory was one of the less educational experiences thus far but we did manage to see some of the very cool cars they have created over the years. Loyd felt a bit sick from the previous evening's festivities so we headed back for a bit more rest.

As we sat in the atrium at Wombat's I flipped through the Eurail train schedule and saw that there was an early train to Strasbourg. Without much debate we walked the block and a half to the station and for the first time on this trip, the schedule booklet was inaccurate. The book did tell us which transfer station we had to get to so we took the first train there.

Once at the transfer station we waited 2 hours to catch the train to Strasbourg. We killed the time by sitting outside a Burger King and watching a flock of pigeons go absolutely nuts over scraps of food. There was such a tremendous number of the in the restaurant that people would through food at them just to get the away from their tables. Frightening!

The train finally arrived and we boarded as fast as possible. We arrived around 8 PM and the train station was absolutely dead. I had made a reservation at a hostel near my cousins house so we used the directions provided in the confirmation email and made it without much of a problem. The site was looked more like a YMCA camp ground than a hostel. The facilities were not much better with the bunks feeling like summer camp. The second we got into our room we dropped our bags and ran back to the bus. I had received directions on how to get to my cousins house a few stops away but we were already late for dinner. Once we made it to the stop I joked with Loyd that we were totally living in that situation your parents told you avoid as a kid, some stranger coming and telling you to come with them. Luckily, my cousin Daniel came to get us and the way he shouted my name and opened his arms he reminded me more of a huge Papa Bear. He hugged and kissed both Loyd and I just as the rest of my Moroccan family does.

Once at his house I met the last surviving member of my grandparent's generation, my grandfathers sister. She took one look at me and began to tear up and saying in french that I looked like Michu (my father). She absolutely peppered my cheeks with kisses and I felt at home instantly. We were treated to a delicious meal prepared by Daniel and his lovely wife Eliane. The conversation was strained as French was the main language and English was nearly non-existent. Nonetheless, we had a blast with these amazingly warm people.

Daniel gave us a quick ride back to the hostel and told us to be ready at 10AM for a tour of the city with him and Eliane.

So from the 2nd coming of Morocco, Bon Nui!