Sunday 4th July - Cochem
Oh dear – need to work on my German pronunciation. Went for something to eat tonight and ordered Spaetzele mit Pfiffirlingen. (Pfifferlingen are big here.) Got Schnitzel mit Pfifferlingen. Complaining seemed like too much work, though. (I was just scared they would think I was saying my chair was in the sun or my water was too cold or something!)
At least they served me in that place. At first I walked over to the other side of the Mosel and sat down in a restaurant with a photogenic view of the river and castle. The waitress studiously ignored me, even when I was trying to catch her eye. I had been sitting for ten minutes when a couple came in, sat down and were given a menu. I walked out at that. I wish I had known I was invisible before now. Could come in handy.
Cochem is lovely, and the hotel has been really good to me. When I booked, I mentioned that I had worked here back in 1897 ... no, 1987, and I would love a room in the old building. I have got the “Napoleon Suite”! It’s on the corner of the building, with a separate living room. And, apparently, Napoleon slept in the very 4 poster bed I will be in. Yes, I believe them too. The place has barely changed – suits of armour don’t seem to have gone out of fashion in the last 23 years.
(23???!)