Last few days

We had decided to do a bit of sightseeing so on the Monday went to Gottingen and had a bimble around this attractive old university city. The next day we went up the Brocken in the steam train that puffs round and up the hill, through the forest. The area is shrouded in fog most of the year and it made no exception for us but it was fun. By the time the train reached the top the forest had petered out and there was little vegetation. It cannot have been a fun posting for the Russian soldiers who were the only people there for years. It was cold and windy but still with a surprising number of people, many of whom had walked up, wandering around and queueing for beer and sausage. Obviously, we joined them and found a sheltered spot for lunch though we still had to hold on to the food. We didn't explore at all as visibility was poor and it was a bit too nippy. Earlier, in the village I had had the most delicious black forest gateau you ever ate. Nothing like the travesty so popular here in the seventies. Another recipe to try.

The next day we visited a falconry near Bad Sachsa and saw a very impressive collection of birds, many of which are used in free-flying demonstrations. In Bad Sachsa itself we had a terrific lunch at the Lindenhof which had one of those menus that would be nice to work systematically through. Another time.

At some point we went to Herzberg and its schloss which had an interesting museum even though, as usual, women obviously didn't exist in the town's past. In the small town itself was an excellent ice-cream caff which we tried and were not disappointed.

The journey home was uneventful although it was the only time in all the years I have flown that my boarding card wasn't checked on leaving the departure lounge or on entering the aircraft. I cannot imagine that this is correct Ryannair procedure but anyway I still arrived safely back in Stansted.