We went to the Central train station in Amsterdam, trying to get our Eurail pass stamped. This would be the first time we’ll use the pass. Exciting! However, the reservation people at the counters were sooooo lazy. They weren’t so into helping anyone out, while there were a handful of people waiting to be helped, including us. We had to get a number and wait for it to be called. We got number 108, and it started from number 90. 18 numbers went by without anyone to have claimed it. What a waste. But anyway, we finally got our pass stamped. We got the info for our train schedules. And off we go!
The train ride to Hamburg required one stop for transfer at Osnabrück, Germany. So for that first half of the ride, we got ourselves a room in the train that seats for 6. Yes, with 2 large baggages, we’d wanted the extra space. The ride took us through the city, then the outskirts of The Netherlands and into Germany. Though it was winter, the pastures were green in most cases. Quite different from the city of LA and its surrounding, I had to say. The second ride, starting from Osnabrück to Hamburg was equally nice. This time, we didn’t get a room to ourselves. But the train car we were in was quite high class. In fact, for both train rides and future train rides, we’re blessed to be as 1st class passengers. It wasn’t with choice anyway, since our pass has only that option when I bought it.
When we arrived in Hamburg, it started to shower a little. Since we have left Amsterdam, the sky had been cloudy and gloomy. It’s a typical Germany weather, I suppose. Dark and gloomy. At least that’s what some people had said.
Sandra, my German friend of about 5 years, was already there to greet us. I haven’t seen her since December 2004, when she visited LA. She hasn’t really changed much in appearance. But because she has her own business now, Pilates, she’s been quite busy. We took a taxi and went straight to her parents’ apartment, where she stays, where we’ll be staying for the next 3 nights. On the way, she was suggesting places to visit and things to see. Although I wish to not waste any time and start sightseeing, the fact that it’s a bit wet and I was sick, and Lala was tired suggests that we should just rest for a while.
We made it to her apartment, which was small, but not suffocating. It was definitely very very clean, a requirement Lala has made for places we would be staying at. We had our own room and a bed big enough for the both of us. Sandra was very nice, allowing us to have whatever we needed in the house, from food in the fridge to the laundry machine. Neither of us expected this much hospitality, but we’re glad to receive them.
That night, Lala was particularly feeling weak and sick. So much that I thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to go out, even though we had told Sandra that we would meet her at her studio and have dinner and/or drinks. But because she really needed to rest, we decided to cancel going out and stay home. I was thinking on going out to a restaurant to get something for both of us and return home. Then Sandra suggested on simply eating whatever there was in her kitchen. She told her mom about it. Her mom took it and multiplied the kindness by ten fold. Her mom took out some pots and pans, and she grilled four pork steaks, made mashed potatoes, and prepared vegetables for us. She did this in less than 20 minutes. She was extremely fast and efficient. In the end, we were presented with a great dinner, much better than what I had imagined. The taste was extremely delicious. Given that Sheilla and I have had only 2 pieces of bread this entire day, the dinner was more than welcomed.
After dinner, Sheilla went directly to sleep. I stayed awake and read a book while waiting for Sandra to come home from work. When she did, we just talked for an hour or so, catching up on things that had happened all these years, and finding out what we can do for sightseeing in Hamburg the next couple days. Then, I head on to sleep, excited to see Hamburg.
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