Other than that the trip was great. For the un-initiated again, we are "Air-Crew" when we are flying as flight nurses, with patients, on a mission. Once that mission has ended, we drop to the bottom of the list, and are treated as uppity passengers with a crap-ton of baggage. We were told that we were going to get a quick turn and be back in Qatar in 16 hours. So we immediately set to doing what Flyers do best: Drinking. Beer is cheaper than water in Germany. Even on base. Its also WAY better than water. What has water ever done for me? NOTHING, that's what. Beer, however, has made me way more awesome, and able to consume vast amounts of German food at a singe sitting. So that was the first night. The next day, we were told that the plane wizards had gone on strike, so we couldn't get off the ground. Fine with me. We went to the BX (military Wal-Mart, just without the classy clientele) visited all the little shops in the mall on base, and ate twice more at the German restaurant. Watched TV a bunch, and took another 30 minute HOT shower. Glorious.
The next day, we rented bicycles and kick ass helmets, went exploring into the Hinterland. Rode out to Landschtul and pedaled up to the castle, and around some neighborhoods. Very clean place, no graffiti, friendly people. I was practicing my 4 word German vocabulary. Big eyes, thick accent, HALLO!! to everyone I passed.
"who was that guy on the bike talking to? Do you know him?"
"Nah, Germans are wierd"
"yup"
"AUF WIEDERSEHN!!!!!!"
"I cant wait to get back to Murica..."
We ate lunch at the Schloss Hotel, a nice place on the side of the hill just below the castle. You guessed it, more schnitzel, more beer, and a classic German salad. Olives, radishes, purple cabbage, and a light vinaigrette. We had the opportunity to put "American Dressing" on our salad. Ranch of course. I declined to inform the chef it is now considered a vegetable in most American households.
Pedaled back to the base, and toured the old areas where I lived in fourth grade. Nothing is the same, except the slide I burned my arm on 20 years ago. Still have a scar. I wanted to get off my bike and kick it, but all the Moms would have called the cops. Joe and I discovered the benefits of 6 beers for 2 dollars. "Delerium Tremens" is a world recognized beer. Its delicious.
The next day, we decided to use the famous German public transportation system to go see K-Town, a mere 20 minute train ride away.
Joe and I took a cab to the Ramstein train depot, and were dropped off. There were dozens of cabs, and buses, and people everywhere. We walked into a building on the rail station, expecting to buy tickets. Nope, its a bar. Walked back out, and down to the automated ticket machine. We argued about what it was trying to tell us, and didnt buy a ticket. Went back to the bar to ask some questions. We were hungry too, so we would get some lunch. NOPE, kitchen closed. So we had a beer. That's lunch in some countries. The obviously American waitress was dissapointed we didnt want to buy a microwave pizza, but did give us directions on how to use the ticket machine.
"Just buy a ticket for K-town, get on the train going that way, cant miss it."
"That easy?"
"Sure is. Pizza?"
Staggered back out and got a ticket. Also went to the roadside Chinese place there at the station. It was the best damn Chinese food I have ever had.
We wolfed it down, and hopped on the train when it arrived. A few minutes later, we were off to see the countryside. We pulled in to Landschtul train station after about 10 minutes and came to a stop. A ton of people got off the train, and a bunch more got on. The conductor packed up his stuff (we were in the front) and got off. "Must be change of shift." I mentioned to Joe, thus reasserting my cultural dominance. We sat there, and a surly looking gentleman with a moustache that would make Tom Sellick green with envy commenced to stare at us with the glare of a thousand suns.
Joe and I sat on the train, perfectly content, awaiting our impending departure towards K-town. For 20 minutes. At the exact moment that Joe said "I wonder if we should have gotten on that other train over there, it says K-Town on it" our train took off. Backwards. The way we came. In retrospect, the Moustache Glare might have been a look of confusion.
