For the first time in a long time we were saddened to be leaving. Everything about the hotel (almost) was perfect. Its name, Sonnschein, translates as “Sunshine”. Very appropriate. We’d have been happy to have stayed longer.

Rothenburg is known as “Christmas Town”, perhaps because of it being the home of Käthe Wolfahrt, Austria’s famous maker of things Christmasy. From the front the store looks to be a pretty small ordinary shop. It’s like the Tardis. Inside it goes back for miles, up and down over several levels. It has signage to point the way out. It would be simple to become lost in the maze.

The rest of the town is kitsch German - maybe it was designed by the Disney Corporation. Pretty enough for strolling around, but very artificial.

The service at one café was vintage 1941. We moved a table about ½ metre to find some shade. A female server arrived to berate us for not asking permission. We smiled and went elsewhere whilst she rearranged her furniture.

Instead, we found a café linked to a hotel. Friendly service and the now obligatory apfel strudel for Margaret. Relaxing in the sunshine, watching the World pass by, has been a theme of this holiday (which we’ll repeat on future trips).

The H+ Hotel Wiesbaden in Niedernhausen was a pleasant surprise. A largish comfortable room and a better than average (for an en route hotel) buffet dinner. 

We selected the salad bar, marinated chicken breasts, large baked potatoes (so good) and vegetables, creamy dessert pots.

An early night for an early start tomorrow.