WMM Hotels

When we were in Germany in June I booked us one night in a WMM Hotel near Eisenach. It appealled because I was looking for somewhere with a kitchen, and at a good price.

The business's method was new to me, and it didn't totally make sense at first. You book a room online, then on the day of your stay you'll receive an email asking you to check in. You'll need a photo of your ID to do so, but it's a simple process. You'll then get a second email with your room number and a big green button in it. When you arrive at the hotel you press the button to unlock the door. Don't press it before you arrive at the door to your room.

Ain't technology wonderful.

On our more recent trip to Germany we stayed in 3 WMM hotels, and they were all clean, comfortable, and well equipped. Rooms include a desk, a television and WiFi, as well as a mini kitchen. They're incredibly quiet even though they're inevitably in industrial areas or near the Autoroute - or both. The rooms are built as modules in Mindelheim and Illertissen, then assembled on site.

We like them. You know what you're getting, and although they're not exactly picturesque the rooms themselves are comfortable, and the bathrooms way bigger then you would find in most other budget hotels.

The Domstein

Here's a "what's that thing". 

The Domstein is the broken remains of one of four enormous granite columns that supported the 4th-century cathedral in Trier. Found beneath the cathedral in 1614, the fragments were placed outside. Legend says the Devil threw it at the cathedral in anger.

We'll be writing about the cathedral at some stage.

Beer for Simon!

I present to you a bottle of Krombacher Alkoholfrei 0.0% Pils, labeled "isotonisch." I bought a six-pack whilst we were in Germany last month, and was intrigued that it labelled itself "isotonic" as I've only ever seen that on exercise drinks. I'd had an alcohol free pils in a restaurant the evening before and it tasted just like beer, so of course curiosity meant I had to buy it.

Isotonic means the drink has a similar concentration of dissolved particles (electrolytes and carbohydrates) as human blood plasma, so it more or less matches the body's fluid concentration. What this means is that because the fluid's osmotic pressure matches your blood, it passes through your stomach into your bloodstream quickly.

This appears to be a fairly common category in Germany, but I've never seen it anywhere else. Alcohol-free beers marketed this way typically contain added or naturally-occurring sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. All of these are minerals you lose through sweat during exercise. Apparently, alcohol-free "isotonic" pils is marketed almost like a sports drink alternative, often sold in gyms or after races, rather than purely as a beer substitute. This started in the 1990's, which means they've had plenty of time to get it tasting like beer, unlike some of the more recent efforts to come to market.

Krombacher wasn't the only alcohol free isotonic beer I drank as most restaurants and bierkellers also stock it. This is another bottle I remembered to photograph, although my original photo wasn't properly in focus and I AI corrected it.

The history of non-alcoholic beer in Germany goes back much further than 1990, but the modern version started in 1972 in East Germany. The brewer Ulrich Wappler developed Aubi, a motorist's beer, to give drivers a safe option in a country which had a 0.0% blood alcohol level since 1956.

Motorist's beer. Now there's a concept 

Buildings of Fritzlar

We have been to Fritzlar twice this year, and the takeaway is that it's really pretty and neat.

Our appartement from our most recent trip. It's on the first floor of the white building in the centre of the photo. Our rooftop terrace is to the right, above the brown wood shingles.

The view from our terrace

And a random selection of houses

The classic view of the Fritzlar market place. On our trip in June we stayed in the pointy building in the middle of the photo. This time my cousin was there.

Frizlar cathedral. It was here that my great great grandmother was killed when a tower collapsed during a service.

Why was it a Surprise German Holiday?

If you were paying attention, you'll have noticed we went to Germany last week.

It was all because my cousin Linda was doing a lecture on her genealogical research entitled "Did my Great Grandfather Live Next Door?" The research was impressive, the fact that the lecture was delivered in what I was assured was perfectly understandable German was just as impressive.

Linda rehearsing her speech and PowerPoint presentation 

Because we don't speak German, we were given a printed version in english by her husband, Philip. It made following the action far easier for us non German speakers.

And why was it a surprise German Holiday? Until two weeks beforehand we weren't totally sure we were going, and once we were sure we decided not to let Linda know. The plan was for my brother to join us from London, and for us to appear with our Australian flag to surprise her. Much to my disappointment Linda realised something was up, so our plan was foiled at the last moment, but here we are with the flag anyway, making ourselves evident.

It was a great success, with more attendees than was expected (cue panicked setting out of extra seats) and an appreciative audience that laughed in all the right places. At the end of her speech Linda listed some of the surnames that occur on our family tree, and afterwards various members of the audience introduced themselves as distant - and previously unknown - cousins. Amazing!

Surprise German Holiday Day 10

We spent last night in Luzy, on the edge of the Morvan, a town you've never heard of. Which is a pity, because they have a very rare thing : a set of early 18th century Aubusson tapestries in their original location.

Then we set off home, only to see a brown sign pointing towards the Ternant Triptychs. It was a 15km diversion well worth taking!

And THEN we set off home, stopping only for a picnic.

Surprise German Holiday Day 9

We drove from near Nancy to near Autun. On the way I remembered to exit the Autoroute at midday to find a restaurant, and got lucky. A real workers effort, full of blokes having a hearty meal.

Then it was a famous hospice, and unfinished business in Autun.

Surprise German Holiday Day 8

A short day yesterday, because we were expecting the roads to be busy because it was the last day of the school holiday. It was actually pretty quiet.

Yesterday's highlights were a thing that was en panne but we hadn't booked tickets, a thing that wasn't broken for which we did have tickets, and a chain restaurant we have never eaten at before (and although it wasn't a bad experience, will probably be only ever be an emergency meal).

Surprise German Holiday Day 7

 A music shop visit, and the mighty Rhine River.

This trip we have stayed in 3 WMM Hotels. Simple, clean, and with a kitchen, they are just what a weary traveller needs.

Surprise German Holiday Day 6

Yesterday we left Fritzlar and drove to Eisenach. Our second visit to this apparently thriving town, but this time we went to Wartburg Castle.

The castle sits on a large hill dominating the town, and was selected as the badge for Wartburg cars. It was the home of St. Elisabeth of Hungary, the place where Martin Luther translated the New Testament of the Bible into German, and the supposed setting for the possibly legendary Sängerkrieg, which inspired Wagner to write Tannhauser. It was also an important inspiration for Ludwig II when he decided to build Neuschwanstein Castle.

After that, Eisenach for a wander around, drinks, and dinner.

And after that we bid farewell to Linda and Philip as they head back to England, and we start heading towards Preuilly-sur-Claise.