How to get lost in Germany
So I was just coming back from visiting a friend and was waiting on the platform for my train to come. I heard an announcement that another train had a delay but I didn’t pay much attention to it since it wasn’t referring to the one I was going to take. So said train comes on the platform I standing, I get on, and then get out at the second stop, which was supposed to also be the last stop.
I get out of the train and I realize, I must’ve taken the wrong train. But how?
So here I am, 12 pm on a Saturday night, stranded in a little town that was now quite far away from where I was supposed to be, and no more trains running until next morning.
Great.
I tried at first talking to the handful of people that were still up and about, but no luck finding a way back unless I paid for a taxi about 100 euros of which I did not dispose.
Therefore I try doing the next sensible thing, to find a hotel, a hostel or anything really at this point to accommodate me. I should also add that that weekend there was a massive fair going on and all the places were over booked, which I would soon find out. Luckily, there was a hotel right next to the train station. However, even though it was barely midnight on a Saturday, it was quite very closed. At first I saw an elderly couple entering the said hotel and after explaining my situation I asked them whether they could let me in, so I could spend the night inside, and not on the streets.
Mind you, I am perceived as a foreigner here, so I probably seemed a tad suspicious so they kinda ignored me.
Moving on, I said, ok, there MUST be a cafe or something still open, I could stay there until the next train came, which was at about 7 am. I walk for about 2 minutes, it was a really small town, and find the center and also an opened-cafe!
Finally thinking I could just drink coffee all night and read the book I brought along with me, I tried to get in, just to be faced with the waitress who told be they were actually just closing down.
Feeling every drop of hope draining out of me, I kinda just accepted the fact that I would be spending the night on the streets.
However, my sharp ears caught on some disco-like music coming from a shady club. My hopes were suddenly lifted! I found the source of the music then proceeded inside and ordered a cup of coffee. The waitress however kindly refused me, telling me this was a private party. Taking then a moment to analyse my surroundings I realized I was in the middle of a senior private party. I sighed, thanked the waitress either way and left myself out.
Now I was just trying to make out where would I be the safest during the night. Just when I was about to make my way to the first hotel to sleep on the front stairs, the waitress came out looking for me and asked me if I was alright. I think I looked that desolated that she got really worried what was going on. I almost started crying because she was so nice and started explaining her how I got there and how I’m just looking for somewhere safe to spend the night.
At this point another elderly couple came and joined us, all three of them trying to find a solution to my problem. I was led back into the senior private party, became for 10 minutes the star of the party as everyone seemed actually entertained by my story, but couldn’t actually offer a helping hand, as they were also having accommodation and weren’t living there.
Then the elderly couple that first heard my story with the waitress offered me a place to sleep in, in their Volkswagen Hippie Van.
That moment I knew that me getting lost here was no mistake, as I had been DREAMING of sleeping in such a car for years. They were the nicest elderly couple that I have ever met, they have provided me water and even a banana to get me through the night. Just sweethearts.
The next morning I got on the first train back home, not before leaving them the nicest note and getting their address so I could make it up for their kindness.