Our only shot in route. A cute riverfront town near Karlsruhe.

We finally get to Baden Baden and meet up with our local expert and wandering German, Dorie. She comes with recommendations for a dinner weinstube, so off we go.

SP, Dorie and I all order slightly different versions of this meat platter.

And of course, you-know-what for E.

Our rest day begins with a quick trip to the train station to sort out some Deutschebahn business. Then we do some sightseeing around Baden-Baden, which is a amalgamation of old money and new money. There is some grand architecture, lots of shops and needless to say, great people watching.

We stop for lunch. Though tragically spargle season has ended, it is now pfifferlinge (wild mushroom?) season.

SP gets them in a crepe

I try the kasespaetzle. Basically mac and cheese

Foie gras salad (!) for Dorie.

And E fell off the schnitzel wagon with a club sandwich

After lunch, while SP and I go off to the Friedrichsbad baths, Eric and Dorie head up the funicular to a nearby hill.

And see the hazy view back down to town

Almost everything is full in town so we have our last meal in BB in the massive Lowenbrau beer garden.

Weisswurst and bretzels - a traditional Bavarian breakfast - for Dorie and me

Strangely un-German spareribs for SP

Do I even need to type it?

That’s a happy German-American!