Day 46 Where are the borders?

04/05/02918 Appotel Dobel Germany Room 108 (2 SZ)

So we survived our little room, bed actually was comfortable.. had our room breaky and off up the highway we speed...
The roads are mostly pretty good except for coming into some smaller places, but today we were mainly in the Autobarns/freeways... from bumper to bumper, to slow go, to super fast and not much around, to too many trucks feeling like we are about to be squashed. We only stopped a coup of times first one for a cuppa, after the cuppa as we were leaving, John asked me had I seen the pig......I was looking fir a cute little pink pig, Not a massive hairy pig that stands metres high... we wondered why on earth would someone make a huge pig... Called Woniic He is standing over 30 feet tall, and almost 50 feet long, the wild boar named Woinic is a quite a creature. The giant animal was created by sculptor Eric Sléziak who unleashed the beast in 2008. Woinic is made of a skin of steel sheets welded together over a hollow frame, weighing in at over 50 tons. There is even a trapdoor to his insides, located like an achilles heel on the underside of his belly. Remarkably the massive creation took Sléziak over a decade to create. Surrounded by canola fields, Woinic, the largest boar in the world, is a giant steel beast that stands as both a roadside curiosity, and as a symbol of the Ardennes region in general. Until we walked into the tourist info centre we were miffed as to why a pig, but there was beer with his symbol on it, so not sure the Pig/Boar is a result of the beer or the beer is the result of the pig... When the monumental attraction was unveiled, Woinic slowly made his way to his hilltop home on the back of a flatbed truck. His proud march was spectated on by crowds from all around the Ardennes area, and the big pig was permanently installed on a rotating platform where he stands to this day. Woinic (who received his name via a combination of Sléziak’s parents’ names) still stands sentinel at a rest stop just off the French highway Autoroute A 34.

So saying goodbye to Woinic we took off up the Hwy, nothing really of interest other than after we stopped for lunch John took the Map book in with us, he realised we had been in France to Belgium to Germany, back to France, into Luxembourg, back to France then into Germany.... no border crossings like the old days if you blinked you missed the the different county small sign on the side of the road as you wiz past! So it was well where are the borders and again how do we put it all together for the Schengen Zone?

So after stopping for lunch at a roadside service centre, off we set for the last leg... this part of the journey was much more enjoyable after the earlier part on the Freeways/autobahn’s for sure!

We zipped through some very pretty little villages climbing higher after the arch one, finally making it to Dobel... the place looked quite small but I think looks could be deceiving.... booked in and we were ever so grateful the young girl on the counter could steak english! The room was lovely spacious great views and little touches like fruit and water.... you only tend to get those touches when you pay heaps, so a nice surprise... mind you we did pay a little more for this room and we have breaky included so being treated all around... even a mat to put beside you bed to wipe your feet before you get in... feel like a queen tonight!

After looking at the map book John realized we were actually staying in the Black Forest of Germany! Whoooooo the Black Forest is always associated with scary movies or big wolves! Let’s hope none of these are trueeeee!

We settled in then went for a walk to check out the sights, and find dinner... the girl at the desk said it was on the right and the only one around..l looked like plenty of restaurants but all shut up... We are guessing it’s like the Italian ones in their alps they shut up for summer, winter is there main season and this place reminded us of there as well.... while out walking there plenty of people out and about, so not sure where they disappear to... After a bit of a look at the village we went back to the only restaurant that looked shut as well and appeared very quiet, but on walking in we were shocked to see it chockers.... there was an older women pouring drinks we asked her about a table for 2, she shrugged her shoulders and threw her hands up as if to say I dint care... we stood there not sure what to do, then suddenly a very attractive young girl appeared and she spoke a English thank goodness, so been saved twice this afternoon... she pointed to a table which we quickly took, then waited and waited. For someone to bring us a menu... when nothing came I got up to get one, suddenly she was behind me going I have something to ask do you want to read in English or German... Ohhh oh my thank you so much. So we picked a meal to share and when it came it was the best tasting meal we have had the whole trip...was only bratwurst sausages, chips gravy and salad.... but the salad was very different and the flavours were unreal... Yes a meal we thoroughly enjoyed indeed.... so after a good meal and some drinks off back to watch TV and nope no good, not one English speaking channel on the box.... so we gave up and went to bed... both very, very tired!Read more