A journey on the rails. Were we crazy!

We set forth at dawn, and joined the early risers at St Pancras for the first Eurostar for the day, to Brussells. This was achieved by early in the day - it is only about two hours from London. Then a check of departure boards had us on a fast Intercity train to Cologne - the country was lush, green,as the towns and smaller cities flew by. The third train was a stopping all stations run, along the Rhine Gorge from Cologne to Mainz. The scenery along the gorge is wonderful, with smal and larger castles on the peaks above the gorge, dominating the waters from days past, past the point where the Lorelei tempted sailors, past pretty towns, with picture book scenes - noses pressed to the train windows as we sauntered from stop to stop. The chattering schoolkids that clambered on at various points seemed oblivious to the incredible scenery that is part of their everyday world. Very tired, we negotiated Mainz station and eventally clambered on the final train for the day, to Frankfurt. A major German city, it offers a modern skyline, and all the usual accoutrements of a bustling, major centre of this major European economy. We felt  a  little wobbly as we made our way to a beautiful hotel opposite the station, and a welcome hot shower and soft bed.
This morning, again, we were up before the birds, for the fast Intercity express to Paris. Again, the fast train sped us through the countryside. The German forests looked quite Wagneran, with hints of grand opera nad germanic tales - heavy lush dark green , with a little forboding. At the French/German border, passports were checked, and announcements started in french instead of german, and english always last - puts us in our place. The countryside into Paris displayed the agricultural France, with fields of golden canola, and green pastures appearing as a seamless cloth, unlike the british countryside, with fields edged with hedgerows, and plainstone walls, often ages old. From that we flew along, over 300 kms per hour, according to the travel screen in the carriages, and arrived in Paris. (it is actually interesting to be speeding through the towns and country at such speeds, without seatbelts. We are so accustomed to be anchored in, I guess there is a reason. A certain balancing style is required though, when moving through the train (not always a pretty sight!)
Paris, and we traced the streets to Gard de Nord for the Eurostar to London. We felt quite pleased, though to be fair to the french, they have labelled the route well, with many changing trains and stations on an hourly basis. And so back to London. Were we crazy? Six trains, two days, four countries - England, France, Belguim, Germany! We are tired, a little bouncy still, but have seen some amazing scenery, negotiated stations where english is not heard, and life is a very fast pace .  And someone has had a good fill of the loved fast trains.
More soon, maybe

At Cologne Station, the Rhine Journey to Mainz begins. One of the most scenic rail journeys in the world.

 Our first sight of the Rhine.

The camera doesnt do the view justice. Hard to aim the camera, watch the beauty of the views and deal wiht the speed of the train all in a fraction of a second.

 An old castle still stands guards the river below.

 No, not hollywood or disneyland, the Rhine Gorge has remarkable history and view even today.

Frequent little towns beside the Rhine - and the river was well up and fast flowing too.

 Our German DB Inter-City (ICE3) stands at Franfurt Station before its 0600 departure for Paris Est, just on four hours journey time.

We waled from Paris Est to Paris Nord to board the Eurostar back to London where our journey had commenced the day before.