The Grand Rail Trip of 2022 - PART 5
Updated: Jan 27, 2024
It was an epic adventure spanning four countries, two Theme Parks, one Grand Slam Tennis Tournament and over 1,000 miles of Train Track. This is the amazing story of what happened along the way!
Travelling to Rust, near the Black Forest
The first real rest day of the trip. From Mainz, I would be taking 2 trains with a brief stop-off at European transport hub, Karlsruhe station. In a short time, Mainz had left an indelible mark on me, and it couldn't be anymore contrasting to the next couple of journeys, through the heart of the German countryside and alongside the Black Forest. I could save my feet today and just breathe in the surroundings.
There was time for a refreshing Ice Cream at Karlsruhe and a relax by the lakes and gardens housing a Zoo opposite the station, and then it was off again to the remarkable village of Rust.
Getting off at the station serving Europa Park and the community, all that could be heard was birdsong. It was the most peaceful place I have encountered in a long time, save for the odd high-speed train whizzing through. Coloured houses with intricately crafted roofs backed onto the platforms. I waited for the Theme Park shuttle bus (at a stop adorned with a rollercoaster car) to take me to the hotel around 10 minutes away.
The best way to describe this place is a kind of oasis in a green desert. Germany's biggest Theme Park is situated between fields and mountains for miles around and one central main road running through it. Civilisation is there, but it is another world, a true escape and a different lifestyle.
Around half a dozen streets make up Rust, and probably no more than a few hundred houses. The average house price is around £1.2 million, so it is a very exclusive residence and it's easy to see why.
The Hotel I stayed at was more like moving into a family home, complete with Swimming Pool and Terrace area. You were literally next door to a local resident! I was the only foreigner in the hotel for a period, the main guests being young, German families. There was an air of innocence about the place, kids playing freely and the kind of place where people could leave their front doors open without fear, which is incredibly rare these days.
My much-needed lazy day continued as I reclined into a lounger by the pool, and marvelled in the peacefulness of this extraordinary place. It was an interesting juxtaposition, I thought, when you consider just a 15 minute walk down the road lay Germany’s biggest and most vibrant Theme Park.
After a delicious meal at the Hotel, it was time to sleep, and having seen the skyline of the park, I knew the next few days were going to be very special!
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