We got up around 7:30 and had breakfast with Imke–then talked to Judith and also to Uschi on the phone to say goodbye. Mark and I went downtown for the last time, ordered some instant photo development for Imke and ran a few other errands. We took the bus home (for once) and had a quick lunch with Imke, who had made us a lovely salad and pumpkin soup. We then packed up the car, and Imke took our luggage and Kai to the train station by car, while Mark and I took a rather crowded bus (there wouldn’t have been room for us and the luggage!). We said our goodbyes and went for our last train ride, on a fairly empty intercity train, which unfortunately had some delays–but we weren’t in any hurry, so we didn’t attempt to change trains with all of our luggage! Plus, past Cologne, once the tracks follow the Rhine, it was just gorgeous to watch the little Rhine towns and castles go by–you go directly by Andernach, St. Goar, and Bacharach, where the Rhine cruises all take the tourists because of the almost absurdly picturesque landscape and architecture. We thoroughly enjoyed these last views of Germany, and arrived in Frankfurt at about 7 pm, We found ourselves another one of these simple, cheap Asian noodle places at the airport, then found our way to the shuttle to our budget hotel, and eventually settled in for the night. The hotel room was teeny, as before, but modern and comfortable, and there was a bar downstairs with some outdoor seating, which made up for the usual lack of air conditioning. But I would hate to be there on a truly hot day!