Münster

Last Saturday we wanted to visit Mnster, a picturesque town in North-West Germany that had been adjudged as the most liveable city world wide in 2004. Just 2 days earlier a fierce storm had ripped through Germany uprooting tens of thousands of trees. The train that would have taken us to Mnster dropped out of the indicator on the platform just minutes before it was scheduled to arrive. It took us a while to decipher that alternate arrangements by bus had been made. An attractive blonde in blue uniform guided us to Bus No.1 that took us to Lnen 14 kms away. The bus driver shrugged his shoulders indifferently when we queried him on the path forward. We alighted and waited half in confusion, half in hope for the next bus. The cold wind was biting into our flesh. The bus did not move and the driver sat inside in the heated comfort gorging himself on sandwiches and talking incessantly on his cell phone. 20 minutes later the same bus nudged forward a little, the doors opened, and the driver gestured us to get inside. 19 kms later, Stop No.2 was Asheberg, where there were a handful of others waiting on the railway platform. The shelter on the platform was barely adequate for the wind that had now picked up speed. There was no sign of either habitation or the train. There was nothing else to do but hope. An announcement over the PA system warmed up things. A helpful co-traveller translated the announcement which stated that a bus to take us to Mnster was on the way. So after three hours we finally reached Mnster with the three bus rides giving a glimpse of the countryside. Mnster was breathtakingly beautiful despite the drizzle and washed away the mornings frustration. Coffee and Croissants also helped to calm down things.