Frankfurt - Hotel Ziegelruh

I wanted to write about this hotel because it leaves a rather deep impression on me - be it the room, the stay or the people in charge.

It was early in the wee hours of morning when I arrived in Frankfurt airport after a 12 hr flight. It was my first time in Frankfurt and I had to find my way to Babenhausen, a town which I totally have no idea what to expect of.

The next thing I knew I was on the cab, showing the address of my hotel in Babenhausen - Hotel Ziegelruh. I was almost dozing off in the cab when the cab turned into this long stretch of road with 2 rows of trees along the sides. The sky was not even bright yet but it certainly does not seem like there is civilisation nearby. Then before I knew it, some houses came into view. The cab driver told me "We are almost there". "Almost there?", but it does not seem to be any hotels nearby. I don't think I missed any tall buildings. As I was still trying to look out of the car window for a hotel, the cab came to a stop and then I saw the sign Hotel Ziegelruh. It does not look anything like the hotel that I had imagined. It feels like a home. I open the door and walk up a small flight of steps. There was no one at the reception. I smelled food. Hungry. I walk towards the direction of the smell of food and I saw a lady arranging the tableware. I told her I will like to check in. She moved quickly to the reception and made some calls. Apparently, the person in charge have not yet arrived, so I could not check in. She invited me in to the cafeteria for breakfast. Wonderful. It was winter season and a nice warm breakfast is just what I will really appreciate.  

After my breakfast, the person in charge was already waiting for me at the reception. She explained that the room I had booked was not yet ready for check in. But the good news is, she could arrange for me to stay in an apartment hotel just a few blocks down the road just so that I could catch some sleep till my hotel room is ready. Within the next few minutes, I was shuffled in a convertible (a special service by the lady at the reception) and I arrive in front of this block.

I got a room on the second level. It was an apartment with a 2 nice rooms and there is even a sauna inside this apartment hotel! After a good nap, I made my way back to the main hotel building. All around I saw only houses. I was told that there was no restaurant in this hotel but I could reserve and pay for dinner which would be served in the cafe. However there is only limited sets of dinner that would be prepared. Another option would be to get my dinner in the restaurant opposite the hotel. Other than that I do not know where is the nearest restaurant nor how to get there. 

I finally checked into my hotel room. When I open the door to the room, what greeted me was a very big Marilyn Monroe poster. There is also a sauna in this room and there was also a little balcony. It was quite cosy and interesting. The only problem I had was with Marilyn Monroe looking down at me when I was sleeping and I did not feel very comfortable with that. So I had to shift her to look away from the bed. Though I was there only for 2 nights, it was overall an interesting and memorable experience.

Cafe Prinzess - Regensburg

One of the simple pleasures of life is to enjoy a cup of afternoon tea/coffee with a nice cake in a quiet café, looking out of the window (preferably from the second level) and with some nice life music in the background. The only place I could experience all these is in Café Prinzess in Regensburg. One of my favourite cafés. I have always enjoyed sitting in a café enjoying a cup of hot tea or coffee on a lazy afternoon, be it in any country, any season or in any weather… Even when I am alone, on business trips, I always look forward to the time for afternoon tea during weekends or while I am waiting for the train or plane. It is so simple yet a luxury. It is not something I can afford to do everyday (for sure you need both money and time ;p), just sitting there dazing or reading, with some relaxing background music .

At Café Prinzess, I also like a lot the apple strudel, because they can warm it up for you and I would usually also like to have it with vanilla. You can select your cake of choice when you enter the bakery, it looks like a cake shop from the first level. It is opposite the old town hall and is the oldest confectionary in Regensburg. The café is on the second level where you can order your drinks. In summer, they also have alfresco seats outside the confectionary, and you can sometimes get some nice accompanying music.