Saturday July 23
We got up early and packed up and left for the 4+ hour drive to Stuttgart. We arrived after the Europcar office at the main train station had closed (2pm on a Saturday !!) so we had to just do a key drop - it all worked out OK.
We checked into our hotel, the Steigenberger, which is located right at the train station. After dropping our bags we headed out to find a refreshment as we had not had lunch and were a bit frazzled after the long drive - even though it was pretty much smooth sailing.
We were amazing how busy the main walking street was - looked like Circular Quay on NYE!! We found a pub and had a couple of drinks then returned to our hotel to unpack, shower and have dinner.
Sunday July 24 - COVID Disaster !!
We got up and had a berry and yoghurt breakfast in our room. We were planning to meet Helmut and Maggie for lunch and at their request did a RAT test - horror of horrors - Dieter tested positive but I tested negative. So we had to cancel our lunch and decided that a PCR test was in order. There was a testing center right next door - Dieter got a PCR test and I, another RAT (doctor administered) - that’s the way things work here - you only get a PCR test if you test positive on a RAT.
Back at the hotel - we advised them of our uncertain status as Dieter's result would only come back tomorrow morning - since I was negative, according to local rules, I could still go out - so I went to the train station and bought some drinks and a couple of sandwiches for lunch. Assuming Dieter was positive he would need to isolate until Friday morning.
I called Mary to advise her that we would not be meeting up with her in Zurich on Tuesday afternoon as planned - she was pretty cool about it and would make her own way to Zermatt.
As it came to pass Dieter’s positive PCR result came back in the afternoon so I went for a 5k walk around the gardens then came back to the hotel where we had a small happy hour and a room service dinner.
Monday July 25
Well ‘groundhog’ day - Dieter was still feeling OK just very flat which could be mental stress due to this hiccup. I did not sleep well - lying awake worrying about also testing positive. After our berries and yoghurt breakfast I went to the local grocery store (pretty much all stores are closed on Sunday) and stocked up on water, berries, yoghurt and some drinks, etc. If I succumb it could have been the last chance to shop.
I went out again after our lunch of a banana to a big deli to see if I could find something for dinner - no success unless you had facilities for making an antipasti or samba. Back at the hotel Dieter called reception to request an additional dunna as he’d been sleeping on the couch and the person he spoke to told him that neither of us should be leaving the room. He told this person that the doctor at the testing center said I could but the hotel disagreed. So we’ll see what we see. I did another RAT which was still negative which is good news and bad news.
Room service for dinner - fancy salad and flamenkuken to share - came with nice bread rolls.
Tuesday July 26
Well in spite of waking up in the middle of the night with a sore throat and thinking “Oh no - not me and a further delay to getting on our way to Zermatt” - I still tested negative in the morning - so maybe my luck would hold. Dieter still not too bad - tired with a very dry throat but no cough.
We finally convinced the hotel that I could go out - so I did a late afternoon walk around the park.
Wednesday July 27
I woke up with what felt like a cold cominng on - dum de dum dum - however on testing after brekkie I was still negative - my luck was holding out. Dieter was still pretty good - no symptoms - groundhog day.
Thursday July 28
I woke up again with what felt like a cold coming on - but was fine after a couple of cups of coffee. Decided not to test and just start to pack up for Zermatt.