This stop on my great Eurail adventure begins in New York. It was Canada Day, July 1st, 2012.
After a long day of filming, I found myself in a bar having a few drinks with some fellow Canadians to celebrate our nation’s day. Eventually I was bar hopping and as is standard when I travel, meeting new people.
On that specific night I met Uli and Fred, two Germans on vacation in the big apple.
We shared a few beers, I told them about my plan to head to Europe for the fall and winter and before I knew it, I had been invited to visit them in their home city: Dusseldorf, Germany.
Here’s the thing with me: if you offer me an invite to stay with you, I will take you up on. At some point in time I’ll be knocking on your door with my backpack and a smile. You better be sure you want me to swing by.
Assuring them I was serious, we exchanged details and snapped a cheeky photo in a classic photo booth. 
Fast forward to the new year. I sent an email to Uli telling him I would be in the region, zipping around with my Eurail.com train pass and would love to come for a visit if the offer was still stood.
A few days later my train from Amsterdam was pulling into Dusseldorf station and I was reunited with my German pals.
We kicked off my visit with a drink of course. We toasted to the serendipity of travel and the beauty of being able to make friends all around the world. I instantly felt so welcome in their home and had a room all to myself. When you are staying in dorm rooms, having your own space becomes quite the novelty.
With a post travel day shower, we were off to dinner and eventually drinks with some of their friends. We hit the town and Dusseldorf’s most popular drinking street.
There the group got me to try Killepitsch which was powerful and awesome all in one. One of those and you’re feeling pretty good for the rest of the night.
The photos pretty much ended there but a good time was certainly had by all. 
It was a Sunday the next day and I had the opportunity to do something I rarely get to while travelling: VEG!
The entire day was spent on the couch, in sweatpants, enjoying a TV marathon. While my guests felt guilty that they were not showing me around Dusseldorf on my only day in the city, I was in my glory.
I explained to them the novelty of down time when travelling non stop. It is so refreshing and necessary to be able to doing absolutely nothing for a change.
As is always the case, Monday morning quickly came and I was saying farewell yet again. Fortunately though I was feeling reenergized and confident I would no doubt see my Deutsche friends again.
Uli dropped me off at the Dusselldorf train station and I was on the move again. Destination: Zurich, Swizterland.
Thank you for an incredible time Fred and Uli! You help reinforce many of the reasons I love travel. It can show us the kindness of strangers and create such wonderful friendships.
I’m excited for my next visit to Duseeldorf and seeing you two again, unless of course our paths cross in some other corner of the globe first.
And thank you again to Eurail.com for setting me up with my 10 day – 2 month Flexi-pass to make this train journey possible. If you are visiting Europe, visit Eurail.com to see the many passes, like mine, that they have on offer.
