On the train...

Years ago my parents took me on a long distance trip through Germany on the ICE train. We spent the hours looking out the window of our sleeper compartment watching villages blaze past at a cruising speed of at least 125 mph. I was truly happy to have booked first class seats through to Bielefeld on the high-speed train - the seats are comfortable, the cabin is quiet, the steward is happy to bring you a cappuccino and the paper, and no unpleasant turbulence to worry about (http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/03/plane.turbulence/index.html?eref=rss_topstories). 

One of the best things about the German rail system is the ability to time a departure down to the second. My train was scheduled to leave Duisburg at 15:10. From my seat I could see the platform clock; when the second hand reached 15:10:00 the train started to move forward. I have to shake my head at the Coast Starlight that I took to college my freshman year. The incredible scenery along the Hood Canal was of no consolation when the departure was more than once three hours behind schedule. Of course this punctuality makes for a stressful approach to the station - I made my train out of Bielefeld with about three minutes to spare.