traveller1959, your words upset me, and I ask that you not batter me for writing that German cuisine was "good" and not "exceptional." None of our meals were greasy or cheap (we're quite well-versed on terrible Schnitzel, thank you). After having being parked on the autobahn for four hours because of an accident, should we have instead driven to Ulm or Augsburg for a "Michelin" meal at 1900?

We are more than willing, and frequently do, put forth the Euros/Koruna/Forints/Zloty or whathaveyou for exceptional dining (and have done so in Berlin, Munich surrounds and Heidelberg on recent visits). Have you been to Mainz on a Sunday? Where in that Somber Town were we to find starred-cuisine?

Where in Melsungen, any day of the week? Should we have schlepped kilometers away to defend Germany's cuisine?

Ditto for Hameln. Perhaps the locals venture far and wide for "refined, creative" cuisine and we travelers are left with the dregs of German peasant food and the occasional Italian or Mexican (when it's not Comedy Night), but that is more on Germany's tourism infrastructure than on us.

In Bremen, we thoroughly enjoyed the wood-smoked salmon from the Oktoberfest stalls. Should we be expected to travel hither and yon from our destinations to give German cuisine a good name on your behalf?

For the record, the Schweinshaxe was in Prague. DH was simply in the mood for it, knowing that he had enjoyed it previously.

I feel bad that you are offended. As I have stated more than once, what Germany offers its tourists/visitors was "good" food, but not "exceptional."

Enjoyed your trip report, and thanks for the recommendation of Hotel Cerny Slon in Prague.

Over the years the best meal I ever had was plaice with lardons at 8am in a restaurant overlooking the docks in Hamburg one Sunday where the Dutch come to sell their out of dates plants. A memorable event as nothing goes back to Holland, anything not bought is flung into the air so the poor Germans can fight over the debris.

The worst meal I ever had was in the old ship restaurant in Lubeck, where the chef selected an illegally small plaice (yes I know, but I thought the Germans had to obey European law too) and rather than a fillet I got a whole boney plaice the size of my hand.

Other than that the odd asparegus or onion tarte has done well but ...

Luckily Germans make very good wine, reasonable Beer, but very good wine.

Really enjoyable report about an area I have yet to explore. Your impressions and comments make for a really interesting read. A report is about what you experienced, and you expressed that well. quokka had me looking up Marburg, now I need to do the same for Bremen. Many thanks