[Apr. 2025] The weather improved on the third day of our short holiday in southern Germany.
As planned, we took a trip from Stuttgart, where we were staying, to Tübingen.
Stuttgart is undergoing heavy construction, making it difficult to transfer from the U-Bahn to the DB central station, resulting in a lengthy walk.
However, we managed to catch the 10:15 AM train we had booked in advance and arrived in Tübingen at 10:58 AM.
As usual, we relied on Google Maps to head for the main square, the Market Square.
On the way, we crossed the Neckar River, where an interesting-shaped boat caught our eye.
These long, narrow wooden boats were propelled by a boatman standing at the stern, using a long pole to push the boat along the riverbed.
Although the shape was different, it reminded me of the punting we experienced in Canterbury, England.
After some research, I found out it’s called a Stocherkahn.
Apparently, in the Middle Ages, fishermen used it to transport goods, but now it’s mainly used by tourists.
My husband was particularly interested, so we decided to take a ride on it before going to the Market Square.
We went to the dock we could see from the bridge and booked the 12:15 p.m. trip.
It cost €11 per person for 55 minutes.
Payment was cash only.
Our trip was full, with about 20 passengers.
The narrow boat, about 10-12 metres long and 1 metre wide, had a crossbeam across it, and everyone sat astride it.
There was a board at the back so we could lean against it.
Perhaps because we were small (everyone else was a large German), we were seated at the front.
Maybe it was because we were foreigners.
As soon as we set off, the boatman at the stern chatted nonstop to give us some guide, but he only spoke German, so we had no idea what he was talking about.
My husband was quite annoyed, saying, “But he can speak English too!”
I think he mostly talked about the town’s origins.
But thanks to our seats at the front, we were able to fully enjoy the scenery and take lots of uninterrupted photos.
The surrounding greenery was reflected in the water, and the colourful houses along the riverbank were beautifully reflected, too.
Duck couples and families swam by, and we could hear birds chirping in the trees.
It was a very quiet and peaceful moment (apart from the boatman’s talk).
It felt great to be basking in the sunlight for the first time in a while.
The boat finished in exactly 55 minutes, as planned, which was a truly German experience.
