AfD Reverbs Continue. A Holiday in Italy and Germany

Desenzano del Garda seen from boat to Sirmione

We're back from an enjoyable train holiday to Lake Garda, Italy and then Germany. The BrexiTrumpDiary daily entries continued - and have all been posted today. See links below today's writeup.

Politically there is still active discussion of the success of the far right AfD in Germany, both in Germany and the UK. We should not confuse them with being similar to UKIP. Some of their policies are openly racist and apologist for the Nazis, adopting some of the language very familiar and frightening to those in Germany who remember the original use during the Hitler period. 

Brexit talks resume. Labour advocates re-nationalisation but avoids making Brexit decision.

We set off back home this morning from Meerbusch to Cologne, catching the 10:45 National Express train to Cologne. We stopped just outside Cologne station and received the wry announcement over the tannoy as we waited to move on, "Three trains have arrived at the same time for our allocated platform. We arrived bang on time, the other two trains had been delayed and have caused his problem. So naturally, we are the ones who have to wait". There was a resigned chuckle that rippled through the train. 

Fortunately, we had more than enough time to catch the ICE to Brussels Midi. There was a moment of panic as we approached Brussels, as one voluble passenger proclaimed that she had been told that the train would not stop at Midi, just at Brussels Nord. She got off, we stayed on - and reached our destination after all.

We now ran the gauntlet of two passport controls (Belgian and UK) and the security check. However, this was far less stressful than at Stansted. A short wait in the departure lounge and a chance to buy overpriced sandwiches and drinks, before we set off to St Pancras. I dozed. 

We had an hours tea break at Kings Cross, without a tartlet or cheesecake, I may add. Arrived home just after 7pm UK time.

Links to the Holiday BrexiTrumpDiary entry:

1. Tue 12th Sept: Brexit talks delayed. Train to the Bastille
2. Wed 13th Sept: Juncker's Positive EU. From Paris to Desenzano
3. Thu 14th Sept: Trump-Democrats Collaboration? First day in Desenz...
4. Fri 15th Sept: North Korean ICBM. Parson's Green Bomb. Sirmione w...
5. Sat 16th Sept: Boris Resurrects £350m. Cable's 'Exit from Brexit'...
6. Sun 17th Sept: Boris knuckles rapped. Roman Mosaics in Desenzano
7. Mon 18th Sept: Expat Brits Pension Threat. Trump at UN. Juliet's ...
8. Tue 19th Sept: Trump Promise of NK Annihilation. Hurrricane Maria...
9. Wed 20th Sept By Train: Desenzano-Verona-Munich-Frankfurt-Cologn...
10. Thu 21st Sept: A Quiet Day after a Long Journey
11. Fri 22nd Sept: May's Florence Brexit Speech. Leopand Slug and Pea...
12. Sat 23rd Sept: Iranian Missile. NK Insults Trump. Trump Insults N...
13. Sun 24th Sept: German Election's AfD shock.