At first, all public transport stopped for a day. Then writing, bathroom breaks, sniveling, running noses. Glance at my phone, not stressing. We pick up the kids, pack our stuff. Occasionally, I check the time. We leave. Navigate the route, jaw clenches, unease in the chest. Full throttle. Stinky sweat drips down my back, soaking my favorite hoodie. My ears buzz from fatigue, my temples from global injustice. Why did I think I had enough time? It's a blur now. There's a large bridge before the station to cross to our platform. My fatigue shifts to heavy breathing; I sense we made it in time. The aromatic aftermath of the rush stays with me. I conscientiously go to buy tickets from the machine. Five minutes later, I despise the German language, ticket machines, and myself. I figured it out, but we missed the train. Saved 8 euros though. Rush again, the kids are restless, not sensing the urgency. Lyuba gets offended, insists she's Lyuba, not restless. Ahh, another ticket machine. But this one seems more sophisticated. Ahhh, I can't get it right, ahh! Laid the laptop on the ground, chose tickets. Why did they get pricier? There's a discount. 45 euros, pay, pdf. We rush to the platform. The screen displays our train. And there it is. We sprint inside. Asked a passenger if this was our train, he nodded in agreement. Offered to double-check, asked a German if this goes to Cologne. He confirmed. I felt heroic. Settled in, chose seats, exhaled. Wondered why our train departs in a minute when ours is in 10? Silence. Maybe this isn't ours. I sit, doors close. We move. AAAAAHHHHH. It isn't. Ahhhh!!!! What to do? Ahhh? How could this happen? Options, checks, Google. The cost of the mistake + 55 euros to get off at the next stop, on the train we're already on. Anxiety mounts. Maybe they won't notice? Maybe they will? If they do, it'll be a disaster. Bought the ticket for the train we're currently on. Controller checks in 5 minutes. Sweaty relief and satisfaction from the decision. Scanned the QR, like everything was supposed to be. Everyone to the bathroom in turns. The girls are growing, it's harder to hold them over the toilet. The flush is as powerful as a black hole in space. Waited too early to disembark. Lyuba tripped multiple times before the door while the train waited for permission to cover the last kilometer. The train wedged itself against the station. The Gothic cathedral crowded, it seems easier for people from the station to pass through the cathedral's doors. People with luggage obscure the skies. Cars pollute the air. How to see one of Germany's oldest cities through this? Augmented reality is impossible here. Perhaps it's needed only in boring towns? No time for that now. Then we walked, walked, ate, bathroom, wiped the floor, yelled at the kids, cleaned up, left the leftovers, walked, listened to the crowd of environmental protestors, walked, ate, charged the phone, crowds, crowds, crowds, the LEGO store, put boxes in their place, herded the kids to the exit, escaped, walked on, terrible service at a famous café, decisions, Google, dreamed of home with forbidden food and complete relaxation. The museum is close, really cool, but not compatible with sweaty hoodie and muddy socks. Good thing there are many places to sit. Life becomes interesting again. Two things were recommended in Cologne: Visit the Cathedral and try the beer. I don't drink beer, and it's unclear if they make non-alcoholic. Ate, drank, bathroom, dressed, left, throttle, had enough time, boarded, still 30 minutes left. Good thing we got the LEGO giveaway, no background noise. The right train came, we moved to the second floor for a better view, no seats, sat without windows, jiggled around, mustered strength, kept searching for window seats. Found some. Placed kids further away. Relaxation ensued. Outside, it's beautiful, silence around, Arabic talk and Slavic request to bring kids closer. We decline, lazily enjoy. Soon we transfer from one train to another. All's well, timely, and close. Rush, exit to platform via elevator with a queue. The first group went without us. We'll make it. The second group went with us. Barely squeezed in. Positioned so the kids won't get crushed. In an hour, Borussia Dortmund's match. Wish you'd go faster. Everyone exited at the next stop. Exited, yay, only one km left to home. Have to go through the store, we fly out tomorrow. Store, all was good until the scream, "Daddy - need to pee". This store didn't have a bathroom, suggested another. The other said yes, but we'd have to wait. We wait, learn patience. Restrooms after numerous flights of stairs. A good bathroom. Made it. Barely got out. Got out. Then a bottle of non-alcoholic exclusive Cologne beer whizzed by me. Left many questions and thoughts. Craved relaxation, to shed the day's tension. But the beer bottle didn't assist, so I decided to convert my tension energy into this text I'm writing. Finished writing. The kids are asleep! Time to read. Realizing deeply, I love my Dasha very much. Kiss.
