On the Monday, Maxine and I went into town hoping to visit a museum or two.  I had generously decided against the tram museum, on the basis that Maxine had seen enough trains for the week.  However, that didn’t work out, as we found that the museums were mostly closed on Monday!  But we had a good walk round anyway.

We travelled in on the newish U6 light rail, which we also used to get to the Messe during the week.  It’s an interesting 45 minute run through fields and suburbs, then a precipitous drop into the city centre through a winding tunnel and then through steep streets.  In my photo below of our local station, out in the fields, you can see the Messe in the distance. 

It’s an easy walk across to get to the halls nearest to the station, but an awful extra walk to the halls at the far end – where we were.  The walk across the fields can be tricky at night, as Sean discovered one year returning slightly worse for wear from the Thursday night party, and finding himself in a field of cabbages.

I was very impressed by the vending machine by the station – it sold useful things like bread, eggs, and vegetables, things for a quick but real supper!

This interesting building was a history museum – shut of course!

A fine church, and around it a Christmas market being set up.  The markets weren’t open for another few days – we always find this when visiting the show.

The Market Hall was very much open and was a fun visit, full of local produce, and home furnishings upstairs.

And a walk through a park area before returning to the station for the trip back to the hotel.

We did have an embarrassing moment when asked to vacate a coffee shop, when the two of us ordered one coffee.  As it was a balmy 17C, we opted for a sit down on a convenient bench to watch the world go by.  Although the closed museums was a disappointment, it was interesting to walk around part of the city.

Tuesday morning, we left before 9am for the journey home.  550 miles, and 11 hours door to door (including Eurotunnel and loo stops.)  Actually a simple and comfortable journey, especially as Allan had arranged du luxe seating for Maxine in the back of the van!  It’s also an interesting run, with a lot of things to look at.

And so to next year.  I’m sure we will be there in 2025, all being well.  It’s not a conventional model railway exhibition (though it is an N gauge convention), but it’s a fun week spent with friends.  We may need to build a module or two, though, to ring the changes in our display.