And so I returned. There was some unfinished business to attend to, and there wasn’t a chance of me leaving Germany before it was taken care of. There were still some sights to see in Saarbrücken after having stayed for the weekend there six weeks previously. Das Krankenhaus, das Kino and of course a slap-up meal at the renowned Petit Gourmet.

Again I got the mini train to Landstuhl, talked to a real live German to get a Fahrkarte and got the Regional Express just in time.







I arrived at noon in Saarbrücken Hauptbahnhof only to find it in the same state that I had left it in. It still looked like a bomb had hit it, although in fairness a couple probably did back in the day.

At this stage I was starting to feel a bit hungrig, and walking by the Schnellimbisses outside the Bahnhof didn’t help. I stopped at a stall called Dietz’s for what else, but that most German (and perhaps homoerotic) of snacks - a Wurst. The junge Frau behind the counter took my order and dropped a big German sausage into this rather odd-looking machine that efficiently chopped it up into little pieces. Poetically German.







The slogan on the board above reads, “Denn eine Wurst geht immer” - ‘Because there is always time for a sausage.’ Amen to that.

After finishing, I dropped my tray into the bin and said 'tschüss’ to the junge Frau. It really was exactly like the tape exercises from Deutsch Heute.

With a permasmile I crossed the road to das Informationsbüro, looking for some Saarbrücken memorabilia. While there, I asked if die Hauptpost really was the Hauptpost from the picture in Deutsch Heute, and I was told that it was not! The old building was in fact just down the road. So, of course, I had to go down and take a gawk at what had become of this once mighty structure.

It was derelict! The windows were broken, and the doors sealed off. And not only were the big 'post’ signs taken off the roof, but some durt by the name of 'yeah’ decided to spread his filth at the top of the tower. Furchtbar.















After making this tragic discovery, I made my way back to the Bushaltestellen and hopped onto the 127 to Klinikum Saarbrücken AKA das Krankenhaus!







Out I got at the last stop, and after a few seconds of not knowing which way to go, I found the Krankenhaus. It was only when I compared the picture in Deutsch Heute to what lay in front of me did I realise that the side of the building in the picture is covered in scaffolding! They have also since placed a big red Toblerone-shaped thing on the shelter at the main entrance. What a place.







The description from Deutsch Heute says that from the Krankenhaus you can see France, so of course I had to verify this claim. In I went, following some random German who I was hoping knew her way to the nearest lift. On the way there was an odd display of some paintings on canvas, but I just got a quick snap and kept going, not wanting to lose my unsuspecting German guide.

With the adrenalin pumping and the energy boost from the Currywurst, I took on the stairs to the top floor. I couldn’t help but notice that on each floor I was the only one around, and empty beds were just sitting out on the open floor. Undeterred, I continued until I got to the neunte Obergeschoß when the stairs came to an end. However I noticed another flight of stairs that led up again, so up I went and ended up in the middle of a dark, empty, seemingly endless corridor.







Not knowing which way to go, I very quietly legged it around, trying to find which way was south. With only three windows - one at either end of the corridor and one facing north towards the Stadtmitte, my view was rather limited. At each end of the corridor was a door that led out to a small balcony. Praying I wouldn’t set off any alarms, I slowly turned the handle of the west-facing door only to find that the fecker was locked! So off I skulked towards the other end, getting a few pictures of Saarbrücken along the way, and got to the other door which turned out to be unlocked. Out I went, trying not to be seen by the helicopter crew below, took some snaps and got the feck out of there.

In the distance you can see the not-so-French-sounding French town of Stiring-Wendel. And there’s also some yoke that looks like a giant iPod.

I got the old 127 back into the Stadt, hopped off near the river Saar and took a stroll down Berliner Promenade. There I was, casually taking it all in, when what do I see but Eis-Cafe Riviera! It looked a bit on the closed side for a day when the temperature had hit 27 degrees, and a peek through the window showed that there seemed to be some work going on inside. Hopefully not for long, so I can sample its Eis delights!















Turning the corner, I came across Die Neue Apotheke, which at this stage really is not that neu! But at least they made the effort, and brought the facade out of the 80s.







By now only one thing was on my mind - Kino! We only got a small glimpse of it Deutsch Heute, but I wanted to see the whole thing in its full German glory. As it turned out the old Scala Kino-Center was turned into a Kino for artsy fartsy films, but at least they had the good sense to leave up the fantastic sign which dominates the street.







Research showed me where I could find the Jugendzentrum - conveniently located near to the Kino, so I continued on to Försterstraße. I figured that trying to go inside might be a bad idea, so I got a picture of the impressive entrance and kept going.







By now it was coming up to lunchtime. Hunger was setting in, and that meant only one thing - die Fußgängerzone. I also knew that with it being early Saturday afternoon the Markt would be in full swing!

I turned the corner onto St. Johanner Markt, which I later found out is referred to by locals as “das Wohnzimmer der Stadt” - the living room of Saarbrücken, and the place was teeming with Germans! At the market were all kinds of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses, wild salami usw.

















Looking around for a seat outside a restaurant, everywhere seemed to be full! On my second lap I got a seat, and with the day that was in it I decided on a Salat mit Bratkartoffeln and a Hefeweizen to wash it down.

After that tasty break I went around the general area of the Markt to see what I could find. To my complete surprise I found that the children’s clothes shop which had replaced the Apotheke from Deutsch Heute had itself been replaced! This time it’s the turn of Colt Jeans, a trendy (in the German sense) clothes shop.











From there it was over the Alte Brücke, and I intended to solve the mystery of the Landesmuseum from my last visit. But before that I found myself in the middle of another market, stretching down a closed section of road parallel to the Saar. Here I found all sorts of mad stuff. Cheesy fashions, 80s records, Nazi era literature, technological innovations of yesteryear and much, much mehr.

























I was looking through old CDs for some Vox Populi when I happened upon a single called 'Super Gut’ with some mad-looking chap on the front. The name rang a bell, but I couldn’t figure it out. And then it hit me. RTÉ used to show a German language programme on Sunday mornings, and the song at the end credits was of a guy singing “Gut, gut, super gut. Gut, gut, super gut. Gut, gut, super gut. Alles super gut.” With such legendary lyrics, the tune has stayed with me to this day. Feeling optimistic, I shelled out a euro for the CD and moved on to the next stall. When I later got home, I found that this was the exact song from the TV programme, and it’s also from the same group that made 'Eins, Zwei, Polizei’, which features on the B-side! What a find!

But all this was merely a distraction from what I was really after - to get to the bottom of the Landesmuseum mystery. I had remembered that there was a museum at the Schloß, so up I went, got a picture of course, and then entered. I asked the lady behind the counter was this Museum ever at Ludwigsplatz, and got a resounding 'nein’. That was that then!

The heat was getting to me after the sharp uphill climb to the Schloß, so it was time for some liquid refreshment. Where else but to Café Becker! To my disappointment, they were closing up shop when I got there as it was nearing four o'clock. So I just grabbed a bottle of Coke and continued on as I was getting looks from some durts hanging around outside.

After arsing around in some shops I decided I could wait no longer, and took the long walk down to Petit Gourmet. To my delight it was open, so I went up and ordered ein Portion Pommes und eine Cola. Unfortunately the fryer thing was out of order, so I was left with little choice but to have another Currywurst! While waiting I got chatting to the other customer who was there, and I ended up showing her my copy of Deutsch Heute and the old picture of Petit Gourmet.

She told me that previously there was not one, but two Petit Gourmets! The other being at a Gymnasium near Ludwigskirche. She recognised the Gymnasium’s windows from the photograph. How fantastically German. I got her to point out the spot to me on my map, as of course, I had to visit this once magical place.

I asked her about the Landesmuseum, and she said that there was indeed a museum in that building years ago, but that it is now used a government building, and the museum is now at Schloßplatz. So it was true after all! I’m sorry I ever doubted you, Deutsch Heute.

We had a great oul yap, also with the lady working in Petit Gourmet, and as I was leaving my dish and glass back she handed me a paper bag “für die Reise”, and told me to come back next time I am in Saarbrücken. I took a quick peek inside, and found a Wurst in a Brötchen! What a truly fantastic day. With that I said my goodbyes and made my way in the direction of Ludwigskirche.

I eventually got to the Gymnasium, whose windows were indeed recognisable! The spot where the great Petit Gourmet once stood was now nothing but a patch of grass. I can only imagine how great it must have been to have this just outside your school. Heaven.







With the mystery of the Landesmuseum still in my mind, I headed back up to Schloßplatz. After some looking around, it turned out to be in a rather large, but unassuming building adjacent to das Schloß and das alte Rathaus!















Looking at the shape of the building, it certainly looks more like the drawing in Deutsch Heute. Perhaps they knew all along?

Since the entrance was free I decided to pop in and see what was on offer. Going through the door, the whole place seemed rather empty. Some German hiding behind a desk then peeked around and asked me if she could help me. I let out a nervous “Hier ist das Museum, oder?” and I was told that I had to leave my bag in a locker downstairs. No getting away with ancient artifacts for me then.

I went down in what was the most expensive-looking lift I’ve ever seen, made almost entirely out of glass, and reached an odd room with lots of different sized lockers.







After pegging my bag in a locker I went back upstairs and got down to business. Not being a big fan of museums, I didn’t stay long, but I was impressed with the presentation used. In one room you stood at a monitor and you could then rotate it in the direction of the different things on display. The monitor would then automatically give details on whatever yoke you pointed at. Nice touch. I sneakily got some pics while security weren’t looking and then got out.







At this stage the day was closing in and I still had one more place to visit: Eis Café “De Lorenzo” at St. Johanner Markt. I was walking back up towards the Fußgängerzone, when what did I see, but a Lada 4x4! Surely the stuff of legend.

I took a seat outside Eis Café “De Lorenzo”, and was served up a großes Erdbeereis which was simply divine. There was a scoop of Vanilleeis in there too which was beautiful. If you can find a place that makes a great Vanilleeis then you know you are on to a winner. I will definitely be back here again!







It was coming up to 19:30 Uhr, and with my train leaving in einer halbe Stunde I called the waiter over. As he had undercharged me I left him a hefty tip and fecked off to the Bahnhof before he could realise.

At the Bahnhof I made my way to Gleis fünf, and hadn’t long to wait until the good old Regional Express pulled up. I got myself a nice window seat, took out my surprise Wurst and rode back to Ramstein as the sun went down over Saarland.





