“Travels to a Different Time” : 18August1973: Heidelberg/Köln, Germany: Woken up by Shrieking Elephants and Screaming Tropical Birds: Overnight Stay at The Hospital Hoping to Avoid Amputation

I was woken up today by shrieking elephants and squawking birds as the hostel is by the zoo! I phoned Heidi in Köln and Michael answered letting me know that Heidi would be working at the hospital all week-end. Got picked up by an American soldier with Iron Butterfly’s “In- a- Gadda -da -Vida” blaring. I quickly discovered I was on the right autobahn but going in wrong direction. Picked by a German student and we went to his girlfriend’s place for a great meal. What good luck that his girlfriend was also going to Köln. He took me right to Michael and Heidi’s place. I had a hot shower and he cooked up sausages and potatoes. After our sausages and beer (Dortmunder Union) we went to the German school for diplomats where I used their washing machines to do the laundry. Had a great tour of Köln and we picked up Heidi at the hospital and stopped to pick up Yugoslav take-out hopefully with no greasy goulash. It was strange seeing her again but after a few minutes we were yakking away like it was yesterday. I was to stay the night in the hospital in a spare bed. Hopefully when I woke up nothing would be amputated.