It was never part our plans to stay in Freiburg on our tour of Europe. In fact we weren't even going to get off the train in Germany at all, but somewhere in the middle of a mammoth trip between Rome and Amsterdam via Geneva we decided that we needed a nice bed for the night and it just happened that trains for the 'Dam stopped off and left from Freiburg.
So with time running out on the train, we skimmed through our ever trusty Lonely Planet Guide to Europe and the Gasthaus Zur Sonne caught our eye because of the promise of reasonably priced rooms and 'a magnificent breakfast' (which I'll get to later.)
The only problem we experienced with this place was that the owner did not speak English but thankfully I paid attention in High School German and even though I was a bit rusty I remembered enough to book us a room for 3 people for the night.
After staying in nothing but hostels for a couple of weeks, this place was absolute luxury. The rooms we clean and tidy, the beds were unbelieavbly comfy with blankets to get lost in and the showers we clean and warm (and not on a timer switch so I could soak for as long as I wanted)
After a very peaceful sleep and not particularly wanting to leave the warmth and comfort of the beds we ventured down the stairs in time to sample the breakfast. Again having spent so much time in hostels offering their free breakfasts (usually a roll or a slice of toast and some fruit juice) this was absolute heaven. There were meats, cereals, pastries, toast, tea, coffee, yoghurt, donuts, fruit juice. I'm not usually one to eat much at breakfast but I just had to have seconds and third helpings of this magnificent spread.
Unfortunately we had to leave on the 3o'clock train so had to book out of the hotel sooner than we would have liked. But we still had time to sample some of delights of this gem of a town.
When we arrived at night, the streets were shrouded in a thick freezing fog but come the morning this had lifted to reveal a really traditional German market town, complete with its Gingerbread style houses and beautiful architecture... all in the shadow of the magnificent Black Forest. I really wish we had stayed here longer.
So thank you Lonely Planet, yet again you proved how invalubale you are to the weary (and hungry) traveller.