After being discharged from hospital on Tuesday, I had three hours of daylight left to explore Düsseldorf centrum.  How strange to have been in the city for three days and to hardly know it at all.

It was Christmas market time.  So many lights, food stalls and rosy-cheeked people enjoying their family and friends.  I stared at the true life around me.

Google Maps showed me Hofgarten, a city park with a meandering lake.  It looked marvelous and my feet led me onward.

Once by the water, I found a bench for enjoyment.  A huge heron was wading in the shallows, watching to see if I was dangerous.  (He’s hidden behind the tree.)  Seagulls soared and landed and soared again.  The lights twinkled.  Folks strolled.  Finally … the real Düsseldorf!

I lingered.  After all, I was on vacation.

Across the way, a daddy pretended to race his young daughter.  She was too fast for him, and squealed in delight at her victory.  Marvelous.

Deeper into the park, I came upon this statue and pool.  Three kids hugging each other, and looking down at … what?

I looked more closely at the direction of their gaze.  At the edge of the pool sat three frogs, hugging each other, looking up.  So much fun.

I wandered down holiday streets towards the Düsseldorf central station.  Thought I’d scout out a place for the next day’s breakfast, before taking the Flixbus home to Gent.

I underestimated two things:

1.  The size of the station.  It was huge.

2.  How exhausted I was.  The walk wasn’t really long but I wasn’t really able.  The final fifteen minutes back to the Airbnb were s…l…o…w.

***

Wednesday was the four-hour bus trip.  I saw lots of stuff in Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium through my big window but those sights were nothing compared to the star of the journey:

A 3- or 4-year-old girl who sat in front of me

We smiled at each other many times

The connection was a blessing