From battling train delays to meeting the Wine Princess! CRAIG HOPE's postcard from the German countryside ahead of England's next game

From the brutality of the grey and industrial architecture of the Ruhr valley, to the beauty of the lakeside Weimarer Land and a Michelin-star chef serving us dinner in a matter of hours, and all thanks to a cancelled train!

Leaving behind Essen and Gelsenkirchen on Monday morning, it was no surprise to discover the train south to my Erfurt base had disappeared from the schedule. 

It meant I had to think on my feet, and very soon I was running on them, squeezing though the doors of an earlier alternative. 

Via Dusseldorf and Frankfurt I journeyed, delayed trains running into each other and making my connections seamless, even if for the wrong reasons.

And this proved to be something of a sliding doors moment, quite literally. For had I not made that first train, I would have missed the 'Food Masters' event organised for the England press pack by the staff of Weimarer Land.

It still needed a trolley dash back through Erfurt, my case on wheels rattling over the ancient cobbles - and this on the one day the sun had come out - but home and not so dry, I made a Stars in Their Eyes transformation from dishevelled traveller to sunset diner.

Off we went by bus to the wonderful Hans Am See overlooking the serene Hohenfelden Reservoir, where the region's chief administrator and 'Wine Princess' Emma were waiting to greet us. 

The Michelin-star chef who works in the kitchen at the England team hotel was overseeing the outdoor grills - don't ask him for team news, he's had to sign an NDA! - and we were treated to what tasted like the finest food and wine in all of Germany.

It felt like a wedding, which was ironic, because when I sent the pictures home to my wife - wrestling with our three young boys at bedtime - her reply spoke of divorce.

Anyway, it was onto Frankfurt yesterday for Thursday afternoon's game against Denmark and, if I could reach out and touch the wood of the thick forest we passed through, I would - because our trains were all on time! Let us hope it stays that way. 

Then again, without a cancelled train I wouldn't have experienced the culinary delights of Weimarer Land. Swings and roundabouts, beef and wine.

Auf wiedersehen, Craig.