I’ve been riding Europe’s rails since I was a kid. And to this day, a long, fast train trip gives me a youthful thrill. I marvel at how Europe’s trains just keep getting better, faster, and more comfortable.

Having completed the Germany guidebook research stretch of my trip, I’m heading for Amsterdam to meet the film crew. I’m spending seven hours on one of Germany’s superfast ICE (InterCity Express) trains, writing and enjoying every moment — because for me, there’s very little that’s better than stretching out in a first-class quiet car, blitzing through Germany, while massaging my gangly notes into smooth and tight new writing for the upcoming 2015 edition of Rick Steves’ Germany guidebook.