So, I asked the airport information booth the best way to get to the city and they pointed to the adjacent train station sign a few steps away. How did I not know this or even see it? Well I did see it but all the signs and I do mean all are in german and I was totally clueless.Wandering aimlessly thru the station platform I asked a few people which train goes to the city and they pointed me to the right platform. While standing there waiting for my train it dawned on me hey do I need a ticket?? Yes, I know and hey Ash I think think this is where you get your "blonde" roots from. Walked back UP the stairs to where I came from to look for the ticket counter and found a self service ticket booth. Wait its all in german WTF, so asking yet another person which ticket will take me into the city and where do I swipe my visa card? Um, yeah they didn't take visa so I left that line, walked back over to the info booth to ask about a currency exchange kiosk. By now I have had quite an orientation to the airport and was ready to get out of it and explore. Finally found the exchange kiosk, got my euros, 100 dollars got me about 70 euros.Over at the self serve ticket booth I successfully purchased my roundtrip ticket albeit with the help of another traveler. It was about 10 euros for the ticket. Down to the platform again, short wait and onto the train. It was busy but not over crowded and I found a seat. I looked at the numerous stops and thought um which one is Frankfurt and why isn't it in another language. Turning to the girl sitting next to me, I gestured I wanted to speak to her-she was listening to an mp3 player. Pardon me do you speak english, I asked? Yes, she replied, and infact was an american student studying in germany. She told me to get off in 5 stops whew almost there I thought to myself. She got off a few stops later and a oung man sitting across from me politely said he spoke english and would remind me when we were at the right stop. Which was good because as soon as we started talking ( I was counting the stops in my head) I thought was that the 3rd or the 4th stop we just passed. No I must tell you my nick name is wrong way sharon. I have a terrible sense of direction and I get lost even with my gps back home. Ok stop 5 off I go, thanking the young man as I left. Guess what? No one even asked to see my ticket, no ticket police no turnstyle nada. So my advice get on a train without a ticket and if you get busted act like a clueless american and say ticket? This is in Frankfurt, there were turnstyles in France and a conductor.
On to the city....Wow theres a live band playing and tents selling food and beer really all this for me? Oh wait it must be a festival? Kewl, wandered around, looked at the food and listened to some music. It was getting close to lunch time by now and the smells coming from the food tents were enticing. As I got closer to the tents I noticed there was a menu hanging and yep you guessed it all in german. No problem I can just point to the food I want right?Well none of the food was recognizable, none of it and it was all kinds of sausage, I am not that adventurous, not at all, it smelled good but looked funky. Oh wait there's a little restaurant, they must have something half way normal to eat? I walked over an got a table on the terrace, it was a breezy overcast, chilly day. Looking at the menu I realized im not in kansas anymore or even close so I asked the waiter...if I could just eat one thing in Frankfurt what should it be?He thought for a moment and pointed to the Frankfurt specials and YEA the menu was in english! It had assorted sausages some marinated chesse and soups and an intriguing 7 herb cold sauce-The original dish from Frankfurt ok 1 of those please. I will post picks so you can get an idea as well. As soon as I ordered it started to drizzle and the chilly wind picked up-of course it did. They opened the umbrella above my table and I scouched my chair over to be under it. Finally, the food came... I big heaping plate of green goo-like an unspinach dip, served cold with a cold boiled potato and a sliced egg on top mmmm yummy. I took a few bites just to say I tried it and then was content to eat the bread they brought with it which came with 3 dipping sauces a green similar herbed mayo taste, a tuna flavored sauce and a spicy one. Then I asked if I could bum a german cig while I waited out the rainy drizzle. That was about 12 euros. Next on my to do list shopping..
Ok its thursday why is everything closed? Really, come on now, is this a joke am I being punked? Turns out is "all church day" and all the stores are closed in observance of this holiday. Ok no shopping and not alot of food, what do I do now? Just then I saw a big red tour bus and stop nearby, I hurried over and asked about taking a city tour. They said it was a 3 hour tour ( I heard 3 hour tour somewhere before?Gilliagan's island- and was 18 euros. I sat next to a lovely older woman that was from omg orlando florida, small world isn't it. I started chatting it up with her and never put on my mutilingual head set so the pics I took I'm not to terribly sure what they are of lol. I got off the tour about an hour early when they were passing the train station and decided to head back to the airport. Easy to get back only had to ask 2 ppl for directions. Made it thru security set off the metal detector and had to have a pat down.I still had 6 hours to kill so I wandered thru the shops there but didnt buy anything but a post card and pack of german cigs to bring to my friend picking me up at my destination. Ok back to the info booth. Which way to the Lufthansa business lounge I asked, well there is 5 which one did you want to go to? Um, which one did I come from I wondered. Hmm well I came from the us this morning would that narrow it down? Yes there were only 3 in that section, wait it had a shower does that help, ok only 2 fit that criteria. Off I go to find my luggage locker.C terminal section 192 finally there. Took a nap, then a shower, then checked my mail and sent some, had a snack 3 more hours to go. As it got closer to bording time I walked to the gate only to find out the departure gate had changed to another. Took a ppl mover across the airport,crowded stinky and not fun up a walkway over to the otherside all while schelping my carry on, laptop and backpack.Finally there at the correct gate and WHAT the plane has been delayed, seriously? The wait was minimal and a 3-4 men broke out their musical instruments and gave an impromptu concert, that was fun. Finally the call to board came and just as I handed my ticket to the counter person she looked at all my stuff and said I would have to check it. I promptly told her I didnt have to check it on the other flight why now? She said it was a full flight and space was at a premium. I told her I couldn't check it there was electronics, gifts and medication, she then went to get her supervisor and made me stand off to the side. I told my same spiel to the supervisor and handed her my ticket pointing out that I was a busniess class traveler. She looked at the ticket, then at the other clerk then to me and said oh this doesn't apply to you, you can now board. Saying thanks as I waved goodbye to the other ticket agent and muttered under my breath I hurried down the stairs to finally board the plane. 5 hours later I am finally there, its 2 am now and I really hope they remembered to pick me up.
Starbucks has invaded the world and segway made its way over here that is kewl.
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