More pics and videos on Facebook page. You can view my first posts here at the BLOG page.
Colds slowed us down for a few days and then having so much fun consumed more time. As a result, I have fallen behind in my updates. We left Germany to spend Christmas in Switzerland and are currently in Paris on New Years Eve Day. I will complete the chronicles, but maybe not from Europe.
Germany Part 2: Frankfurt
After many hugs and well wishes, we leave Christin to board our train to Frankfurt. Now that we’ve learned the process, we know we have both train tickets and seats, although this time it’s not first class since it’s only a 2 hour trip. We arrive at our reserved seats and find another couple there. I expect them to apologize and move, instead the gentleman (and I use the term loosely here), starts waving his paper ticket at us. Thanks to a quick message response from Christin, we know to insist they move. Begrudgingly, they finally leave, although not after issuing many swear words in German. Our train car is the quiet carriage, which is nice for a relaxing trip, reading (or writing blog posts). A business man sitting 2 rows ahead walks past us to the end of the carriage to take a phone call. All of a sudden, I smell *that* smell again. You know the one! The young woman sitting across from me notices I am checking my shoes and says “It’s not you, it’s that guy.” Indicating the business man while holding her nose. We share a laugh at his expense. Then we have a nice chat, she’s working on her Masters in Global Studies and her thesis is on Immigration, focusing on the difficulties immigrants face while navigating the German bureaucracy and all the strict rules. She is quite an impressive, thoughtful person, in my opinion. Then the man in front of me turns around “Shhhhhh!” The college student rolls her eyes and shakes her head, “German rules!” And we share another chuckle.
It’s another pea soup night as we pull into Frankfurt. A quick taxi and we’re at the wrong hotel! Good thing I had google maps open and we didn’t get out. Apparently there is an NH hotel and there is our hotel: nHow hotel, which is about 4 blocks away. So, it helps to use Google maps, in case the language barrier causes confusion, or in this case the actual hotel names!
The nHow hotel is edgy – even from the outside. Inside, we see an Emirates flight crew (we see them every day we’re there) and loads of young, stylish people. Nevertheless, we are given a warm greeting by some of the most welcoming hotel staff we’ve encountered. We are given an upgrade and our room is spacious and clean, a nice place to spend 4 nights, although hallways that are painted black is not a choice I would make. This hotel’s theme is “The art of money”. All the decor revolves around artists’ impressions of currency from all over the world. Odd, but it makes sense since Frankfurt is the location of several global banking institutions, including the European Central Bank. But I have no idea why the yellow emergency-looking is in our room.
The staff encourages us to see the Sky 47 bar on the top floor for incredible views of the city. It’s an ultra edgy cocktail bar with flashing lights and pounding music, everyone looks Kardashian and spicy, so we find our way out…without Google maps. Besides, it’s too foggy to appreciate the view.
We tackle the local tram, buying our tickets at the kiosk and make our to the main train station. We’re on our way to Heidelberg. In the station we see a chap right out of the movie The Hangover: tuxedo, untucked shirt, bow tie askew, only one shoe, limping. He stops and lights a cigarette. At least he has a cigarette. But no shoe. We’re chuckling and I forget to sneak a photo for you, sorry. The train gets us to Heidelberg a bit after lunch, so we grab a bus to the Old Town for a bite. Afterward we browse the Christmas market area, heading toward the tram to the castle. The weather forecast was in the high 40s, but the wind blows cold right through us. And up at the castle there is little wind break so we have a short stay. Luckily I find a cute new hat and warm scarf, but we still end up having a very long walk back to the train station. I blame the cold for my worst navigation day of the trip.
The next day brings clearer skies so we venture another day trip, this time to Bad Kreuznach, where Tom was stationed in the early 1970s. It’s great to share this trip with Tom, although I know he wishes he remembered more from his time here. The bridge houses were all under construction, so that was a tad disappointing, but I’m sure they will be restored nicely. One thing the town has done is to make the central area walking only, which gives a quaint, provincial vibe. In all, I thought the town was cute, very walkable, and worthy of a few days to visit; unlike when the Army invited the “visit”. Plus, then we could visit the spa offerings they have in the region.
Our last full day in Frankfurt we bundle up and go explore the city. It’s so cold and starts to rain, but we push through, visiting a cathedral and the New Old Town, recently restored. We have a warm beverage outside and take in the bustling Christmas Markets. It’s astounding how Europeans live so much outdoors, freezing rain doesn’t seem to phase them. On the way back to the hotel, I find a pharmacy and stock up on some Wicks (Germany’s version of NyQuil). European pharmacies are so helpful! Back at our hotel, we visit the restaurant with the kindest waitress, Siri from Thailand. When she finds out I’m getting a cold, she makes a special warm ginger tea “shot” and tells me it will help. Thanks, Siri.
It’s December 21st. We buy tickets to visit Jungfraujoch on Christmas Day. Talk about optimistic!
Next up: a difficult train travel day and some nice things that came of it.
