On my way!

Sunday 5-11-2008

Ever hear of a 20-hour layover? Well, I had one in Chicago, before my flight to Frankfurt, but I made good use of the time to visit some old sites from when we used to live there, years ago. I had to stay at a hotel Saturday night, but took the train to downtown and looked around a little. Plus, I got a few miles of exercise, helping me to get ready for all the walking in Germany. I even got to give directions to a British couple to the train station (since I knew that from when we lived there)! I even took the El train to Wrigley field, where a Cubs-Diamondbacks game was in progress. Of course, I didn't get to see any of the game but, like the 'Shut up and drink your beer T-shirt I accidentally bought in 2002, I saw a baby T-shirt that said, 'Shut up and drink your milk!'

I also got to eat one of the goo-ood Italian sausages that Chicago is famous for. (Food is always one of the best parts of traveling, no?)

Monday 5-11-2008

I arrived in Frankfurt after an extremely long flight. I think everyone on the plane was able to sleep most of it except me. I always have trouble sleeping while traveling. Frankfurt was 75 degrees and sunny. A little humid, but very nice! I checked into my TINY hotel room (about 6 x 12), which had a TV but no bathroom. It is across the hall, shared by everyone on the floor, but I had no trouble getting into it when I wanted.

I walked around town that day. Frankfurt is an unusual German city because it has a lot of high-rise buildings, but it also has an older part of town that shows a lot of its histroy. I even got to walk across the Main River that flows through town. Remember when we almost moved to Frankfurt, Mom, Norman and Jeanie, when Dad had that opportunity for a job assignment there?

I got to bed early, since I was going on half an hour sleep, and slept through the night, despite no air conditionaing and garbage tucks, police sirens and people yelling outside my window all night. I was up on the 4th floor, so I felt pretty safe in spite of it all.

I've made two rules for myself: walk and use the stairs whenever possible to get exercise and speak - and think - in German as much as I can, so I can learn the language better. Oh - and none more thing - eat a lot (but not too much) good German food!