Day 34 - Monday, September 2nd "Flying High Above Deutschland"

My last day. Meditated, showered and prepped my suitcase for after I pick up two bottles of our favourite cheap Deutschland Gewürztraminer that we find at Galeria on the Hauptwache downtown Frankfurt. Some sun this morning and high cloud cover. I catch the S Bahn from the airport into downtown. I get asked some questions by a Canadian couple and help them find the Altstadt. Into the Galeria to purchase the two wine, into my backpack and then do some people watching. Into the U Bahn and make it to Schweizer Platz. I am meeting Markus around 11:30 and he is going to take me flying.

Markus calls me and I head to his place. The small airport that he uses is about 10 km south of Frankfurt. He belongs to a flying club so has access to a number of small planes. He has been flying for 10 years so has lots of experience. I am looking forward to being in the skies and seeing Deutschland from above. Ensure the wine is safe in his car trunk.

It is a beautiful and sunny day in Frankfurt area. Some difficulties with Markus' seat, but the mechanic rectifies. Taxi to the end, cover the checklist and then it is liftoff around 60 knots. Given we are so close to the huge Frankfurt International airport, we need to go around the airport invisible perimeter which extends our travel time. We land in Mainz at a small airport to fill up with gas. I had no idea the gas tanks are in the wings, although it makes sense. Very loud in the cockpit so you wear headphones with a mic to speak with each other. We fly over the Rhine river and Rheinhessen wine area then the Rheingau. Lots of boat traffic on the Rhine today. Of course, the Rhine has many castles along its banks and off in the forest regions. Very cool to see them from this high up. As well, we fly over Lorelei which is a huge bluff at a curve in the Rhine river where there have been many sinkings and deaths over the years. A famous poem has been written about it.

 Markus and our two-seater 1 1/4 year old plane. Very light as he could pull it around to gas up.

 Instrumentation panel

 Pilot controls

 The Rhine below and farmer's fields

Over the Rhine river and Rheingau in the distance.

We flew to Koblenz which is situated where the Mosel river runs in the much larger Rhine river. As well, the Mosel river has another well known wine growing area. We have lunch at a Greek restaurant located at the small airport. Lots of sunshine. Park the plane in the grass. We liftoff and fly back to Markus' club's small airport. I get to handle the controls a few times. Finesse is the best way to try and keep the plane level and in line. It gets bumpy on a few occasions, but no problem. I love flying and the experience is even better being over Deutschland. The Rhine river, castles, vineyards, the Rheingau that we were at previously in our trip. What a great way to end my five weeks in Europe!

 Control tower at Koblenz

 Checking checking checking

 Near the Rheingau

 One of many small villages below

Markus drove me back to the Squaire at Frankfurt Flughafen. Put the two new bottles of wine in my suitcase and navigated to Terminal 2 which requires a shuttle to reach. I am checking in exactly two hours before the flight is scheduled to depart at 7:40 pm. I get a window seat in Row 6 on Air Transat. Grab a quick dinner before I head to Passport Control and then Security.

Last German meal of Frankfurter Wurstsalat mit Krustenbrot

No wait at Passport Control and not much of a delay at Security. For some strange reason at the Gate they asked everyone to get in a queue so we could again present our passports. Oh well, another lineup. All is good and the plane is lifting off the runway at 7:45 pm. Uneventful flight and we land at Vancouver International at 9 pm so about right on time. Lana is waiting with the Smart Car at the airport gas station so I text her and she picks me up.

The end of my five week Europe trip. Good to be back in Vancouver and see family and friends.

Day 33 - Sunday, September 1st Travel Day Munich -> Frankfurt

Upon awakening did my thirty minute meditation. Finished packing my suitcase and eating a banana for breakfast. Update emails before leaving my dungeon. Very musty and dank in this basement room. Cloudy this morning and it rained last night. Rain, what is that? It is about 15 degrees so not that usual warm start. Out of my room by 9:45 am giving me lots of time to make my 10:50 am train departure. I make a quick connection with the U1 Bahn train and arrive at Munich Hbf pretty quickly.

I can't find any english language newspapers. Purchase a shokocroissant (snack) and a German sandwich (lunch). Get to track 19 about 10:05. Surprised as when I checked the departure info board at the track there is no Frankfurt Hbf destination shown for ICE720 leaving track 19 at 10:50. Yup, stressed out! I always double-check the board just to confirm. Short walk to the DB office and get a number to join the queue. When my number was shown I went to #4 and the lady couldn't have been any more unfriendly or unhelpful or less understanding. She reiterated that is the right train and the right track. Yes, my train 720 will arrive at Frankfurt Flughafen. She threw in that it was two trains and I need to get on the right train as it separates later. As the train rolls into track 9 I check the identity on the first two cars and indeed ICE720. I get on the second class car and stow my suitcase and find a seat. Then I look at the electronic readout at the front of the car and it states IC1224 which is the other part of the train. What the ____, two different numbers. I get off the train and see they have now changed the ICE number. Get my stuff, get off the train and walk quite a distance to find a second class car that shows ICE720. Find a shelf for my suitcase as it is too wide to place overhead. The readout is for my train. Later the conductor announces the two trains and I know I am in the right train. Phew!

I have a window seat and it doesn't appear the seat is reserved. It shows "Bahn.Comfort" which I am pretty sure does not mean reserved. Feeling better now. As well, I learn that Frankfurt Flughafen is after the train stops at Frankfurt Hbf. Uneventful train trip although late as usual. At Frankfurt Hbf a girl gets on behind me who loves to smack her lips with every bite on her gum...Good I am getting off shortly for the Flughafen as it is close to the middle of Frankfurt. I know my way around the Flughafen so am up to the Hilton Garden Inn very quickly and in room 10245. YEH!!!! The air is fresh, lots of natural sunlight and it is not dark, dank and gloomy. Liberated!

It is a Sunday so pretty much everything is closed in Deutschland. Will give me time to catch up on Trip Advisor reviews since the start of my trip almost five weeks ago. FaceTime with Lana and grab a sandwich in the airport area. Feeling tired from the travel and lack of sleep. Got some english language newspapers!

Confirmed logistics with Markus by phone tonight. I will meet him downtown Frankfurt around 11:30 am and then we go flying in his plane. He will have me back in plenty of time for my night flight from Frankfurt Flughafen. I need to purchase two bottles of our favourite cheap Gewürztraminer wine at the Galeria on Hauptwache.