16 June, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Tonight at 11:00 p.m. I stepped out of the train station into the red light district of Frankfurt and was greeted with screams, car horns and people running around draped in the German flag. Either Germany won a big football match tonight or the people in this town are crazy (or perhaps they’re just happy to see me). I was so distracted by the noise and general mayhem (which continues to this moment) that I walked by my hotel three times without noticing it. Finally I asked a Middle Eastern waiter standing outside a restaurant for help and he ended up having to walk me to the door. What can I say, it’s been a long day…
I left Prague early this afternoon and set off for Frankfurt (a 7-hour train journey). Because the train from Prague was late, I missed my connection in Dresden and had to stick around the train station for an hour. I worried that people in Dresden may hate Americans (!), but the one guy I came into contact with (a teenager working at Burger King) seemed happy to chat with me. I had to eat dinner at Burger King because all the other places in the train station were serving sausage, sausage, sausage. You know ‘fille can’t eat sausage, even though she wishes she could.
I was so happy to arrive in Germany. Budapest and Prague are fabulous world-class cities, but their train stations and trains are pre-historic. We’re talking the Flintstones, okay? German train stations and trains are awesome. The train I got on at Dresden was ten times nicer than Eurostar. The five hours flew by as I sat in my comfy seat (that reclined!!!). The scenery today in both the Czech Republic and Germany has been stunning.
I realize I haven’t written anything about my stay in Prague, but internet access was expensive at the hotel there. I’ll write all about it when I get home. Though I just arrived in Frankfurt late tonight, I will leave early tomorrow morning (well, early for me, which is like 11:00 a.m.). I know Frankfurt has fabulous things to see, but for the next two days I will be staying in a tiny village along the Rhine River. I just don’t feel like spending time in a big city right now (there are skyscrapers out my hotel window!). I will try to post an update soon, but for now I’ll sign off. This German keyboard is driving me crazy…
Anglofille said @ 10:57 pm | travel |
- Comments RSS | TrackBack URI
-
Seb Says:
June 17th, 2008 at 12:02 amHa! Yeah, Germany won a football match tonight, so that is the reason everyone is crazy. I could have also told you that people in Dresden do not hate Americans at all.
So, I hope that you enjoy your stay in my country, although you will probably see not too much of it. A pity that you will see nothing of Frankfurt am Main. Particulary the central part is very nice with lots of historical buildings. But, it was your choice…
And when it comes to the keyboard: The only real major difference is that y and z are exchanged. And you should know that it is worse for a German to write on an english keyboard than for an American to write on a german one. Because you do not have ä, ü and ö on your keyboards (although everyone knows that those letters belong to any REAL language…). -
I will be in Germany for about three days. I know it’s not long, but I’ll have a good reason to come back! I’ve been to Berlin and Munich, so this time I wanted to experience a small town. After Budapest and Prague, I just want to be out in the countryside and get some fresh air. We’ll see if that hotel you e-mailed for me has my reservation!
P.S. It’s not just the Z and Y, but most of the punctuation symbols that are changed on this keyboard. ARRGGGHHH!!!!!
P.P.S. I’m glad you taught me the word for cheese! It saved me last night from eating something that could have made me sick. Who would have thought those extensive German lessons would pay off so quickly?
-
Mario Says:
June 18th, 2008 at 2:38 pmHey, glad everything went well with your tooth..it seems as you are having a good time! London is just the same, really crappy weather which to me doesen’t really matter, well at least until I finish my exams on the 27th, then I am going to demand some sun!
Greeting to real Europe..m
-
Greig Says:
June 18th, 2008 at 10:43 pmä, ü and ö belong to any real language, yup, they’ve seen some travels, makes telephone directories and dictionaries easier to use.
:o))
