Frankfurt layover

We were glad to get off of the plane in Frankfurt - but since it was like waking kids up at one in the morning to start a new day... it was no easy task. We were hurried off the airplane by the none-too-polite flight staff and stuffed into an already full shuttle where the rest of the entire passenger list from the flight waited impatiently for us to get kids awake, manage our luggage and rush down two flights of metal stairs. (In my case, while carrying a damp boy rolled in his sleeping bag while Bethie and the girls managed all of our carryons.) Once inside we found a bathroom, that smelled none too pretty, and took care of importants stuff, including new clothes for the little guy. Then it was off to find the shuttle to the hotel. I had had two previous layovers in Frankfurt so I mostly knew where to go once I was oriented. It was such a relief to be able to say - I know where to go, follow me!

The shuttle was waiting and we hopped in and headed for the hotel. The hotel was the same one I used on my first trip to North Africa and I was familiar with the layout and had all the right questions to ask.

People seemed freindlier (perhaps because my kids are so cute) and they informed us that even though it wasn't lunch or breakfast, they would be happy to serve us something in the restaurant lounge if we wanted. We found our rooms and headed back down for a bite to eat. They seated us on a big comfy couch in front of a large plasma screen TV that was mumbling German at us (German sports, German news, German commercials ("Kids, cover your eyes until I say it is ok to look!")


and shortly a waiter came out with a lovely selection of... well I think he referred to it as breakfast. There were dinner/lunch rolls, meat and cheeses, and a plate of croissants and sweet rolls plus jams and honey and Nutella. They also brought coffee (for the grown-ups) and milk on request. They entertained us by droppiing a lot of breakable things and making a loud crashing noise which caused Steven to shout, "What broke!?" To which the waiter replied, "EVERYTHING!!!"



We were hungry and ate well, then headed for bed. Nice, clean, soft, comfy beds!



They didn't have any air conditioning, and we needed air, after a long flight of recirculated air... and Bethie was truely inventive the way she arranged the drapes to let in a maximum of air and minimum of light while we rested. She shared one room with Gilly and I shared the other room with Steven and Abby.




After a fairly good sleep and a rush back to the airport (so we wouldn't be rushed for time, of course) we had some time to kill. First we got Hagen Daas! (Yes, there is a law that you have to get Hagen Daas in the Frankfurt airport!) and while the kids ate, Beth and I took turns popping into the duty free shops to get things we needed and just have a look around.

There were money bins throughout the shopping area where people were encouraged to donate their unconverted change before they left the country. The kids were fascinated with all the different kinds of money.






We found our gate and settled in to wait (ooh a poet, who don't know it!) Here are some fun pictures we took while waiting:


Steven was enamored with our travel clock, kept checking it and announcing either, "Mom it's time to go!" or "Mom, we are late!"


Steven also invented a space ship out of the HVAC unit in the waiting area
















Gillian wanted to play cards with Mom, but I was a bit too spacey to really play very well...


and after a bit she complained because I stopped playing altogether. Seems I could only stare a few feet ahead of me... guess I needed more rest.








Abigail was given permission to use Beth's camera (Beth took most of these pictures by the way (except the few that Abby took) - it was a releif to have a committed shutterbug with me - I was SO not interested in taking pictures- just surviving!)