The Two Germans
Destination had been set by default. Because I had a bike, and Casey needed a bike, he had sent for one from home. Luckilly, his uncle would be flying into Frankfurt on military duty. And because Germany was right next door, we made a trip out of going to pick up the bike. I had heard that Frankfurt was nothing but a banking sector and there wasn't much to see. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Of all the European cities I've seen, I would rank Frankfurt among the most beautiful. Granted, this could be derived from the amount of westernization that has taken place their due to the financial wealth. I certainly felt more at home in Frankfurt than the Czech Republic. And as a side note, the Germans win my own personal award for the MVP of Europe. The people have been the nicest, the country is the most well kept and I have yet to have a serious problem with theft in the country.
In talking with the Heid family (Danny, Andrea and Conner) we figured it would be fun to take them along for a wekend of fun and games. So we opted out of the train ride, and hence reduced our risk of getting robbed, and rented a small mini van. So mini, in fact, that we would have trouble fitting 5 people + two bikes and additional luggage. We landed a marriott hotel through the family connection and we were set for a nice weekend.
Thursday night, the night before we would depart, Casey and I made the trip out the airport where we would rent the car. We made a trip out of it and went to a late movie at the Andel station, which we had to do after renting the car because of the rental agency limited hours, even at the airport, which ironically enough would charge us an airport convenienc fee? Nothing compares to primitive customer service. So we were to find a metro stop in a car, a dask that we would be up to. Given that Casey and I have navigated through Prague, not an easy job, a couple of times, we were able to drive right to it. Parking was another issue, though. Eventually we found a spot and when we entered the theatre, the first thing we asked was "when will the parking structure close?" The response was not in english, but the gesture of waving the hands like missed field goal seemed to indicate to both of us that we would be ok. We saw Casanova with Heith Ledger...and yes, two guys going to see Casanova did feel a little wierd, given our sexual orientation, but we managed. We tried to talk about hot girls the whole time. And luckily, the movie was filled with hotties.
We were now in a hurry to get home and to bed. Of course, the parking garage was sealed off from every possible entrance. We walked all the way around the outside of the mall, panicking that we would be camping on a bench in the freezing weather for another 7 hours until it opened. Finally, we found an exit ramp and ran for it. We made it into the garage and hunted down the car. We managed to escape through the same exit ramp and made it back to Celakovice.
Early the next morning we began the trip by first stopping with the rest of the class, who took the bus, at a Czech glass company. It took us about 3 hours, 1 to get there, and another two to find the place in the middle of nowhere. The one thing I have learned is that if you pretend like you know what your doing, often times Americans are allowed to do things seem above the norm. We must have seemed like we owned the place because the gate keeper let us right into the plant and we drove all around it...which I'm doubting even the executives of this company can do. I doubt anyone has driven in the parts of the plant that we did....and it was a blast. We met up with the class and hit the tour of the plant. We were given free beer glasses at the end (not to be confused with beer goggles) and we were off to Frankfurt. The only stop was McDonalds, and by 10pm we had found Frankfurt and a little drama later, we found the hotel. Scratch that, we did have one more stop. We passed a large western looking mall and saw the name "Latinas" and a word that appeared to read "restaurant". We thought we had for sure found our first Mexican restaurant in Europe...alas...it was Italian. I can only admit to having been the excited a few times in my life. And perhaps never that dissapointed.
The next day was all about the bike...as Lance might say. We met Casey's uncle at the airport, and headed straight to the Rhine River where the Heids dropped us in the car and headed to Heidleberg. We planned, without knowing anything about the local geography, that we would meet at a the Knights Hotel in Heidleberg...the hotel on the only pamphlet we had. The Rhine ride was spectacular...worth every penny of my new Italian Viner (the bike). We followed the river until we saw the signs of a setting sun. Luckily, just then a couple of Germans passed us at a water stop. We chased them down and asked which way to Frankfurt. Uly and Tossin told us to follow them...uh...follow German cyclists? We were about to get killed. As it turned out, we held our own and we all helped each other with what turned into a 70-80kilometer ride back to Frankfurt. I can count on one hand how many rides I've done that have been so spectacular. We rode in and out small german villages and back around to the Center of Frankfurt. It was great getting to know our two German friends.
By the time we got to the center of Frankfurt, we stumbled accross the metro station and decided to hop a metro out to the hotel, which took some brain power to find. That combined with the two spandex clad men (one 6'8'' and the other almost a foot shorter) both pulling bikes through the station created a pretty funny picture that turned many a german head.
But we made it back and I immeadiately hit the hot tub and completed an incredible day of much anticipated riding.
The next morning, I would venture off alone through the suburbs of Frankfut to the Maine River. Twice I got lost and twice I had germans help me find my way in perfect english...it was amazing. They are seriously great! The ride was uneventful, gorgeous and cold. I got back to the hotel, showered and we all hit the road. First stop, church at the English speaking branch. Second, Frankfurt temple in Friedrichsdorf and finally the Frieberg temple outside of Dresden. We didn't even come close to arriving on time to turn in the car, so we had to keep it an extra day.
It was a great trip, and I think I'm still trying to recover from the biking. Two three hour rides, Two germans and two temples...not bad at all...
In talking with the Heid family (Danny, Andrea and Conner) we figured it would be fun to take them along for a wekend of fun and games. So we opted out of the train ride, and hence reduced our risk of getting robbed, and rented a small mini van. So mini, in fact, that we would have trouble fitting 5 people + two bikes and additional luggage. We landed a marriott hotel through the family connection and we were set for a nice weekend.
Thursday night, the night before we would depart, Casey and I made the trip out the airport where we would rent the car. We made a trip out of it and went to a late movie at the Andel station, which we had to do after renting the car because of the rental agency limited hours, even at the airport, which ironically enough would charge us an airport convenienc fee? Nothing compares to primitive customer service. So we were to find a metro stop in a car, a dask that we would be up to. Given that Casey and I have navigated through Prague, not an easy job, a couple of times, we were able to drive right to it. Parking was another issue, though. Eventually we found a spot and when we entered the theatre, the first thing we asked was "when will the parking structure close?" The response was not in english, but the gesture of waving the hands like missed field goal seemed to indicate to both of us that we would be ok. We saw Casanova with Heith Ledger...and yes, two guys going to see Casanova did feel a little wierd, given our sexual orientation, but we managed. We tried to talk about hot girls the whole time. And luckily, the movie was filled with hotties.
We were now in a hurry to get home and to bed. Of course, the parking garage was sealed off from every possible entrance. We walked all the way around the outside of the mall, panicking that we would be camping on a bench in the freezing weather for another 7 hours until it opened. Finally, we found an exit ramp and ran for it. We made it into the garage and hunted down the car. We managed to escape through the same exit ramp and made it back to Celakovice.
Early the next morning we began the trip by first stopping with the rest of the class, who took the bus, at a Czech glass company. It took us about 3 hours, 1 to get there, and another two to find the place in the middle of nowhere. The one thing I have learned is that if you pretend like you know what your doing, often times Americans are allowed to do things seem above the norm. We must have seemed like we owned the place because the gate keeper let us right into the plant and we drove all around it...which I'm doubting even the executives of this company can do. I doubt anyone has driven in the parts of the plant that we did....and it was a blast. We met up with the class and hit the tour of the plant. We were given free beer glasses at the end (not to be confused with beer goggles) and we were off to Frankfurt. The only stop was McDonalds, and by 10pm we had found Frankfurt and a little drama later, we found the hotel. Scratch that, we did have one more stop. We passed a large western looking mall and saw the name "Latinas" and a word that appeared to read "restaurant". We thought we had for sure found our first Mexican restaurant in Europe...alas...it was Italian. I can only admit to having been the excited a few times in my life. And perhaps never that dissapointed.
The next day was all about the bike...as Lance might say. We met Casey's uncle at the airport, and headed straight to the Rhine River where the Heids dropped us in the car and headed to Heidleberg. We planned, without knowing anything about the local geography, that we would meet at a the Knights Hotel in Heidleberg...the hotel on the only pamphlet we had. The Rhine ride was spectacular...worth every penny of my new Italian Viner (the bike). We followed the river until we saw the signs of a setting sun. Luckily, just then a couple of Germans passed us at a water stop. We chased them down and asked which way to Frankfurt. Uly and Tossin told us to follow them...uh...follow German cyclists? We were about to get killed. As it turned out, we held our own and we all helped each other with what turned into a 70-80kilometer ride back to Frankfurt. I can count on one hand how many rides I've done that have been so spectacular. We rode in and out small german villages and back around to the Center of Frankfurt. It was great getting to know our two German friends.
By the time we got to the center of Frankfurt, we stumbled accross the metro station and decided to hop a metro out to the hotel, which took some brain power to find. That combined with the two spandex clad men (one 6'8'' and the other almost a foot shorter) both pulling bikes through the station created a pretty funny picture that turned many a german head.
But we made it back and I immeadiately hit the hot tub and completed an incredible day of much anticipated riding.
The next morning, I would venture off alone through the suburbs of Frankfut to the Maine River. Twice I got lost and twice I had germans help me find my way in perfect english...it was amazing. They are seriously great! The ride was uneventful, gorgeous and cold. I got back to the hotel, showered and we all hit the road. First stop, church at the English speaking branch. Second, Frankfurt temple in Friedrichsdorf and finally the Frieberg temple outside of Dresden. We didn't even come close to arriving on time to turn in the car, so we had to keep it an extra day.
It was a great trip, and I think I'm still trying to recover from the biking. Two three hour rides, Two germans and two temples...not bad at all...
posted by gjacob at 11:25 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home