This is the time that I did NOT have to dig the car out

Pre Christmas Frankfurt

Tue 30 Nov 2010
Dropping into the cold grey's of Germany after the colour and heat of India is true experience culture shock. The smells, bustle and crowds are replaced with the falling snow and very organised Germany.

First up was the experience of flying in. Gorged on Indian food before departure, I crowded onto the Luftstansa 747 expecting to settle the stomach with something bland like sausage and egg for the early morning (4.30am) in flight breakfast.

I was wrong, and my stomach, having enjoyed so much spice in 3 days was now at breaking point. Unwelcome they were, hunger still demanded that I downed the curry puffs (for breakfast?) on the German airline!

By the timed the plane skidded to a halt on the frosty Frankfurt runway, I had a full blown headache and a stomach swirling with richness and wanted something bland bland bland.

The fix was some hours away. A left over bag shut the arrivals hall as a "bomb scare"... and hundreds crammed the in bound corridor waiting 45 minutes to get to the bag collection.

The bewildering busy place that FRA is, finding transport out was not easy. I had planned a big road trip, so tracked on auto pilot with a pounding head only to find a shortage of cars and thus bundled into a EU 170 per day Smart Car from Sixt. This was a RIP OFF that I was caught unawares because of my predicament.

From here, my experience of Europe climbed ... mostly ... the indian hangover had a little legs left in it.

Into Frankfurt City among the falling snow and basic directions, I found some shops for bread and paracetamol. This was the first experience of just how cheap Germany is. The no-name paracetamol was less than EU 2! The same product in Australia would have been over AU $5 I am sure.

The joy of the receding headache, the fun Smart car at the curb was cause for celebration. Into the next door supermarket with snow falling. I scooped up some cheese, ham, fruit juice, chocolate, all of which came to less than EU10. In Aussie, such a random grab would have been AU$20 plus, particularly as it was all "select" and sliced.

The fun continued.

I was soon in the company of my friend Catherine, a local to Frankfurt from the UK for some years. After settling in we were soon in the centre of town with the night falling. The centre square is converted each Christmas to a Christmas market. Its beautiful. The cold temps are lost as you meander among various craft shops, christmas decorations aplenty, food stalls serving traditional sausages and crepes. Several stalls also had the trademark Gluehwein... scoop up a mug and start drinking... if there is a chill in your toes, it soon recedes as the higher alcohol levels and spices seep to the extremities. Tip in the second cup and the world becomes beautiful.

I am now set for the rest of my European drive loop. 3200km here I come.

Adina Apartment Hotels competition
Adina Apartment Hotels are celebrating their recent evolution by giving away a trip for 2 to Germany. The prize includes return economy flights and 7 nights accommodation in Berlin and Frankfurt. To enter visit the Adina Apartment Hotels competition page.

For Frankfurt Accommodation check out Adina.