From Europe to Africa in America - A Sisters' Expedition

[Flossbolna]

Quite a travel day (and education on Germany airports)! I am loving the writing style.

Thanks for the compliment on the writing style - even if you had to suffer through a history of German airports. But I can assure you that there are a number of interesting airports here that I haven't touch upon yet (and I promise I won't! )

I know you will get to it in the report so I will wait but I would really like to know "lots" about the flight (how many hours were you on the plane for each section of the trip over and back, how many plane changes, etc.) Thank you both for taking the time to share with all of us.

I have actually written the part about the flight already, Katharina should be working on that soon. So perhaps she can add some more details if she feels that I left out too much. But I think it is quite extensive! But for some reason we did not take any pictures of the inside of the plane or of us on the plane...

Hurray!! You are on your way - what a rough night you both had trying to sleep. Hopefully you catch some zzzz's on the plane ride.

I think we did, but to be honest, the jet lag makes your system all wrong anyway, so the missing sleep is the smallest concern!

It was so interesting to learn about the history of the airports!

I'll be flying into TXL, it was interesting to learn about the history!

Will you be arriving directly from the States or will you be connecting somewhere? At least you will now be able to tell anyone who mocks the metropolis of Berlin for having an airport fit in size for a small town why this is and that improvement will be on its way!

I have a friend coming to visit in April and I think we will do quite a bit of typical sightseeing. I think this might be a good occassion to make a Berlin mini TR inside the TR. I did this for Nuremberg on the PTR, but never got around to do it for Berlin. I think you would enjoy that?

Joining in! I read some of your PTR in it's earlier days and somehow fell off. Sorry about that! Really interesting airport history. So sorry that neither of you were well rested, it's hard to sleep before a big trip (or a little one!) and snoring husbands do not help.

Looking forward to more!

Hi Cynthia, great to have you here! I have started to read your PTR several times, but it is really difficult to jump into these once they are many pages long! But I should go over there and post so that I am finally subscribed to it!

 

[mebbradley]

Oh yes! A mini-TR would be fabulous! I can't wait to hear about it!

I will be connecting in London. I will be able to tell them about this!

 

[swwake]

HI! I think I found your TR from one of the AKL threads. I wanted to let you know that I'm subscribing and will be reading along! Very excited to hear your experience, since we will be staying at AKL in September!

 

[John's Mom]

Hi Kathy, welcome! We have not been moving very fast here, so you are welcome anytime to join in even on page 4! Thanks for the compliment on the haircut! I got it cut just before Christmas and really like it short. But it also helps that I lost quite a few pounds since last year...

Congrats on the weight loss! You and Katharina both look great in the AK picture.

 

[eandesmom]

Hi Cynthia, great to have you here! I have started to read your PTR several times, but it is really difficult to jump into these once they are many pages long! But I should go over there and post so that I am finally subscribed to it!

Oh gosh don't worry about the old stuff, there are links if you are bored one day but jump right in, I'd love to have you along

And I tend to repeat myself

I know the feeling though. Jordan and Anita's scared me for a very long time! And I confess to not having read all the back stuff for everyone...everywhere....

It's weird though as I know I was tracking your PTR a while back as I loved the Germany connection, and then I'm thinking maybe there was a lull in posting and in an effort to cull my huge list down I unsubscribed? Most uncool of me.

 

[wendypooh]

Hey Magdalene and Katharina -

I'm a little late joining in.......... but, what a great start - I'm loving all the pics and history lesson!!! Looking forward to hearing more!!!

 

[miprender]

Followed your over from the AKL Lite thread... we are heading to AKL in one month and can't wait.

We have a company in Berlin too. Actually my former company owned the German company and then they both closed and reopened but now the Berlin company owns us

But cant wait to read more. Hopefully you took many pics of AKL

 

[Flossbolna]

Oh yes! A mini-TR would be fabulous! I can't wait to hear about it!

I will be connecting in London. I will be able to tell them about this!

I will try my best with the mini TR!

HI! I think I found your TR from one of the AKL threads. I wanted to let you know that I'm subscribing and will be reading along! Very excited to hear your experience, since we will be staying at AKL in September!

Hi and I was lurking on oyur last PTR and was so sad that your TR never got finished!! But I see that you have a new PTR, so I will get over there to check it out!

Congrats on the weight loss! You and Katharina both look great in the AK picture.

Thanks!

Oh gosh don't worry about the old stuff, there are links if you are bored one day but jump right in, I'd love to have you along

And I tend to repeat myself

I know the feeling though. Jordan and Anita's scared me for a very long time! And I confess to not having read all the back stuff for everyone...everywhere....

It's weird though as I know I was tracking your PTR a while back as I loved the Germany connection, and then I'm thinking maybe there was a lull in posting and in an effort to cull my huge list down I unsubscribed? Most uncool of me.

There most definitely were lulls in posting at some times... And I have done that, too with other people's reports. The amin thing is that you are back! And I managed to get subscribed to your PTR now and will follow along there! I love the picture of your family on your first page!

Hey Magdalene and Katharina -

I'm a little late joining in.......... but, what a great start - I'm loving all the pics and history lesson!!! Looking forward to hearing more!!!

Hi Wendy, great to have you along and

Followed your over from the AKL Lite thread... we are heading to AKL in one month and can't wait.

We have a company in Berlin too. Actually my former company owned the German company and then they both closed and reopened but now the Berlin company owns us

But cant wait to read more. Hopefully you took many pics of AKL

That's funny about your company! AKL is really wonderful, I can understand that you are excited to stay there and one month isn't that far away! We took many AKL pictures, so you can look forward to them!

 

[All7OfUs]

So, then, stupid ??:

Was it that Berlin was divided that it never developed as an important travel hub?? Or was Frankfurt just more central? Or??

 

[johnsonet]

Hi Flossbalna

I'm enjoying your report and I LOVE your photos. The castle at EuroDisney looks amazing! It's up on a hill?
Also, you have me thinking I should skip a Disney trip or two and take my daughter to England to see the cliffs of Cornwall

 

[Flossbolna]

So, then, stupid ??:

Was it that Berlin was divided that it never developed as an important travel hub?? Or was Frankfurt just more central? Or??

It is mainly for historical reasons: Flying to Berlin over Eastern Germany was only allowed in three designated corridors and only by allied aircraft. West Berlin was never really a part of West Germany but was an occupied zone until October 3, 1990. So Lufthansa wasn't allowed to fly to Berlin until 1990.

But also today Berlin is very much in the North-Easter corner of Germany sourrounded by empty country-side while areas in the West and South are much more densely populated.

Hi Flossbalna

I'm enjoying your report and I LOVE your photos. The castle at EuroDisney looks amazing! It's up on a hill?
Also, you have me thinking I should skip a Disney trip or two and take my daughter to England to see the cliffs of Cornwall

Hi and The hill you see is one side of the castle, so it is kind of built into the hill.

And Cornwall is absolutely worth a trip! There is a lot to see and do besides the cliffs: Old mines, nice beaches, castles, gardens, tea rooms with Cornish Cream Tea...

 

[Flossbolna]

Good news: the photopass CD has arrived! And I did not have to go and pick it up at the post office, they did not charge any custom duty for it!! (Which might be due to the fact that Disney checked the box: "gift" on the envelope...)

However, I must add that I am still not a fan of their product... My pics seem to be split up between the two CDs in a strange way, not chronological at all...

 

[swwake]

Hooray for the Photopass! and no Customs! Boo for the format of the CDs.

I don't remember how ours were formatted. I will have to go back and look as I am finishing our 08 TR.

Can't wait to see your pics!

 

[All7OfUs]

That makes sense on the airport development.

FUN that you finally got your PP CD! Hooray!! Extra nice that you didnt' have to pay custom' fees on it!

I wonder why they would put it all unordered like that? What a pain to try and use that way!

 

[TillyMarigold]

I'm so glad to see your TR! I can't wait to hear all about AKL, we're staying there in May! (Guess I should finish my dining report from last fall, then.)

 

[Donald is #1]

Great report! I can't wait to read more.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Yeah for getting your photopass CD! I'm not 100% in love with Photopass either. We got a few good pictures from the last trip but it's very expensive - as you know, and having to pay customs too? I'm not sure what we'll do next month?

I really look forward to more!

Heather

 

[Flossbolna]

Hooray for the Photopass! and no Customs! Boo for the format of the CDs.

I don't remember how ours were formatted. I will have to go back and look as I am finishing our 08 TR.

Can't wait to see your pics!

Katharina and I just looked at the pictures together and there are some pretty funny ones. But I have been also told that a few pictures I am not allowed to post...

That makes sense on the airport development.

FUN that you finally got your PP CD! Hooray!! Extra nice that you didnt' have to pay custom' fees on it!

I wonder why they would put it all unordered like that? What a pain to try and use that way!

I have no idea why this is so chaotic? But then Disney and technology sometimes does not go together very well, just think of their website.

I'm so glad to see your TR! I can't wait to hear all about AKL, we're staying there in May! (Guess I should finish my dining report from last fall, then.)

Hi and to our TR! AKL was wonderful, I hope I will soon get to the point of arriving there! And I still need to thank you for your recommendation of the Wild by Design Tour, we did that on our second day in the parks.

Great report! I can't wait to read more.

Hi Donald, wonderful to have you along!

Yeah for getting your photopass CD! I'm not 100% in love with Photopass either. We got a few good pictures from the last trip but it's very expensive - as you know, and having to pay customs too? I'm not sure what we'll do next month?

I really look forward to more!

Heather

I debated a lot beforehand about getting the CD, but then we did get a 50 $ discount on it and I knew that this was a trip where I really wanted to have memories off.

 

[Flossbolna]

still January 27, 2010

We were scheduled to leave at TXL at 9:15am, arrive at Frankfurt at 10:30am, and then leave there at 2:15pm and arrive at Orlando at 6:50pm (local time, which was 12:50am the next day for us).

At TXL there isn't a central check-in area, you actually go to your gate and check in there. Security screening is then done just before you enter the waiting area at your gate (normally two gates share one security check and waiting area). So off we went to our gate and found out that check-in hadn't opened yet, even though it was less than two hours before our departure already. Our plan was to arrive at the airport early, check in and then get something to drink and eat. None of us had had breakfast before leaving at home...

As you might guess, our plan did not work out that brilliantly. The earlier flight from Berlin to Frankfurt had been cancelled and they had huge troubles rebooking the people who were booked on that flight. We got in line at 7:30am and there were 10 people in front of us. They had two agents working the economy line and you won't believe it, but it took us over 1 hours to get to an agent!!

There were constantly phones ringing and everyone in front of us took ages to get checked in... Just when it was our time to go to an agent, this guy just walked up to her asking a questions and then refused to join the line. The agent was arguing with him and he just wouldn't leave. So in the end she must have decided that she was just wasting time with him and checked him in which again was complicated... Meanwhile the other economy class agent was dealing with a group of five men which seemed to cause an awful lot of trouble. I think they were with here for over 20 minutes or so. And Katharina and I were just getting hungrier and more in need of caffeine. We ended up being rather grumpy. But we were really happy that we had arrived so early, so at least we were never afraid of not getting on our flight!

When we finally made it to the agent we were confident that at least we would be dealt with in a few minutes... Well, that did not happen!! The agent scanned our passports and then asked for our tickets. Well, we did not have any paper tickets, we were supposed to have etickets. It turned out that the system claimed that we should have paper tickets. After some trouble she managed to get our ticket numbers from the confirmation that I had printed out and we were set at least for the first leg of our journey. We were also checked in for the second leg, but needed to check with the gate in Frankfurt since on those boarding passes she could not change them to eticket boarding passes... In the end, we took ten minutes to be checked in as well!! I felt so sorry for the long long line of people behind us.

Since we were getting close to our boarding time by then we did not go to the Starbucks in the public area of the airport but rather hoped to find something in the gate waiting area and went through security. Luckily we managed to find a little stand that sold coffee and pastries:

We shared a croissant and some fruit salad:

And then we waited... Once again. Our plane was late in arriving from Frankfurt and therefore we took off with about 30 minutes delay, but we ended up arriving more or less on time since the flight was only 45 minutes. It wasn't a full plane so we had all three seats in the row for us. Very nice!

In Frankfurt we had plenty of time, four hours, until our next plane would leave. Nodnol got a postcard to send to Remy and after some difficulty we found the post office where she could buy stamps. It was one of the check-in desks, who would have expected that?
Actually I had brought stamps with me, but needed a letter box to post it. As letter boxes are not indicated on any of the plans, I thought it would be easiest to look for a post office.

And we had some lunch, I had a slice of pizza, nodnol had some salad and we shared a strange blood orange soda:

My pizza was very nice, just too large. I was a bit annoyed about that, because for some strange reason they sold the slice of pizza by weight, so I had paid for every ounce of my pizza... Katharina's salad was just ok. And we can't recommend the soda, it tasted very artificial.

When we left the restaurant, the guy who had jumped the line at the Berlin check in counter was sitting there and it was a rather strange place to sit and wait, kind of between the terminal and the train station... We were wondering whether we would meet him again on our MCO flight.

We then started to walk to our gate. We were in terminal C which is newly renovated for the new Airbus 380. It is a really nice terminal, but a far way from the central area. We walked along a corridor and then around a corner and then around another corner all the time following the signs to terminal C, we then ended up very close to where we were before, walked along some more corridors, went through passport control, and walked along some more corridors and then got to a virtually empty security check area. I went through first and immediately after the normal security check there was another checkpoint where they scanned our passport again. These were some American security people, not German police. They looked rather stern and so once I was through security, I went to this next checkpoint. Katharina wasn't that pleased that I did not wait for her, but I felt like they really did not want me to linger between these two checkpoints.

We browsed the duty free shop for a bit and bought some very expensive water bottles and made it to the gate waiting area. There we had to get new boarding passes due to the eticket problem we had in Berlin. We went to our gate agent quite a bit before our boarding time and she thanked us for not coming at the last minute. And she was excited when she saw that Katharina had ordered a lactose free meal. Magdalene ordered it for me, I would have never thought of that! She didn't know that that was an option and she can't eat lactose either. And then we waited and waited. While we waited we saw German police randomly picking people for further checking. It looked a bit scary how there were these two policemen leading people away from the waiting area. And at first it looked they always came back without the people they took away. But then we realized that the people were coming back, just a few minutes after the policemen came back.

Here you can see our plane:

You can see that there are two bridges leading towards the plane and then there is another bridge behind it, this is for our gate as well, but would lead to the upper level of the Airbus 380. Here is another view of one of the new A380 gates where you can see the different levels:

Next: Chapter 3: The Fun of Travelling Part 3

 

[Flossbolna]

I thought, I 'd post a picture here as well of the apple strudel I baked tonight:

There was a lot of discussion about this typical Southern German/Austrian pastry on Glennbo's PTR going on and I posted a recipe which can be found here, but nodnol than nagged at me to bake a strudel for her and the report about this can be found here. In case anyone wants to know more about it.