Europe 2012 Day 3 (a travel day) from Izmir to Frankfurt

Sunday....
I slept til noon today.  Ooopsie...this means I slept through my free breakfast.  Looks like Ritchie will have to pay for one of  my meals today.  Thank goodness he is a cool boss.  Hey, stop looking at me like that.  Remember Turkey is 7 hours ahead of the US...so technically, I drug my butt out of bed at 5 a.m. on Sunday....when was the last time that happened (I think -never!).

The flight from Izmir to Munich was quite uneventful.  When I arrived in Munich I had to clear customs, as Turkey is not part of the EU.  The customs officer asked where I was headed; I replied, “Frankfurt.”  He asked, “that is not your final destination?” (yes, they talk like Yoda here!)  I was confused but told him honestly, “For tonight any way.”   The flight from Munich to Frankfurt was also uneventful.  I arrived in Munich and waited with anxiety to see if my bag would arrive.  I saw a red bag on the carrosel and was excited until I saw another woman grab it and leave.  Shortly thereafter, another red bag showed up on the carrousel….then the carrousel stopped.  I walked over and YES! it was my bag.   I took it and exited the airport.  I walked a long way looking for the airport shuttle.  There were no signs.  I finally found information and they directed me back to where I had come.  Finally I went outside and found the signs – only within a door or two of the area where the shuttle to my hotel was parked.

I boarded the shuttle and they crammed on as many people as possible.  On my flight from Munich to Frankfurt, which had been delayed due to weather, they had announced three flights that were cancelled for that evening.  And, as my luck would have it, my hotel was one of the ones that the airline used to book many passengers for the evening. While on the jam packed bus, I noticed a boy in jeans and yellow boxers.  I couldn’t help but notice him because he was pressed right up against me with his butt hanging out of his boxers.  I was a bit grossed out (to say the least) and happy when he finally decided to pull up his pants.  And, I realized at that moment, I was old.  I totally don’t get the “fashion statement” of letting one’s pants be large enough that they will fall all the way off your butt.  Why wear them at all???  I just don’t see the appeal.  Of course, I never saw the appeal of the Mohawk, certain piercings or tattoos, either.   Perhaps I’ve been old for a very long time.

Lucky for me, I was at the door that opened to the hotel and I was one of the first people to be able to check into hotel Spartan (as I've so cleverly dubbed it).   The elevator had me terrified.  It was barely large enough for me and my bag.   That was enough to set off my claustrophobic tendencies.  But then, it shook as it ascended to my floor.  By the time the doors opened, I was a bit unnerved.  My room was clean and the bed was comfortable.  It was simple and sparse on decoration.  And, it had the world’s smallest shower!  I was too tired to take a picture but since I've booked it again for later in my trip, perhaps I'll grace you with one...if you ask nicely.  Any way, this is what I get for booking outside my work’s “preferred hotel” list.  But the convenience to the airport couldn’t be over looked. 

I slept horribly but I guess my body still thinks it is in Baltmore...missing my bed, that stupid little dog, my poor daughter who has had "I can't belive 2 catastrophes since you let.  Why does every thing have to go wrong when you leave?" and my friends.  Wish you were all here (well, except for the melodramatic kid.  she hates country's where they can't have English TV so she can fall to sleep to it.)