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Well, we had some good laughs over the things that auto correct put in the last blog, so lesson learned...don't post before you proof read.

Monday 13- I reserved this day for getting all the paper work(on computer) done for my flight tomorrow. As usual, there was much frustration and ranting before the job was accomplished, but it did get done. When you find all the seemingly hidden solutions, and jump through all the right hoops, you are finally ready to go ahead, you hope. To relax, I took the dog for a walk. In the afternoon, I did what I call my 'trial' pack and everything fit in and was within weight limit- 21.4 kg (allowed 22)

Tedy chose our goodbye meal of cheese fondue (not something I would have thought of, but can't go wrong with melted cheese) They each had a turn of playing their game of choice with me in the evening.

Charlie, with his Grampie Downey, actually made the Aggravation board. It's similar to the bought game but you use a deck of cards, with jokers, to determine your moves. (This happens to be a picture of the board they made me after they taught me to play it several years ago)

Tuesday 14- This happens to be a humorous story, although Karen might not agree. The whole time I've been in France/Italy I've had to add 5 hours to my watch time because my fitbit won't sync with my tablet anymore. So Tuesday morning when I woke I did the math and since it was 7:15 I dressed and woke her because we were leaving for the airport around 7:45. While she was in the bathroom, I looked again and, oh, no, it was actually only 6:30 now. I apologized and she went back to bed for another 45 minutes. I wondered when I got up why the kids weren't awake because they are usually already on screens by 7 and she had set her alarm for 7:15.

At the proper time we hit the road. It was the first day I'd seen morning traffic, and it is not a pretty sight. 2 lanes become 3 as people are trying to make their way around the round-abouts and everyone is in a mad dash as usual. I tell her she has nerves of steel to make her way through the mess and keep up with their speed.

She got me safely there in the required time, and after I checked in we even had time for coffee.

We were told there was a 20 minute delay on the plane's arrival, but she had to get back for work, so I reluctantly said my goodbyes about 9. I made my way through security and after I gathered myself together again I headed for my gate. Turned out we were about half an hour late getting away. I wasn't at all concerned this time as I was headed for a 5 hour layover, so no panic about making my next flight. During that time a lady approached me speaking French, but when I apologized she switched to English and changed her tablet to English as well. She was doing a survey for the airport and I had nothing to do but wait so why not. No personal info, just where I'd been, why, how long, how did I get to the airport, and rate the airport 1-10. Nothing exceptional, no great expectations, nothing lacking so I said 10. I was really surprised as she went along the line no one else would participate. She's just trying to do her job.

  I took last views as we headed down the gangway.

And many more shots as we took off, capturing all the things I could recognize now from my exploring.

It was such a clear day I could see land the whole time we were up there and I wished I had a good aerial map so I could tell where we were. I was in seat 21D which was aisle, but no one came in my row so I moved to the window.

Frankfurt is a huge airport. There are sections from A to E and Z in 2 terminals. 

Fortunately, I found a worker to ask about my flight because it wasn't yet posted on the board. He told me it would be in section B, so I at least knew where to head. Since I'd come in at A ( but on a different level), it wasn't too far away. I had to go through passport check and then I could look for a departure board and wait for my gate to be posted. I found a takeout stand and got a chicken panini, 

which was tasty. I sat and ate and read till about 3:30. My gate was posted so I headed for B22 to wait out the rest of my time. 

The waiting area began to fill up and then they announced the plane was late. Then they announced a couple of times that they were still cleaning it. We were supposed to leave at 5:25 p.m. but we only started boarding at 5:53. I finally got to my seat, 32A. Most of the talking I heard was German so I asked the young man beside me if he were German or Canadian(since we were flying Frankfurt to Halifax). He said, "I'm actually Italian". I learned that he had taken his grade 12 in Dartmouth 7 years ago and he was going back to see his family and attend his sister's graduation. He has completed 6 years of medical school in Italy.  I asked if he would practice in NS as we need doctors. He said he had exams when he goes back and then he's planning to specialize, possibly throat oncology. He also has his pilot license for a 2 seater plane. He slept a lot and studied, and move around a lot. He seemed very uncomfortable. 

It was about 7 1/2 hour flight. I watched 2 movies and read my book. Things in Economy class certainly have become bare bones. We had one small panini served shortly after we took off. 

Served with a small glass of something cold-water, juice, pop (wines etc. are paid drinks) Then near the end of the trip there was a package with two crackers

and cold drinks or tea or coffee.

We arrived about 8:45 p.m. which was 1:45 a.m. in my body. There was passport check in, claim baggage, then through the door to the waiting public. There was Kelley waiting for me. It was pouring rain outside and miserable weather all the way home. We got home by 11:30 p.m., I think, and I immediately fell into bed. 

Wednesday 15- I was awake by 5:30 a.m. and made good use of the morning with laundry, ingredients in the breadmaker, a long bath, hung clothes out, then walked to get my hair cut.

Gradually I will return to reality, but hopefully the memories will live on. 

Thanks for journeying with me. 

🌍 🚉 🚎 ✈