ldsant
Jul 24, 05, 2:45 pm
After my trip to Paris, it was now time to move onto Frankfurt to work with the Germany team for the software implementation. I arrived at the CDG airport from a combination of taxi/Air France bus for the early morning departure. After finding the LH counter, I checked in for my flight. Was in economy for the short flight. Was told I could go to the lounge which was behind the C gates. Made my way through security then found the lounge.
All I could think was "I can't believe people pay for this access. .. " There were German and French magazines and newspapers, water, juices, and one bottle of chardonnay and one bottle of cabernet wines. There were also two bottles of beer left and packaged cookies.
I had a cookie and some apple juice and then left after 10 minutes. Made my way to the gate (could NOT find the duty free shops for anything :)). The plane left on time, the flight was short, and the service was efficient - beverage service for a one hour flight).
We landed on time, made my way out of the FRA airport to a taxi who told me that he knew no English so he couldn't figure out where I wanted to go (I had the name of the hotel written on a piece of paper). I moved on to the next taxi driver who had no problem :). We went to Kronberg (about 25 minutes from Frankfurt) where I stayed at the Mercure. Nice property. Very clean rooms, large size, air conditioning, nice staff for the most part. Not really near anything though.
One night I ate dinner at Cipro 2001. It was excellent! An Italian restaurant. GREAT food, wonderful service, and good chianti. It was a 10 minute walk from the hotel.
Work was great - lovely campus and very nice colleagues! Time for the weekend. I went to the train station and looked at the board - the train to Berlin was leaving first so off I went!
Arrived in Berlin after a 3.5 hour train trip only to find out that Live8 was being held there that night! Went to my hotel - the Westin Grand Berlin. Was upgraded to a junior suite, had a bottle of wine in my room along with water bottles. Nice staff at the desk and David the concierge was wonderful. Went to Brandenburg gates, then went to Live8. Was there for a few hours - it was wonderful! Great experience all the way around.
Next day I went walking around Berlin. Saw the Berlin Wall (if one more person had told me that it "was torn down awhile ago. . . :D "), saw the Jewish museum, and the Tyranny of Terror exhibit (open air exhibit near the wall). Also saw Checkpoint Charlie and that museum as well.
Two days in Berlin and then it was time to return to Seattle. Took the train at 4:30 AM to Frankfurt to make my flight - FRA-ORD-SEA.
All I could think was "I can't believe people pay for this access. .. " There were German and French magazines and newspapers, water, juices, and one bottle of chardonnay and one bottle of cabernet wines. There were also two bottles of beer left and packaged cookies.
I had a cookie and some apple juice and then left after 10 minutes. Made my way to the gate (could NOT find the duty free shops for anything :)). The plane left on time, the flight was short, and the service was efficient - beverage service for a one hour flight).
We landed on time, made my way out of the FRA airport to a taxi who told me that he knew no English so he couldn't figure out where I wanted to go (I had the name of the hotel written on a piece of paper). I moved on to the next taxi driver who had no problem :). We went to Kronberg (about 25 minutes from Frankfurt) where I stayed at the Mercure. Nice property. Very clean rooms, large size, air conditioning, nice staff for the most part. Not really near anything though.
One night I ate dinner at Cipro 2001. It was excellent! An Italian restaurant. GREAT food, wonderful service, and good chianti. It was a 10 minute walk from the hotel.
Work was great - lovely campus and very nice colleagues! Time for the weekend. I went to the train station and looked at the board - the train to Berlin was leaving first so off I went!
Arrived in Berlin after a 3.5 hour train trip only to find out that Live8 was being held there that night! Went to my hotel - the Westin Grand Berlin. Was upgraded to a junior suite, had a bottle of wine in my room along with water bottles. Nice staff at the desk and David the concierge was wonderful. Went to Brandenburg gates, then went to Live8. Was there for a few hours - it was wonderful! Great experience all the way around.
Next day I went walking around Berlin. Saw the Berlin Wall (if one more person had told me that it "was torn down awhile ago. . . :D "), saw the Jewish museum, and the Tyranny of Terror exhibit (open air exhibit near the wall). Also saw Checkpoint Charlie and that museum as well.
Two days in Berlin and then it was time to return to Seattle. Took the train at 4:30 AM to Frankfurt to make my flight - FRA-ORD-SEA.