Ok, landed at Frankfurt, exit z aircraft , and up the escalator to arrivals. I was hoping to get to the BA lounge for a quickie but they blocked it off. So I went to the Generic Priority Pass lounge and she was very kind. A few good magazines and timetables after a drink and I was on my way.

I stopped at the Cathay lounge which was being used by someone, I think Asiana?, and I was able to get a coveted Hong Kong newspaper, something I love.

Then back down the terminal to Passport Control. German passport control is easy, stamp it, you are in. They also smile. Gott bless Deutschland.

After the delay I was amazed that the bags were still going around on the caroussel and we took care of that.

The benefit of BA sending my bags back at Gatwick vs. keeping them was that now they were EU customs cleared. I understand some German and the German customs wanted to check me. He noded to his fraulein counterpart to get me, but she said to him "er eine grune haben" meaning I have a green tag, so they can't check. ha ha There is nothing to check anyway, just airline junk. I said guten abend and she returned the same, good evening.

Out the door and behind the mass of Turkish people arriving from one of the interesting charter flights. I was just here in November, wow.

Went straight to BA, threw a couple of things in my bags and went to check in, Club Class line.

She checked my visit Europe, Oneworld ticket to Heathrow and then time for the bags. Remember, in Europe you get a much smaller baggage allowance than to/from the USA which is disgusting.

She nailed me, or tried, as they were over. I said I just came from the USA which technically speaking was right, though I had thrown a couple of things in, but was also on a special ticket only purchased in the USA and usually they work with us on the higher allowance. She went back to the supervisor and got it cleared, alles gut.

It was fun watching her tag my suitcase to Tel Aviv. TLV That was exciting.
Then the other bag went to Heathrow.

They only went along with the USA 2 piece system, not the carry on, so was stuck with that.

Off I went.

Frankfurt Airport has wonderful shops, delicatessens, konditorei, bakerei, you name it. I went to my favorite haunt which half of it was closed down, being remodeled?, I don't know, then went to a new deli and bought all kinds of yummy meats, salami, bratwurst, mineral water-Selters, und of course some wonderful German chocolate(schoogi), Theodora. Yummmm
I was already salivating.

Up the escalator where you can take the carts, but my shopping bag was not secure, out came the waters. Oh it was frantic. They fell onto the escalator and thanks to my sweet neighbor behind me we picked them up and put them in the bag. I laughed afterward, but not during. Wasn't so bad in the end.

I wanted to play at Terminal 1 landside but only had so much time, had 4 hours between the flights, so went back airside at T2 to deposit the carry on at a lounge. However, there were the gatekeeps at the checkpoint who didn't like my bag, though it is a fair carry on, just heavy. They tried to send me back down to BA, which wasn't going to happen as they would def. charge me for it, and we can't have that! I explained in broken German that I would gate check it. Took me 2/3 attempts but finally got through to them and they let me thru, but no trolley, so that stayed.
Yes, I quietly prayed in all this I can assure you and it worked.

Easy outbound passport control and then security, strip down, alles. While the bags were coming through I ran over and grabbed a cart airside, worked wonders.

I did a quick perousal at the main Duty Free store and some of the others. Then went to the Delta lounge with Priority Pass and left the bag there, after a drink or 2 and a WC visit, and a clean and well kept WC it was.
Delta lounge is large and spacioius, most comfortable. They also had some really good baloney.