05.13.06
Confusion in Frankfurt
I left today so that I could spend Mother’s Day weekend with Jason. Unbeknownst to the two of us, he had a business trip scheduled last minute to Austin. In fact, the trip was booked before he found out about it! I would have stayed in Texas longer, but the price would have been too high, and besides that, my parents are leaving for Greece. Plus, I didn’t really want to be around on Mother’s Day not knowing how I would feel that day.
I slept the whole way to Newark. We had a delay in Newark which made me nervous about my connection in Frankfurt. I slept most of the way to Frankfurt, and I just knew that I was going to miss my connection to Dresden. I had to disembark, take a train to another terminal, go through passport control, recheck in at the Lufthansa counter (I had flown Continental to Frankfurt), and board all in less than an hour.
Fortunately, my flight to Dresden was delayed. I had some troubles at Passport Control because they were confused at what I was asking. I was asking how to get to the main hallway so that I could check in. I think he was thinking I needed to get to a Lufthansa counter prior to Passport Control. I wasn’t the only person confused. There were others from various countries who had missed flights.
Keep in mind, I have been through Frankfurt numerous times, but I think I was just nervous this time since my connection was so short. I originally had over two hours, but my flight was two hours late leaving Newark.
After going through the line again, and after figuring out what I needed to do, I made it through Passport control. I had to run through the main hallway (Lufthansa has over 300 counters) and ask someone how to get to the transit counter. There is only one counter for transits (counter 73), and there was a long line. With only 15 minutes to spare, I kindly asked the Americans in front of me to hold my place in line while I asked the Business Class counter if I could check in there.
I made it through security, and the boarding was about to start 5 minutes after I arrived at the gate.
I hate that helpless and tired feeling. I was just glad to get on that flight. I wanted to see Jason.
Then, I get to Dresden, and one of my suitcases didn’t make it. It was the one with all of my clothes. I think it might have been delayed because I had two sausages in it – the ones in my previous blog entry from Louisiana. They were vacuum sealed, but I’m sure a dog sniffed it and barked at it.
I was nervous because I needed those clothes and shoes for my upcoming trip to Greece and Turkey.
Fortunately, my luggage made it to the hotel. The airport staff drove it over.
What an adventure. I’m so tired just thinking of my schedule.
