Frankfurt airport was my introduction to Germany but before I landed I was able to see a little of the countryside from the air. My first impression was the flat land and shortage of trees. It seemed that the farm land was immense and the cities or maybe I should say villages were unique. At first I couldn’t quite put my finger on what the difference was, but at last I realized that the houses were grouped in a different way. They were all together with no gradual separation as you moved away from the center. When you left the village center that was it. No more houses. No gradual spreading apart as you moved out. Just land. Immaculate land. Groomed to the T. No weeds, brush, and rarely a tree. Everything was divided up into neat square plots, several acres large. It was hard to tell the size of the land but maybe the squares were more like 20 or 30 acres. Some were green and some brown tilled earth. It resembled a patchwork quilt. 
What I don’t remember seeing were farms by American standards. Farmhouse,
barns, chicken house etc. Just the land and very compact villages. |
 As
we approached Frankfurt I saw the River snaking its way beneath me and
the barges on the river. Then I saw forests.  Lots
of trees. I felt better.
Frankfurt airport
was
immense! I thought Boston was big. I wasn’t prepared for the
difference. It was too big to comprehend. When the plane
stopped everyone stood up and I was in the last row I decided to wait so
I watched out the window at the activity below. Dozens of vehicles
moved around below in what I could only describe as a ballet. Everyone
knew what to do, and lined up their vehicle to prepare for the unloading
of this huge plane. It moved so gracefully and quickly. I was
reminded of the "dozers" on Fraggle Rock! |
So
busy doing their thing. But my view was interrupted by a voice behind
me wondering if I was leaving? The plane was empty! I couldn’t
believe it . Either I was too distracted to keep track of time or
300 people got off that plane awfully fast! 
I looked around and still no sign of my husband so I looked for a way to
tell which one held my luggage. I saw a sign with the origin of the flight
and which carousel to go to. I went over about 4 or 5 carousels down and
there was my luggage spinning around. I grabbed it off and then wondered
what to do. At that point I had four pieces of baggage including one I
couldn’t even lift. By this time I was so exhausted, I dragged my
luggage and sat on the nearest bench. I watched the other people
around me and realized I needed one of those carts they were all wheeling
their luggage around on. There was a stack of them not to far away
so I went and got one leaving my luggage in the hands of God. I struggled
to lift my heaviest bag and the others onto the cart and then began to
wonder what to do next. It seemed that most of the people were heading
in one direction so I decided to follow and eventually found two ways out
and chose the one I hoped was correct and low and behold, there he was,
Rick. I was so relieved. Once I made it through the wall of
glass that separated us I felt like collapsing. But after a big hug and
kiss, he grabbed another cart and redistributed the luggage and guided
me out. It was another long trek through the terminal including several
escalators that the luggage carts were engineered to ride on. Then we crossed
through a glassed in walkway connected to the Parking Garage which
in itself was the size of several large football stadiums. We finally had
to leave the carts and drag the luggage around till we found our car several
levels down. Ahhhh!
Now it was
my time to experience another new experience. The