Around Germany in Thirty Days

A long time ago there was something entitled AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS - I can't remember if it was a song, a book or a movie. This is the first episode of my travel journal.

International travelers are expected to be at the air port three hours in advance of departure time - so the ticket information says. Therefore, on May 1st. , our chauffeur, Andrew, delivered us to the Winnipeg air port in the early afternoon about 3 hours prior to departure. The Northwest Airline personel were not attending the counter so we stood around wondering what to do. an agent on his way to lunch came along and said we could check in on the self serve computer - not as easy as it looks. First you need to swipe your passport through the machine and then follow the steps on the screen. With some help from the agent Helmut was able to finally get the confirmation of his ticket and his boarding passes. For reasons unknown to us my passport would not register when swiped. Finally an agent was able to confirm and provide boarding passes for me from another computer. Next it was weigh and check in our checked luggage - each of us had one large suitcase and they were under the weight and size limit. then our carry on bags were weighed and measured and found under the limit. So then it was off to the security check. Please, place all your loose items, shoes, purses, cameras, jackets, etc. and carry-on baggage on the conveyer to be x-rayed and walk through the detector yourself. My stuff and myself passed the inspection without any hitches. Helmut seemed to have lots of trouble passing the inspection so he was searched and it was finally decided that the pouch that he had under his clothing for the extra cash was creating all the trouble. After all inspections were complete we were able to enter the secured area and then just wait until boarding time. We both used thie long waiting time to get some exercise.

Our first flight was a short one to Minneapolis. Arriving there on time we had a short time to walk what seemed to be miles from one gate to the next but we made it with time to get a bite to eat at McDonalds because it was supper time for us. Then check in for boarding the flight to Amesterdam.

Our seats were located near the window and just infront of one of the lavatories. This did not enhance our ability to sleep on this overnight flight. We were served snacks, drinks and a nice meal. I spent about one hour standing in the isle becasue I was sooo tired from sitting.

We arrived in Amesterdam about midmorning their time and took another very long walk from the gate of arrival to the gate of departure for Duesseldorf. The flight to Duesseldorf was on a prop plane that held about 48 passengers and it wasn't full. It was a very rough flight and by the time we arrived my ears were in pain and I had a head ache.

Cousin Ursula met us at the Duesseldorf, Germany airport. She had visited us a few years ago so we recongnized her easily. It is nice to be greeted by someone you know.

Helmut arranged for a rented car before we left home so we went to the Avis counter to make the final arrangements. He had just signed all the papers for a certain car that ran on gasoline when another agent came to the clerk and said that there was a deisel fueled vehice available. Helmut decided to take the deisel. He was offered a GPS but refused thinking that we would be able to follow the map. What a mistake - more about that later.

Ursula kindly guided us from the airport to her home - letting Helmut do the driving and telling him each turn to make.

First immpressions next time.