Day Svein - Goodbye Frankfurt, Hello Merry Old England!

At this rate we are updating a blog a day, but not getting to post regularly because of internet access. This is not something we will be able to maintain but it is nice while we have the chance, and a good way to fill in time while waiting for flights. After a very early night and a long sleep, we rose early and checked out of the hotel. Breakfast was fresh fruit from a local shop followed by bratwurst and kindswurst at a fantastic little street market. For Samuel and Leesa we made sure to take a photo. Eating frankfurts in Frankfurt!

We wandered through the gorgeous markets and along some of the main streets of Frankfurt again. Then we found ourselves in a district of strip joints and adult stores. Nothing. But. Adult. Stores. Bemused at first, it quickly became apparent that we had stumbled into the wrong side of town. Where are my rose coloured glasses? What is that man smoking in that tiny pipe? Why can I smell wee so strongly? And why are those two men crouching beside a car holding a lighter to a coke can? Oh. Right! Quickening our pace we headed back towards the Hauptbahnhof, a much more legitimate business centre! It was time to head back to the cultural centre of town to resume our more glowy view of the city so we crossed the river and strolled along dreamily again past beautiful old buildings, perfect rows of old oak trees and the shining waters of the Mein. An old Romanian man chatted to us while he played the accordion and our perspective of Frankfurt became idyllic again. We walked through the lovely gardens of several museums but decided to save the Euros for entry to bigger and better exhibitions and galleries later in the trip. Lunch was back in the markets – crumbed camembert with cranberry conserve, bread and lettuce, and feta stuffed green peppers. YUM!

After a quick beer o’clock to use the free wireless internet at the pub and post the two blog entries we had written together it was time to make a move to the Hauptbahnhof and on to the Flughafen. Our advice when flying is to not wear anything metal. What with my chunky bangles and David’s belt, we set off the metal detector and were not allowed to go back through without them as we had in Hong Kong – we were patted down. Very, very thoroughly. It was not a pleasant experience, though it shows that security is good. The flight was quick and very very pretty. Coming in to London we could see everything! Buckingham Palace, the Eye, Hyde Park, the Thames – all sorts of sights. When we finally got our luggage we called my cousin Harriet – it was surreal to speak to her and hear her accent. We got a hire car and met down the A23 at a gorgeous pub called The Wise Old Owl. After a Pimms and a beer we went back to her flat in Goring-by-Sea where she lives with her partner Dom. They were so welcoming and lovely and the weather was WARM! England is feeling very homey.