I would like to start off by saying we all got here safely, no troubles at all :D Yay for that! As of now, I have been awake for over 24 hours and I am dead tired. If there are typos and junk here, please excuse my tiredness.
We got to the airport this morning at about 9:00 am and got all our luggage checked and all that fun stuff. Then we waited around until our plane boarded and left at 11:18 am. We got in the little puddle jumper of an airplane and I have to say, I was nervous. I have only flown once or twice before in my life and I was about 3, so I'll count myself as a first time flyer. Every bump and noise the tiny plane made as it began to take off made me more sure we were going to crash and die. But, we didn't! I can only explain take-off like a roller coaster. The force of the plane speeding up pushed me into my seat. When we got up into the air, I was amazed at how quickly we climbed and how fast things shrank below me. We gained altitude and eventually flew over all the clouds. I remember looking at one lone cloud and thinking how much closer it was to the ground than it was to us. It didn't take long and there was a blanket of clouds beneath us, which was a sight to see. It looked like the entire earth was covered with snow. We started to descend after about an hour and a half, and it was quite amazing to watch out the window as we sank into the cloud blanket and then BAM! the clouds were above us and a real snowy expanse of Michigan was below us.
Once in Detroit (it was almost 1:00 pm) we were hungry so we roamed the gigantic airport to find food since we had to wait until 5:30 for our second plane that would take us to Frankfurt. We eventually found some food and then explored more to kill all the excess time we had. Finally, 5:30 comes around and with it, our boarding of the much larger and much more stable feeling plane. I got stuck in a middle seat between Karen (which is fine, she's a good plane neighbor) and some random guy I didn't know (which ended up not being so fine). The plane started to taxi and make its way to the runway. Again, the roller coaster feeling hit me and suddenly we were in the air. The plane was very nice and we could watch movies, play games, listen to music, and watch tv on the screens on the chairs in front of us. I watched a movie to kill the time (Terminator Salvation, very good I thought). My not so great neighbor decided that he would like the armrest between him and me, which was fine, I didn't mind relinquishing it. But, his elbow slowly took more of the armrest and eventually made its way to the middle of my seat, while I was still in it. After my movie and the food we ate and drinks and stuff, I decided I should probably get some sleep. I think I got some, maybe about 45 minutes or so, but not enough to count for anything. After I woke up from my sorry excuse for sleep, I tried to keep sleeping so I set down my tray table and laid my head down. It was about that time, my naughty neighbor decided that my back would make a very good armrest while he slept. He may have really been sleeping, but I am inclined to think he was more awake than he let on. I also found out he was a Twitcher. You know, one of those people that twitches in their sleep. So, I decided to pretend to wake up suddenly. I sat up really fast and looked all groggy and he took his arm off me and didn't bother me for the rest of the trip, except for his encroaching elbow. Finally, after 8 hours and some minutes, we arrive in Germany. My first view is of lights from the city below us (Frankfurt).
The plane bumps and grinds its way to the ground and then taxis to the docking bay. We get off the plane and make our way to customs and all that fun mandatory stuff. I got some euros, and found out that $34 gives you exactly 20 euros at the current exchange rate. I'm really hoping that when we get back, the exchange rate is higher so that when I exchange to get my US currency back, I'll get more. >:D From the Frankfurt airport we found (literally, we searched for forever with no one knowing where to go) the train station that is right next to the airport. We got on our train on time and it took us to Cologne (or Koln to those native of Germany) and that is where I currently am. we made our way to the hostel we are staying at (and no, Dad, it's not like the movie) and then we broke for lunch. Some of us found this place called Istanbul where we got some really good food. The waitress was really nice and even spoke a little English and was very patient with us as we struggled with a foreign menu. After our food, we made our way back to the hostel and that is where I am currently sitting typing this up. It is 9:30 am for you guys and 3:30 pm for me, and it sure does feel like 3 to me.
So, I end this report today with well wishes and tidings of good sleep, which I need badly. One other thing, Angela, I did use the gloves while waiting for the train because it was very cold, thank you. :) I will be back tomorrow... er... after I get some sleep.
Houston Miller, from http://theadventuresofhouston.blogspot.com/
We got to the airport this morning at about 9:00 am and got all our luggage checked and all that fun stuff. Then we waited around until our plane boarded and left at 11:18 am. We got in the little puddle jumper of an airplane and I have to say, I was nervous. I have only flown once or twice before in my life and I was about 3, so I'll count myself as a first time flyer. Every bump and noise the tiny plane made as it began to take off made me more sure we were going to crash and die. But, we didn't! I can only explain take-off like a roller coaster. The force of the plane speeding up pushed me into my seat. When we got up into the air, I was amazed at how quickly we climbed and how fast things shrank below me. We gained altitude and eventually flew over all the clouds. I remember looking at one lone cloud and thinking how much closer it was to the ground than it was to us. It didn't take long and there was a blanket of clouds beneath us, which was a sight to see. It looked like the entire earth was covered with snow. We started to descend after about an hour and a half, and it was quite amazing to watch out the window as we sank into the cloud blanket and then BAM! the clouds were above us and a real snowy expanse of Michigan was below us.
Once in Detroit (it was almost 1:00 pm) we were hungry so we roamed the gigantic airport to find food since we had to wait until 5:30 for our second plane that would take us to Frankfurt. We eventually found some food and then explored more to kill all the excess time we had. Finally, 5:30 comes around and with it, our boarding of the much larger and much more stable feeling plane. I got stuck in a middle seat between Karen (which is fine, she's a good plane neighbor) and some random guy I didn't know (which ended up not being so fine). The plane started to taxi and make its way to the runway. Again, the roller coaster feeling hit me and suddenly we were in the air. The plane was very nice and we could watch movies, play games, listen to music, and watch tv on the screens on the chairs in front of us. I watched a movie to kill the time (Terminator Salvation, very good I thought). My not so great neighbor decided that he would like the armrest between him and me, which was fine, I didn't mind relinquishing it. But, his elbow slowly took more of the armrest and eventually made its way to the middle of my seat, while I was still in it. After my movie and the food we ate and drinks and stuff, I decided I should probably get some sleep. I think I got some, maybe about 45 minutes or so, but not enough to count for anything. After I woke up from my sorry excuse for sleep, I tried to keep sleeping so I set down my tray table and laid my head down. It was about that time, my naughty neighbor decided that my back would make a very good armrest while he slept. He may have really been sleeping, but I am inclined to think he was more awake than he let on. I also found out he was a Twitcher. You know, one of those people that twitches in their sleep. So, I decided to pretend to wake up suddenly. I sat up really fast and looked all groggy and he took his arm off me and didn't bother me for the rest of the trip, except for his encroaching elbow. Finally, after 8 hours and some minutes, we arrive in Germany. My first view is of lights from the city below us (Frankfurt).
The plane bumps and grinds its way to the ground and then taxis to the docking bay. We get off the plane and make our way to customs and all that fun mandatory stuff. I got some euros, and found out that $34 gives you exactly 20 euros at the current exchange rate. I'm really hoping that when we get back, the exchange rate is higher so that when I exchange to get my US currency back, I'll get more. >:D From the Frankfurt airport we found (literally, we searched for forever with no one knowing where to go) the train station that is right next to the airport. We got on our train on time and it took us to Cologne (or Koln to those native of Germany) and that is where I currently am. we made our way to the hostel we are staying at (and no, Dad, it's not like the movie) and then we broke for lunch. Some of us found this place called Istanbul where we got some really good food. The waitress was really nice and even spoke a little English and was very patient with us as we struggled with a foreign menu. After our food, we made our way back to the hostel and that is where I am currently sitting typing this up. It is 9:30 am for you guys and 3:30 pm for me, and it sure does feel like 3 to me.
So, I end this report today with well wishes and tidings of good sleep, which I need badly. One other thing, Angela, I did use the gloves while waiting for the train because it was very cold, thank you. :) I will be back tomorrow... er... after I get some sleep.
Houston Miller, from http://theadventuresofhouston.blogspot.com/