Day 20: Reversing on the Freeway (Friday, September 9th)

We enjoyed our last hotel breakfast and loaded up on the eggs. Our bags were pretty much packed last night. Our goal was to leave before 10:00 and we were ten minutes before our self-imposed deadline. Our GPS unit takes us to B50 which happens to be closed! Then we figure out a new route with the GPS and eventually it takes us down a road that turns into gravel and then a dead-end! Yikes, not too dependable although we figured out an alternate route fairly quickly using Lana's iPhone. Thank goodness for Google Maps! Traffic not too bad on the way to Frankfurt Flughafen (Airport) although it was the usual German semi-trailers that clog up the side roads and slow the freeway. 

We needed to fill the gas tank before returning the car at the Hertz Rental return at the Flughafen. There is a Shell gas station at Cargo terminal we have used in the past so we pulled in there. Problem is there is no obvious way to re-connect with the Flughafen and then Car Rental Return. We kind of fluke out to find the entrance to the airport roadway to take us to Car Rental Returns. There was a turn off on the right and it was lightly raining and I slowed down but by the time we saw the sign Car Rental Return we were just past the off ramp. I pulled to the side waited for the traffic to go by and then reversed onto the freeway and then onto the off ramp.  Had we missed this ramp, it would have been another twenty minute drive around the airport again as everything is on a ring road surrounding this huge airport  ;-)

We were checked into the Hilton Garden Inn just after 12:00 so that worked out very well. We have stayed here many times in the past so quite aware of its location. Always good memories. Room on the 10th floor and it has a bathtub for Lana! We discover that the electrical outlets can accommodate North American plugs. Open our suitcases and get our stuff organized as we have two nights here. For our lunch we have some favourite casual places near our hotel. Plus, Lana visited REWE at the one end of the hall to confirm potential grocery purchases to take home. Lana bought a spinach and mushroom flatbread at Ditsch. I went to Le Crobag and purchased an egg sandwich which was delicious. We finished a bottle of sparkling water and off to the regional train station located in the bowels of the airport. 

We needed to purchase a day ticket for the railroad which covers up to five persons. It is a bit of a walk to the train station located in the lower level. Total cost 18.40Euro which is a good deal as we will be going back and forth between the airport and Frankfurt at least twice today = four trips. The railroad platform was super busy with people. Took a while for the S8 train to show and then we are on our way to downtown Frankfurt. Very quickly we had our ticket checked by an agent. We learned that everyone on the train must wear a face mask or face a 50Euro fine! The agent did not have an extra mask, but was not harsh with us. I was wearing a face mask, but Lana had forgotten hers back in the room. 

We got off at the Hauptwache (main walking street in Frankfurt) as we always do. Lana is looking for some special tea and we want to visit The Galeria Kaufhof where we buy our favourite Gewürztraminer. Lots of people shopping in the Hauptwache as the weather is very inconsistent with warm sun and rainfall. We could not find our usual Galeria Kaufhof, but what had occurred was it might have been purchased and changed the name to simply the Galeria. We went to the basement floor and our wine section was still there! Very quickly though I was intercepted by a fellow doing a wine tasting! How could I refuse?

Steven was serving five Mosel Riesling wine from Weingut Nick Weis St. Urbans-Hof. All the wine he was serving were 2021 vintage which he described as a classic vintage for Kabinett style. Most of the wine were of the drier style, but the last wine he served was a Kabinett at 40 grams of residual sugar. We had a great discussion about Mosel Riesling wines and the fact he lived in Vancouver a few years ago while working for another Weingut. Good acidity in the 2021 vintage. If you see LAY on a Riesling bottle that means the type of slate. I ended up purchasing the 2021 Kabinett for about 18Euro and that is the very last wine we can buy on this trip. No more wine skins!

The train stop is right beside the department store so we are underground and looking for the S tracks. There is a transit working direction people at the back end of the platform towards the middle--apparently the trains are all stopped at the front end and if people aren't lined up to where the cars are, they will either have to run to meet the train or miss it. We get off the train and follow the escalators and eventually up to the top floor where it is a long walk down a couple of halls. Lots of travellers here as it is a combination of air and rail here. Back into the room and Lana takes the opportunity for a nap. We are to meet our friend Markus at the U Bahn Schweitzer Platz stop at 18:00. This will require a transfer at an S stop and then find the appropriate U train to take us to Markus' stop. Many people in these train stations. We wait a very long time at the Airport platform as the S8 or S9 trains won't arrive for at least 15 minutes. I alert Markus by text and we actually show up at the designated meeting area about five minutes late. 

Markus lives in the hip Sachsenhausen neighbourhood of Frankfurt. We know Markus through Lana's friendship with Wolfgang whom we visited in Heidelberg last week. Markus always takes us to a restaurant in his neighbourhood. We walk to Adolph Wagner (Äpfelwein Wagner) restaurant which we have visited on at least two occasions in the past. It is known as a neighbourhood place suitable for large parties. Plus, they serve Äpfelwein in large quantities. What is äpfelwein? For a North American we would describe it as like apple cider. You order a sparkling water and pour some into your glass in order to lessen the taste/alcohol from the äpfelwein. This apple cider is pretty dry and "rough" hence the need to add some sparkling water .

                                  Online picture of the interior of Adolph Wagner. Very old, classic German and lots of wood.

Markus got us an english menu although we have gotten decently good with translating German menus.

           Lana's order of Frankfurter Schnitzel with Grüner Soße (sauce) and home fried potatoes. 

In Frankfurt, bread sellers are allowed to come into restaurants/beer gardens where a fellow comes around with different German breads you can have with your meal. He is not employed by the restaurant and visits various restaurants in the area. Anything he sells is his earnings. 

                                    Randy and Markus. For some reason the photo has twisted us. 

Grüner sauce which is a Frankfurt specific condiment--it's made of 7 herbs (chive, parsley, sorrel, borage, cress, chervil, burnet) mixed with sour cream and hard boiled egg. 

Jug of apfelwein that contains much more apfelwein that you think. We kept pouring for hours until it was empty. Plus, adding some sparkling water to cut the juice. 

Randy's order of Wagner Schnitzel stuffed with sauerkraut, bacon and creme fraiche and comes with mashed potatoes. Pretty good, although I still prefer German fried potatoes!

We leave around 21:15 and walk back to the train stop and say our goodbyes to Markus. A great visit and catch up. We transfer to the S9 train and for some reason our S train was stopped a number of times on the way back to the Flughafen. Not into our hotel room until after 22:15. Another good day in Deutschland!