And Finally...Germany

After 2 weeks of warm sunny weather, Al and landed in Frankfurt Germany for the last days of our amazing trip. Always the frugal car renter, Al got us a Kia something at the airport. We loaded our 6 big bags in the trunk, set the GPS for American English and headed to our hotel. After a late dinner in a very smokey bar, we dug out the winter woolies in preparation for our next day walking/sightseeing adventure. Germany is gorgeous and cold! We had been told at the hotel that the Germans love Christmas and they were right! A huge portion of downtown Frankfurt was closed to car traffic and a huge Christmas market was set up. Booth after booth, decorated to look like old German houses and shops, were filled with handcrafts of every kind, sizzling sausages and steaming liquor laced ciders. We literally spent the entire day, well into the evening shopping and eating and sipping our yummy brew. I had wisely packed an extra suitcase so we loaded up on handmade knit hats for the grandbabies, Christmas gifts for the kids, wool scarves for Al and I and other wonderful finds. We did take time to visit a beautiful and simple cathedral that was spared destruction when the Allies leveled Frankfurt during WWII. The next day we jumped in our little Kia and headed 125 miles south to the old village of Rothenburg. Jana had visited there several years ago and highly recommended it. And she was right. The little town looks exactly like what you would expect a German Village to look like. And...the entire town was celebrating with yet another huge Christmas Market! WaaHoo!!! What a fun fun day. As a sidebar. Al got the thrill of driving on a German Autobon (highway). It is unbelievable how fast the Germans drive. We estimated that in the fast lane the cars were traveling at 140+ mph. Now remember WE'RE IN A FRIGGIN' KIA!. Al would floor the excellerator and we would barely feel it. Changing lanes became a study in planning and raw nerve. But he did a great job and on the way home he was even able to relax and enjoy the experience. When we got home and Al was telling AJ this story, AJ uttered the best line of the day. He said, "Dad how much more would it have cost you to rent a real car"? We have laughed about the whole thing and maybe the next time we're in the country that builds the best cars in the world, we will rent a real car.