Getting There In A Big Way

Few people relish the long plane trip these days. And so, as I embarked on my latest across-the-pond excursion, I arrived at Dulles International Airport with a bit of trepidation, but great anticipation. It's been too long since I've spent extended time in Germany. And this was to be my first experience on the Airbus A-380, the world's largest passenger airliner. For this trip, a mere 550 were to be aboard (when reconfigured all-economy, the plane accommodates 850). And I was flying Air France "Premier" class. Oh boy.

All in all, hardly a disappointment. (Although, once again, no feedbag: they forgot to load my lactose-free meal. Effusive, if unsatisfactory, apologies in French followed.) I still don't see how this double-decker behemoth gets off the ground, but it does. A video camera mounted in the tail section allows the heavenly view of a takeoff and landing like no other. And the cabins are designed to experience remarkably low engine noise, so it's more like an extended library visit than a long plane ride. Even turbulence is bizarre: at appropriate times the plane rattled side to side rather than up-and-down, causing liquids in glasses to swirl much like water in a flushed toilet. Bon appétit!

As we took off three hours late from Washington, DC (Air France still hasn't figured out how to check-in 550 people at one time), I missed my connecting flight in Paris. But the airline had back up arrangements already prepared, so I and my friends Kay and Ken Drews were soon on our way to Hamburg, Germany and arrived there in the mid-afternoon.

After a short subway trip from the airport, we were at the bustling main train station in Hamburg and on our way to our first destination: Lübeck, in northern Germany. I enjoy traveling by rail, and this was only the first of many planned for this trip. It was great to see the German countryside again. Climate change hasn't seemed to hit this part of Europe; everything remains lush and verdant.

The rest of the day was spent on a quick walking tour of Lübeck, then a light bite. After tasty knockwurst for lunch, dinner was wiener schnitzel with capers and anchovies, served at a typical German restaurant. How I've missed this great local bill of fare! Then it was time to crash, and allow for time change adjustments. I'm not quite there yet; it's a nine hour swing from Pacific time.



Today was spent enjoying the most unusual town. Although totally leveled by the end of World War II, this Hanseatic League medieval jewel has been completely restored, with many Lutheran churches sporting enormously tall spires in Gothic array. The entire pedestrian-friendly city center of Lübeck resides on an island, guarded by a double-towered gate. Three universities influence the area, so a youthful intensity permeates.

Tomorrow, it's farther into Schleswig-Holstein to explore more of extreme northern Germany.