3-9-93

I’m on the train to Paris – WOW! Right now we’re going through Germany. I’m amazed at how much the vegetation looks like America – mostly it brings to mind Washington – same trees, same colors. The flight from San Francisco was uneventful, though I didn’t sleep. We boarded in Boston only to find that the plane had developed some sort of fuel leak. 2 ½ hours stuck in our seats – Yuck! Actually, they served free drinks, so I got semi-toasted on Bailey’s with a German girl and some sort of German beer with a USAF man. No sleep last night!

I was almost arrested in Frankfurt this morning – I had forgotten to sign my passport. Luckily Dutch intervened and everything turned-out all right. I had trouble at the train station at the airport, but then I spied a German couple who had been on the same flight as me and I begged for their help. They were very kind, going so far as to actually travel with me into the Main-Frankfurt station and making sure everything was squared away as far as eats and luggage went. I never learned their names, but right before they left the husband gave me his business card (he’s into computers) and made me promise to call if I ever got stuck in Frankfurt.

I picked-up a very nice guy in the train station – he was from Afghanistan and his English was as good as my Afghanistaneese (sp?) Still, he carried some, well actually most of my bags, and made sure that I was comfortable and then asked me if I would marry him. At least I think that is what he asked – it sounded like "She [pointing to me] matrimony me [and he pointed to himself]." I quickly explained that I was married and wasn’t in the least bit interested. He walked off in a huff. Oh well, you win some, you loose some.

The train station at Frankfurt-Main absolutely blew my mind! It was so beautiful and yet so commercialized that you have to streatch (stretch?) to see the splendour.

Also, I can’t forget wheeling my baggage cart down the escalator – what a thrill.

The train is now out in more pasturelands – it feels a lot like Yuba City if you ignore the old stone farm houses.

I’ll close for now, as I should work on my postcards and get some sleep. I’ve decided that when I come back to Europe I’m going to take more time, get a more valid (?) Eurail Pass, and actually get off at some of these towns and walk around. There’s something here that I can’t describe – I feel myself being pulled towards the German country – I know it sounds corny and all, but there’s something here that I need to get at.

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