July 14/15: Dallas, Frankfurt, St. Petersburg
Dear Friends and Relatives,
Good morning from Frankfurt, Germany, as I am on my way to St. Petersburg. Actually, it is August 15, but I might as well catch you up with the happenings of yesterday and today so far (it is now almost 11:30 am in Frankfurt).
Super Shuttle was its usual efficient self, and I was at the airport plenty early. Eventually we boarded, with a snappy looking Lufthansa crew donning the yellow/dark blue colors of that airline. To hear German spoken so eloquently and to join in was fabulous! However, a new thing--the gangplank leading to the interior of the airplane was filled with six security officers and a German shepherd sniffing dog who jumped on me before the officer made him obey! Sheesh!
I had an aisle seat (Gangplatz in German, Alexandra) in row 33, a two-person enclave. Lufthansa had a variety of good programming, and I watched Hitchcock's "The Birds" and "Vertigo," a documentary on the great Ukrainian premier danseur Sergei Polinin, and a conversation with fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. Food was good, and a nice perk since I have been flying with them is still at hand--the steaming towel, which is especially appreciated after 9 hours of sitting in the same place!
We arrived in Frankfurt, and I walked about a mile to reach Terminal 1, Concourse B, from which my next flight to St. Petersburg leaves--presently, a Lufthansa just left the same gate for Split, Croatia, so I am waiting for my flight to post next.
Also exchanged dollars to roubles, hard currency to hard currency. If you have any intentions to visit Russia, be aware that it is currently listed as "high risk" for credit and debit card fraud. And of course my bags were pulled aside in security and checked. Things went much faster when I spoke German to them. Had I had my sunglasses on, I would probably have been searched! No end to these security machinations!!!!! The offending culprit was a 2oz. bottle of saline solution, but it had been pulled out by me, placed in a tray with all my other hand luggage and my jacket, and simply had not been vetted! Humbug!
It is exciting to see all kinds of airlines I normally don't see leaving from here--truly a worldwide venue. Granted, airplane travel is still a cattle call, but occasionally it has its moments--like when you walk down a gangplank or the motors of your jet start revving up--still objects of frisson for me!
I should be landing in St. Petersburg at 4:50 pm. Realize, please, that Russia is 8 hours ahead of Dallas time. Once we get there, we will transfer to the Helvetia Hotel and then have an initial dinner together. After that, a cruise along the Fotanka Embankment and its splendid palaces will take place. By then I will have been up countless hours, and I will probably self destruct. Most likely, the rest of today's activities will therefore be rolled into tomorrow's blogpost. Meanwhile, take care, and write me back soon! As ever, SV
Good morning from Frankfurt, Germany, as I am on my way to St. Petersburg. Actually, it is August 15, but I might as well catch you up with the happenings of yesterday and today so far (it is now almost 11:30 am in Frankfurt).
Super Shuttle was its usual efficient self, and I was at the airport plenty early. Eventually we boarded, with a snappy looking Lufthansa crew donning the yellow/dark blue colors of that airline. To hear German spoken so eloquently and to join in was fabulous! However, a new thing--the gangplank leading to the interior of the airplane was filled with six security officers and a German shepherd sniffing dog who jumped on me before the officer made him obey! Sheesh!
I had an aisle seat (Gangplatz in German, Alexandra) in row 33, a two-person enclave. Lufthansa had a variety of good programming, and I watched Hitchcock's "The Birds" and "Vertigo," a documentary on the great Ukrainian premier danseur Sergei Polinin, and a conversation with fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. Food was good, and a nice perk since I have been flying with them is still at hand--the steaming towel, which is especially appreciated after 9 hours of sitting in the same place!
We arrived in Frankfurt, and I walked about a mile to reach Terminal 1, Concourse B, from which my next flight to St. Petersburg leaves--presently, a Lufthansa just left the same gate for Split, Croatia, so I am waiting for my flight to post next.
Also exchanged dollars to roubles, hard currency to hard currency. If you have any intentions to visit Russia, be aware that it is currently listed as "high risk" for credit and debit card fraud. And of course my bags were pulled aside in security and checked. Things went much faster when I spoke German to them. Had I had my sunglasses on, I would probably have been searched! No end to these security machinations!!!!! The offending culprit was a 2oz. bottle of saline solution, but it had been pulled out by me, placed in a tray with all my other hand luggage and my jacket, and simply had not been vetted! Humbug!
It is exciting to see all kinds of airlines I normally don't see leaving from here--truly a worldwide venue. Granted, airplane travel is still a cattle call, but occasionally it has its moments--like when you walk down a gangplank or the motors of your jet start revving up--still objects of frisson for me!
I should be landing in St. Petersburg at 4:50 pm. Realize, please, that Russia is 8 hours ahead of Dallas time. Once we get there, we will transfer to the Helvetia Hotel and then have an initial dinner together. After that, a cruise along the Fotanka Embankment and its splendid palaces will take place. By then I will have been up countless hours, and I will probably self destruct. Most likely, the rest of today's activities will therefore be rolled into tomorrow's blogpost. Meanwhile, take care, and write me back soon! As ever, SV
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