Sunday, 28th. December, '97
Frankfurt, Germany.

Yes, it IS a large airport, and while queuing at the hotel information counter, the man in front of me was asking about the same hotel !

We shared a taxi - he was Brazilian, with as much understanding of German as I have of French, so between us we managed.

The Manhattan Hotel,
Frankfurt, Germany.

Off to change some money, and find the nearest Cybercafe! The Manhattan Hotel is almost opposite the Main railway station, so I bravely sallied forth.

Watching 'Derrick' on SBS television had inspired me many years ago to attend a TAFE night course in German, even though I never met anyone to practice on and the only business contacts we had (in Worms) spoke perfect English anyway.

Bought a ticket ! Caught the train, read all the signs, and found the Cyber-cafe. Charges were by the half-hour, so only brief update to this page, checked and answered mail, and over to Paddynet to leave messages.

Returning later - I could even help four young students from Hong Kong and Korea purchase tickets and find their way, and yes, it is nice to be able to communicate in a different country, in a different language.

Monday, 29th. December, '97.

What an exciting day ! Breakfast in the busy dining room, with business economics student from Nürnberg, Claudio d'Aragon (The Brazilian) on his way to Miami, and Tomoki Sakata, a Toyota employee on holidays from Hokaido, Japan !

Off to change more money, back to Hauptbahnhof, and another ticket for Hauptwache. Easier said than done - my German is not so good after all, and I caught the wrong train, getting out at Frankfurt Nied before doubling back, trying to look calm and as if I knew exactly where I was going.

Having lost almost an hour, I stopped by the train heading for Paris - and waved goodbye to Tomoki. The fact he now knows the difference between Austria and Australia is a bonus.

Leaving the underground by a different exit, in front of me a sign for the Zimbabwe Tourist Office, Air Zimbabwe - and with Aer Lingus in the same building.

Helen at Aer Lingus is from Dublin, and sadly not on the internet personally. Yet. Looking through the travel brochures made me wish I did have time to do an extra trip. Maybe another time.

The Cyber-cafe was busy - names to add to my virtual address book, mail to deal with, and the PaddyNet message desk full. Off to chat at Paddynet, and meeting up with Typan from Perth, Nightstalker from New Zealand, Stickboy from Melbourne, and my friend Jean from 'up the road' made me feel kind-of homesick. Sort of.

Tuesday, 30th. December, '97.

Next stop - London.

How far is it ? - 394 miles (634 km) - 1hr 40 mins