January 30 - Stressful Day

We joined Pat and Mike, and had grits and "left-overs", and got on the road about 9:30 AM. We had decent weather to Munich, and dropped Pat and Mike at the Kempinski Hotel at Munich Airport. They got some pictures of our farewells, but where was my camera?

From Nurnberg on, it began to rain. We stopped for lunch at the Zehntkeller in Iphofen, another favorite stopping place near Kitzigen. Zehntkeller is another member of the Romantik Hotel group. We have stayed there numerous times. This is still Bavaria, but the region is called Franconia and is famous for the Franken wines such as Muller-Thurgau. Again, I didn't have my camera handy!

After lunch, the rain became much harder and the wind was fierce. Ron pulled off at an autobahn rest stop in hopes the weather would improve. After 30 minutes or so we thought it had let up and set out again, but it was worse than ever. 

We finally made our way to the Hyatt in Mainz where we had to pick up luggage we had stored. Traffic was horrendous. Ron parked in the underground garage, and we went in to have a "farewell" drink looking out at the barges on the Rhine, and try to shake off some of the stress. Such a beautiful hotel.

Ron inquired how to avoid the Russelsheim-Mainz autobahn which we had noticed was at a standstill for miles, and got instructions for another autobahn. Then a new adventure began. The GPS did not have a listing for the Hilton Garden Inn nor the Hilton Hotel (both at the airport). So, I programmed Frankfurt airport and figured we would see signs. By then it was dark and coming from Mainz, there were NO SIGNS for Hilton, NOT ONE! I knew the address was in a building called The Squaire (which was also not in the GPS). I finally spied a sign for The Squaire - but a parking garage. Once we passed by that we ended up back on the autobahn and had 10-KM to get back. Once again, no signs, and we were on an autobahn where we could see the building but could not get to it. We went around a couple more times, and finally, approaching from another direction, I saw a sign to the bridge to The Squaire. We pulled up to the entrance and Ron went in to see where the hotel was located. There were no signs, not even in the elevator to tell you what floor it was on. He eventually located it and came down with a luggage trolley. We unloaded the van, checked in, and an employee offered to assist us. I mentioned our difficult experience finding the hotel, and he said they were aware of it and that the airport was prohibiting them from posting better signage due to the airport's relation with the on-site Sheraton Hotel. We went to the room, and Ron then had to set out to return the rental van. Another stressful episode.

While he was gone I rearranged the small odds and ends and bags and repacked the big suitcase we had stored in Mainz. Also, rearranged the computer and files. 

We met at 8:30 in The Squaire. Went to check out the menu at the Hilton, but didn't care for it (nor the prices). Instead we went to a so-called "gourmet burger" restaurant in The Squaire - Connection 5.

Ron was wise to stick with German sausage. The burger was appalling. Knew I should have waited for a Houston's cheeseburger! 

We went back to the hotel and set numerous alarms to be certain we would be up on time. Never sleep well when I know we have an early departure.

"Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life."

Michael Palin.