Short walk...

Went for a short walk, mainly to get a beer. Stopped at Riley's Irish Pub. What did we order? A couple of Coronas.

I see so many Mercedes here. I see many BMWs including Z3's and Z4's; not noticing as many Volkswagens. What's up with all the German cars on the road?

10:15pm, not dark yet. They are further north than we are so they get (to my estimation) an extra hour of daylight during the longest days of the year. Of course that means their shortest days would be an hour less than ours.

Still so tired... Snore...





Victoria Hotel

Frankfurt am Main in the PM

Now low on sleep, Lisa and I went for a walk around Frankfurt am Main. We headed the Der Main River. We walked up one side of the river and back the other way.

















































I got one on one with my friends. They seemed skittish.












Momma didn't seem to trust me.












It was hot. Over 35C at last check, in the 40s tomorrow. Europe is having a heat way with temperatures 10C above normal. That is where the NS heat is. Now that we have solved the problem, expect a fix in the weather over the next couple of days.

Wart hog statue in Frankfurt. Why?
























There are bikes everywhere. Young, old, cheapo bikes, road bikes, people getting around the way they should in a city - without a car. Nice to see.











Found a place that was my lemon sherbet or what ever it is. Oh so yummy.

Found a place for a beer and light lunch.






























Back to the hotel for a short (we thought) nap. Awoke at 730 pm. Still hot and bright. I expect sunset near 10pm, it is summer hear. We have wireless internet in the room, faster than any wired or any connection I have experienced back home.

Istanbul to Frankfurt

Just like getting on the plane, we get off on the runway and bus to the terminal. I've been on more buses on this trip than I have been in the last 30 years.

Got our boarding pass, go to our gate, again the xray security check is at each gate. I thought it dumb on the way to South Africa, but now after thinking it through, it is more efficient. Rather than a single line where all passengers queue, and where passengers with 3 hours to wait get in the way of those with short connections, this system allows you to get in and to the gate quickly where you are then checked. For the second time I am sure, as you a checked as you enter the airport, whether a passenger or a well wisher.

Boarding...

My thoughts of Turkey again. 16th largest economy in the world. They are aiming at top 10 in the next 12 years - 2023 their 100th anniversary as a republic.

They are the second or third most sought after tourist destination, 26 million last year, 31 million estimated this year, aiming for 50 million.

There is so much to see and do here. Whether it be cultural, religious, adventure, sailing, historic... I'm impressed.

"I'll be back."

The flight was smooth, the food great, we were a bit tired. Cab ride from the airport - fun. All the cabs are Mercedes. He had it going 160km/hr or 100mph. Fast!!!

Hotel room is great. Time to shower and get organized. We only have 24 hours in Frankfurt.

Out Of Africa...

As we fly out of Africa, a trip we will never forget, a trip we were fortunate enough to share with our neighbors and friends Nancy and Paul, I leave you some images taken by Lisa. They are really great...

Johanusburg to Istanbul

After getting our boarding pass, the four of us parked and we alternated washroom breaks and shopping sprees. Got another shot glass. 30ZAR or under $5CDN. Then it was time to part our ways. It has been great. Hugs all around. Paul and I have a new secret handshake. He's having trouble with the final finger twiddle but with some practice he'll get it.

They are going home via London, we via Istanbul, Frankfurt, Boston. Guess whose travel agent needs a kick on the pants.


The plane ride was very comfortable, an Airbus A330-300. It had lie flats, all very new, nicer than the older A330-200 we went down to South Africa on.


We ate a nice meal, had drinks, endured more than average turbulence, I could see lightening storms below us for an hour or so, watched some TV(Big Bang Theory, always funny) and got some sleep.