We land to Dusseldorf, Germany, early morning, so as soon as we check-in, I go with my Slovak colleague Katka for breakfast. Finally I have someone I can gossip with! As in every job, even in ours, we find things that make us angry and which could work better. The stomach is filled, the heart is relieved, it’s time for the body to get well deserved rest. I get up in the afternoon feeling well recharged, so I decide to go to explore downtown. We stay at the airport hotel, but to get to the city center it’s quite easy thanks to train lines. Later on, I’m walking down the Dusseldorf streets with the feeling like I was at home. Dusseldorf reminds me Bratislava in many ways. The restaurants have open-air terraces, people sit by the river, ride a bicycles or walk their dogs. I can’t resist and also choose a restaurant with the sitting on the promenade by the river and order proper German beer. We are in Germany, they must have some good “Wiener schnitzel”! But later I’m just disappointed coz I’ve found only very view places offering proper veal “schnitzel” with traditional potato salad. All the restaurant have only pork version in their menu. Although I find Dusseldorf more cozy than Frankfurt, I have to admit that in Frankfurt, they have much better “schnitzels”. And best ones are in Munich! After a liter of beer I need to visit ladies. And when I’m later trying to dress back in my fancy denim jumpsuit, my zipper get stacked! Right at the bottom! Next hour I spend in the toilette trying to fix my zipper but with no success. There is only one way – to give up. Totally red in my face I come out of the restaurant almost half-naked just covering my breast with littler clutch. With my head down to avoid any eye contact I end up in closest clothes store where I say to assistant: “I need some trousers and a T-shirt, I’ve had a little accident.” I didn’t plan any shopping but eventually I was forced to change my plans. At least Germany, it is a right place for doing so. Now I use to say that probably God himself had to undress me to make me buy finally something for myself!

 

I’m flying to Frankfurt! After a short sleep and long night unpacking the boxes my day on the way to a new destination begins with Redbull. I spent the day before moving to a better apartment that I’m going to share with my best friends. Brighter tomorrows are coming! The flight also wasn’t difficult, but I’m so tired that straight after the arrival I can not afford more than a bed. Later I took advantage of the hotel’s facilities and visit a sauna and swimming pool. In the evening I end up with my favorite Viennese “schnitzel”. Whenever I am a bit closer to Austrian culture, I can not resist this typical meal.

The next day I have way more energy and still couple of hours before my flight back to Abu Dhabi, so I have to go to explore the city. We stay far away from the city center, in the hotel nearby the airport, but thanks to a good train connection I can get to the city easily and quickly. Just need to find a right platform in this huge maze under the airport! When I’m again on the day light, it is freezing outside! According to the instructions of one receptionist I get off on the main pedestrian zone full of boutiques and shopping centers. But the shops are not what interest me. I didn’t do any research about this new destination so I actually have no idea where to go and what is typical for Frankfurt. I have just heard about Frankfurt sausages and Hot dogs. I wander around the city and besides stalls with sausages I find nothing interesting what would make Frankfurt distinguished from other cities. I stopped at the bookstore with mostly art literature. I catch a book about Frankfurt and look at the pictures. Immediately they hook me with the wood-clad houses. The title below picture says “Romer Platz”. The museum of writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe sounds also interesting to me. And the direction of the route is clear!

From the hotel I carry a map in my pocket, so the most famous square in Frankfurt with a large town hall is not difficult to find. On the way, I walk across the river and take pictures of the townhouses with a typical Frankfurt architecture. Later I follow the signs that should lead me to Goethe’s house. Outside is so freezing that even my cell phone get frozen and I need it for pictures! So I stop at a very interesting soup place with the hope that the staff will help me with the charger. They don’t have my wire, but at least I warmed my stomach with a great soup. Warm air inside helps my phone cell to catch another breathe. Whueeey, I’m ready to go to the museum!

“Goethe hause” is in fact a house where the author of the Sorrows of Young Werther (and other mandatory literature) lived and worked. There still is his furniture, library, and even the work desk where all his great works were made. I’m remembering some of his big quotes: “One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words”, or  “We are shaped and fashioned by what we love”. I’m so glad I came here…

P.S .: A few months later I come back again, and again I have a “schnitzel” for lunch, but for the second time it is more fun, because I have a company – a good old friend who came to meet me from France. 🙂