Fly and bike!
Trip Start
Jul 2008
1
2
33
Trip End
Dec 2008
Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Pun(s) intended.
We have swapped our climbing gear and Spanish dictionarrios for bikes and a central European phrasebook as we set off for our next adventure to bike as far east as time, legs, weather, and visas will allow.
Flying with the bikes went quite smoothly, much better than we imagined even. The bike boxes arrived mostly intact, and we were able to rebuild them in about an hour or so in the international baggage claim area. Ironically, about halfway through the process, a Canadian dude comes by to pick up his bike, fully built up but wrapped in bubble wrap. Lots and lots of bubble wrap. Food for though for the trip home.....
Passport control was efficient (not a single form to fill out), and customs was lightning fast (unattended actually)....love the EU! The train was a little trickier but that was us rather than the train. After learning about loaded bikes on escalators (requires a little
finesse, but easier than it sounds), we eventually found the right platform and convinced the machine to sell us a ticket.
From there is was smooth sailing, as the train has some cars designated with bike parking at one end near the door, and the ride to the hostel was just as bike-friendly, with bike lanes, bike ramps on the stairways, 2 bridges across the river Main JUST for bikes and peds (and only about a mile apart), and secure bike storage at our hostel. All this we experienced in just our first two hours on the ground.
We stayed at a very nice youth hostel right on the River Main, in the city center. Itīs expensive (actually EVERYTHING is expensive...OY), but very clean and central. And to top it off, the hotel is in the Apfelwien District...an entire neighborhood featuring hard apple cider.
Steph likes.
Comments
yeah!
So glad you posted, I have been thinking about you so much! Thanks for posting and letting us know that the initial part of the trip has gone so far. Can't wait to read more!