John Bickerstaff

A 6.50 flight is always going to be challenging but having an 8 hour layover probably doesn't help. Such is having a flight re-arranged. Thankfully a taxi wasn't necessary - the first tram got in at 5.15 which while not the usual 2 hours was pretty close and the airport itself wasn't too busy so a couple of Euros was better than a taxi fare. All nice and smooth - boarded just as the sun was rising over the hilly backdrop of Nice. Aisle seat helped with my ankle - not sure trecking around Frankfurt was going to be the smartest move but hey what else can you do with 8 hours to burn. Pilot caused concern with his weather update - rain in Frankfurt & a wintry 17° Made it to Frankfurt airport by 8ish - no rain. Lies. Locate station and grab some breakfast was the priority. Google rather concerningly was stating that the walk to the station was 35 mins - mad considering the train into the city itself was 12 mins. More lies - 15 tops - but then Google is American. Tickets sorted, breakfast scoffed. Off to Frankfurt. Just need to find the correct platform - first try suggested the next train to the city was in an hour - surely not. Went back up and located the sign directing to trains to Frankfurt. Duh. Limited wait and a quick transfer into town. A couple of options stood out from the tourist suggestions the internet had produced - couple of towers to go up - Main Tower and the cathedral. In all likelihood the cathedral probably wouldn't have a lift so was rejected. Main Tower's lift covered the 54 floors at 18kph no less. Great views of the skyscraper frenzy that is Frankfurt. Considered the hop-on hop-off (ho ho) bus to avoid too much walking but a combination of price and time kicked it into touch. Short walk to the old town and the market square and then down to the river. Walked across the Old Iron Bridge & spotted the river cruise quay. There was a 50 min option that offered a different perspective and avoided walking too much. Went to get some drinks and cakes first and made sure we avoided the loud teenagers when on board. Didn't strike me as their thing & the way they conducted themselves suggested they'd been steamrollered into it. Glided along the Main, eating our cakes and listening to the delayed English commentary. It was only on our way off board that we saw the sign stating that no food was to be consumed on board. Ho- hum. Walked back along the river to the station via a very eclectic part of town - all manner of different restaurants and shops. Train & back into the clutches of air travel. Wouldn't let us go though the EU passport aisle - "it's the rules" If so why were we allowed to do that just 6 days ago. Sod Brexit and all its shittiness. Once through discovered that most of the restaurants were located in the rest of the terminals which were open to all but because we were through passport control we couldn't get to. Overpriced sarnie it is then.Lue lisää