Germany's Greens on course for federal government:
Green Party in Germany has settled in as 2nd strongest party in the wake of Fukushima - new blog post.
Karma charmeleon
Flickr: Air Berlin Airbus A320 D-ALTD (by 64N21W)
Day 1: Traveling
I left on June 11 at about 4:30 pm EST and arrived in Berlin around 8:00 am in their time making it a 9 1/2 hour flight. Then I connect to arrive in Munich.
I liked Air Berlin. They are very nice. The person checking me in at the counter in Miami was the same person to scan the tickets to let us in the plane. So, he remembered me, smiled, and greeted me again. I thought that was nice, granted, I stick out so I am not so difficult to recognize, but it was nice of him. :)
The flight attendants were good as well. I guess the ones for international flights are more happy with their position than the domestic ones. They were willing to go back and find my meal even though I slept through when they were serving it. (Although, I should have remained asleep since the food was not so good.)
Although, it was kind of funny. I was sitting next to this French backpacker guy. He is dark skinned as well, but I guess the people assumed we were together, so they were handing me two of everything while he was asleep, and I’m just there like, Umm, I don’t know this guy…we don’t even speak the same language.
Sleeping on the plane was awkward. Usually, I would flirt with the person next to me so that I can lean on them, but I don’t like the French so much (I’m sorry, I’m an awful person, yes). The douche behind me, was like raging a kicking crusade on the back of my seat. I think he figured I would put it up if he kept kicking, so I made it lower. Usually, I am not such a dick, but it’s a 9 hour flight.
Most of all, I was scared that my luggage would not arrive, it was checked all the way to Munich, so I did not even have visual verification that it left Miami. It was nice to not have to physically walk it through border control, though. I hate that.
Anyways, I forgot my blanket and bus pass holder, which is too bad, since they would have been useful. I missed them while I was freaking out over the luggage limit of 8kg for the carry-on (17 lbs). Although, it did not matter so much. It was liberating to travel a little lighter, though. But I was freaking out the whole time, I asked some random person at passport control if it went through, but of course, language barrier. I learned the word for luggage, though.
Oh and to connect, the terminal was in a different building. I had to leave and walk a long ramp. Berlin airport is weird.
Connecting flight was 10 minutes late. So I was certain that my luggage was not going to arrive since it finally showed up, and we boarded very quickly. The plane seemed pretty new. It was a Boeing something or the other.
Oh, and another thing interesting was the photographers leaning over the barbed wire airport fence to take photos. That would not be allowed in the US.
Anyways, when I got to Munich, the bags took forever, but when they came out I was SOOOOO relieved.
Then I needed to figure out where I was going. No one was there with a sign, and I had no clue who was picking me up. But they found me.
Details on the people I’ve met are to come.
Tchüs!
Germany
