Zai Jian Shanghai! Wilkommen Frankfurt!!

June 15.09
Yahoo!! I woke up this morning at the 5Elements Hostel in Frankfurt and had the brilliant idea that I could get back on my blogger site again to track our 2nd European Extravaganza!! So here the Peake family lies, poised perfectly to explore some of our favorite areas of Europe.

We left Shanghai after packing up the remains of our Westwood Green apartment and moving all the little bits of important leftover things to the SRC (Shanghai Racquet Club). We couldn't have done it without the help of our hardworking Ayi (maid) and a new-found friend, Wu Qun who's family is our official plant source. She showed up at my request for a 2nd round of helping us in her small van. The Chinese are such incredibly hardworking people-the women work at everykind of dirty job that's out there. After 8 hours of moving, we finalized our packing and left for the airport with our other wonderful connection, Jordan who we have established as our 'personal driver' whenever we need airport rides or have friends taken around the city.

We are flying Lufthansa the whole summer. Left Pu Dong airport at 11:30pm and flew to Munich then transferred onto Frankfurt. All the flights were smooth and uneventful-just the way I like them:-) Being a little more seasoned then the last time we did Europe we decided to travel by rail once we hit Frankfurt, which is so much cheaper than getting a taxi into town and as we discovered amazingly easy too! 3 stops away is the Frankfurt Main Train Station (FFHbt).

We literally shlepped all of our stuff from the station to the Hostel we were booked into. (Megin was not impressed looking like a tourist backpacker) We looked like a typical portage family all 3 of us with a backpack each, another roller type piece, not your typical portage item, and Geoff with a massive hockey duffle stuffed with sleeping bags and bulky stuff and another oversized canoe pack with straps, plus computer bags.

The 5Element hostel is a block away from the train station . I am coming to love this hostel traveling especially with teenagers. The price is right, they always have excellent cappuccinos and coffee’s, this one is extremely clean and the showers awesome. Free internet, cheap food (especially important in Europe) and open common areas. Great for seeing all the other people traveling – mostly younger than us, but not always.

We bought a 24 hour train and local transport pass, about 5 euros/day and went to Mainz for a walk around. It’s only 38minutes away – exactly on the train – and saw the town’s Domo, around a 1000 years old and St. Stephens Church. Gorgeous stained glass designed by Marc Chagall. All the glass is in shades of blue and is just stunning.

Came back to meet Mom coming in on her flight from Amsterdam at 5:00pm. Finally connected!! All headed back to the hostel and jet lag set in. It was 3:00am for my body when I went to bed at 9pm. Had a great sleep and am now ready for a new day. Off to pick up our official touring mobile in Mannheim today and then onto Zurich.