Frankfurt 2007- Part One

*This trip was pretty long, and content-rich, so I will split it between two posts.

When I was thirteen I traveled to Germany with my father to visit my cousins. It was the first time I had been to the Frankfurt area, and I was beyond excited.

We arrived at Newark airport with time to spare. We spent about an hour in the President's Club before boarding our plane. While my father sipped a latte and chatted, I stared at the departure/arriving boards. I was fascinated by the different cities on the list. It was crazy to think that the people on those planes were going to these foreign places, but at some point would be in the same building as me.

After an eight-hour flight, we arrived in Frankfurt International Airport's new terminal. It was my father's first time in Germany as well, and we were confused by the different colored telephones lining the walls. Later we learned that each color stands for a different purpose (business, emergency, personal, etc.)

Since we didn't know how to use the telephones, we had breakfast at a cafe. Soon my Aunt Becky came to pick us up, and we were off.

I took pictures of everything. I couldn't get it out of my head that this was Germany- I was in Germany. Like with everything I do, I pictured myself on a map. I was a continent away from my friends, my school, my life. I loved it.

After a short drive we were in Bad Homburg. The first thing we did when we got to the Hotel Sonne was take a nap. The six hour time difference had started to take a toll.

After sleeping for a few hours, we walked to the Herdieckerhoff's apartment building. Then we rode our bikes about two miles into the center of Bad Homburg.

Bad Homburg is a little town outside of Frankfurt. The center of town is filled with shops and restaurants that are a cross between new and old. It really is quite charming.

We had desert at a bakery and then went to a park. A band was playing in a summer concert, and we enjoyed some soda while lounging and listening. European Coca Cola is different from its American counterpart. It is thicker and more syrupy. It's tasty, just not what I was used to.

The next day we went to the ruins of a medieval castle. The town it is located in was hosting a festival, and we saw a parade before touring the monument. Townspeople were dressed in traditional clothing, tossing treats to the onlookers. I had the best ice cream- raspberry. It sounds like a usual flavor, but this was all natural. The seeds from the berries were in it, and I just can't describe how refreshing it was.

The only open parts of the castle were the dungeons. It was eerie to walk in a place people were once tortured in. The castle was located on a hill, and the views were phenomenal.

My Uncle Jurgen claimed he knew the way back down the mountain, but we ended up getting lost. We wandered through fields for three hours until we came upon a farmhouse. The inhabitants pointed us in the right direction and eventually we made it back to our car.

That night I had pork schnitzel for supper. It was great, but nothing special. We went to a traditional German restaurant. It was outdoors with wooden tables and a playground for the children.

Vancouver 2005

As tonight begins the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, I have decided to document my trip to the major Canadian city.

I will start by giving my family connection to Vancouver. In the late nineteenth century, Gustav Roedde (my great-grandfather) opened Vancouver's first bookbindery. The Victorian house he had built for his family is now the Roedde House Museum. In 2005 I went with some of my family to visit the house, among other things. Unfortunately I used a disposable camera to take all of my pictures, so I won't be able to post any of them.

I was only eleven years old the summer of 2005. The main thing I remember from the six-hour plane ride is passing over the Rocky Mountains. They were majestic and beautiful, and I was especially struck by them because I hadn't seen them since I was four.

The customs process went smoothly, and soon we were on a shuttle bus passing through downtown Vancouver. The geography of the area is stunning; the green hills of Stanley Park, the rolling blue waves of the Pacific, and the Canadian Rockies looming over it all.

We stayed at the Sylvia Hotel, where the staff was familiar with our family. It was a quaint, stone building directly across from English Bay. My father and I had a suite complete with a kitchen and balcony, while my aunt and uncle had an attached room with two bedrooms. That first night we ate dinner in the elegant hotel restaurant.

Across from our hotel was English Bay, and the trails along the seawall. About a mile down one of the trails was a small waterpark that I would go to with my dad when the weather became brutally hot. Behind our hotel was the city. I became obsessed with a burger joint, Fatburger. If I could go back now, I would try more unique food.

One day we drove our rental car to our family cottage on Cultus Lake. My father relived memories with his siblings as I learned to skip rocks. It was a beautiful area; nestled in the forest with the mountains in the background, I never wanted to leave.

On our way back to the hotel we had a frightening experience. We were in a traffic jam, and were considering getting off at an exit to get something to eat. My Aunt Gail got a weird feeling and said she thought we should stay on the road. After awhile we saw a man walking very slowly on side of the road. Then multiple cop cars went zooming by. Later we turned on the radio to see the reason for the traffic. We learned that the man we had seen was a maniac who had been walking through Stanley Park with a rifle, and he had been at the exit we were thinking of getting of at. I always trust intuition now.

The Stanley Park aquarium was very entertaining. We saw a Beluga whale show, and I sat in the "poncho section." My dad was displeased to discover Beluga pool water doesn't mix well with lattes.

Seeing my family home as a museum was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. We met up with my Aunt Marlena, who had driven up from San Diego, to go see the house. When we walked into the museum a touring group was passing through, and the tour guide told them who we were. The group clapped for us and treated us like celebrities. It was surreal. We walked through the home, my nana pointing out the things she rememberd from her childhood. She didn't grow up there, but frequently visited the family who did at the time.
Afterward the Roedde House staff held a tea for us. We had a lovely time chatting and snacking as we looked at the family tree on the wall. It was extremely cool to see my name and birthdate in a museum.

Later that night we took a ferry to Bowen Island to see cousins that I had never met before. The ferry was loud, and we stood on the outside deck. The sun was about to start setting, and the Pacific Ocean was beautiful. However, I did find the mountains a bit intimidating. Once on the island we went to a nice restaurant and had a multiple course meal. When we were finished we walked around and had a great time with our family. I met my cousin Kate, who was about fifteen at the time, and we really hit it off. She told me about her life, how every morning she takes a ferry to school instead of a bus.

It was hard to leave, but when we did it was dark. This time we sat inside the ferry, but halfway through the voyage we felt a jolt as the ship stopped. I became scared, thinking we were going to die. The mountains lurking in the dark didn't make me feel any better about being stranded in the open Pacific. Within twenty minutes everything was ok, but I was still shooken up.

On our last night in Vancouver we drove by the house my nana had grown up in. The current inhabitants were outside and invited us in. It was amazing to hear the stories of her childhood and imagine everything she described.

Later we walked along the seawall. In the dark I saw some sort of otter flip in the bay, and I decided that Vancouver was my favorite city. That conclusion is valid even today.

Roedde House Website
http://www.roeddehouse.org/home.php

Picture Citations:
http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect6/Vancouver_%20BC_%20Aerial%20view.jpg
http://www.roeddehouse.org/home.php
http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/explore/vancouver/cities/bowen.jpg

This week I am going to try something different for my blog. Instead of describing my past travel experiences, I am going to research a destination. The city I have chosen is Dubai.

OVERVIEW:

Dubai is one of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates. It is one of the most populous, along with Abu Dhabi. The emirates formed a unified nation after the British ended occupation of the Persian Gulf in 1971. Dubai's year round sunny climate and modern architectural monuments make it the eighth most visited city in the world.

SUGGESTED BASICS:
Departing from Rochester is always a hassle when going to a foreign city. Most airlines will not have direct flights, but rather multiple layovers in other cities. Using www.vayama.com, I found a flight from Rochester to Dubai priced at $1,728 per person through Klm-Royal Dutch Airlines. The passenger would fly from Rochester to New York, then from New York to Amsterdam, then from Amsterdam to Dubai. This would be tedious to most, with a travel time of twenty-one hours. The return flight only has a layover in Atlanta, but it's a long one; the travel time is over thirty-two hours.
I would suggest flying out of a bigger airport, such as JFK, Logan, or O'Hare. The price of the airfare will decrease significantly, but getting to the airport might cost more time and money.

Tourism is one of Dubai's main economic industries. A wide variety of hotels exist for travellers with different budgets.

BEST AVERAGE FAMILY HOTEL: Hilton Dubai Creek

This hotel is part of the worldwide Hilton chain, which makes it familiar to many Americans. The hotel has a pool, as well as many of the ammenities the average American would expect while traveling. Child-care is available, as well as infant cribs and hypo-allergenic bedding. Staying in April 2010 would cost $191 a night- not bad for a five-star hotel in the Middle East.

BEST BARGAIN HOTEL: Richmond Hotel Apartments

The Richmond Hotel Apartments are available in April 2010 for $51 per night. Many ammenities are included in the rooms, and most reviews claim that the hotel staff was attentive and friendly. Unfortunately, it is located 15 minutes by car from the popular shopping section.

BEST HOTEL FOR AN UNLIMITED BUDGET: One and Only Mirage Dubai

This five-star hotel has the look of a tropical paradise. It is costly- $531 a night. All normal ammenities are included in the room, plus more. The location is ideal for travellers in Dubai.


ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES:
Dubai's white sandy beaches and deep blue waters are sure to please travellers.

Dubai offers many opportunities for a Middle Eastern shopping experience. Just remember to barter with prices a bit (it's expected).

Touring the emirate is also fun, whether you get a bird's eye view from a hot air balloon or navigate the sand dunes with an SUV.

Dubai has many golf courses, most of them made of sand.

Wiki Wadi water park is typical of Dubai- modern and extravagant! Surfing is just one of the park's many attractions.

Visiting the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa (2625 ft)!


TRAVEL TIPS
As in any city, foreigners should be cautious. Children are well-liked and welcome in Dubai. Women traveling alone are usually treated respectfully, but some find themselves in an uncomfortable situation. The best thing for women to do is stay in hotels with higher ratings or in better neighborhoods. Travellers should also be aware of the Muslim culture of the Arabian Peninsula. In some of the rural areas, strict Islamic traditions are taken very seriously. Foreigners should be careful not to offend or disrupt any native customs.



Picture Citations:
http://readingshouts.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/dubai1.jpg
http://www.alhiba.com/images/MiddleEastMap1.JPG
http://www.tropicbreeze.co.uk/images/2008crowneplaza.jpg
http://www.key2holidays.co.uk/images/hotels/Dubai%20Beaches/0003DXB.jpg
http://www.estatesdubai.com/uploaded_images/burj-khalifa-726453.jpg
http://www.ssqq.com/archive/images/dubai75.jpg