Die Reise

 All in all, this was an easy trip, but I did learn quite a few things about flying internationally:

Discovery Number 1: Money waist belts ARE NOT actually meant to be worn where there is the most theft...when your belongings are all over the place. Or you will be stopped and taken into a private screening room. So, I'd say just go with a plain old money belt.

Discovery Number 2: Some cell phones just hate me. {Or I need to call at&t before flying internationally). I actually get all five bars (yay!) but my phone won't allow calls any except for emergency numbers.

Discovery Number 3: Because my cell phone decided it wasn't going to work, I had to find a pay phone...which doesn't accept phone cards within Frankfurt airport. And you could only pay with certain credit cards and 1euro coins. Since currency exchange places outside the airport don't carry coins, I had to break a bill before I could call...just something to keep in mind.

Discovery Number 4: Sometimes the phone terminals don't work for some reason...but sometimes it seems you have a guardian angel watching over you. I couldn't get the phones by the upstairs trains to work (I did it downstairs no problem...) so some nice person let me call my "buddy" so I could let him know that my train was leaving in a few minutes.

Discovery Number 5: The less luggage the better. I am super glad I downsized from two large bags to a large and a small...and I need to work out my arms more because it was super hard to lift that 50lb bag.

Discovery Number 6: Customs in Frankfurt is quite simple. I have nothing to declare, so they just stamped my passport and waved me through. I picked up my baggage no problem (although it was really hard to fit in the bathroom stall with me!) and then just continued on through the nothing to declare lanes. It seemed too easy!

Discovery Number 7: ICE trains are not only quick, but they're quiet. And the country side of Germany looks like Buffalo with mountains in the background.