Last year around this time, every one traveled north to see the Christmas markets. Although every came home talking about how fantastic they were and their pictures were beautiful.... I would always respond that I would NEVER go to Germany (or anywhere close to it) for the winter. Why? I am a Southern California girl through and through.... and cannot handle the snow. I love the snow, I think it is beautiful and so fun to visit but out of every place I have on my list of 'must see' places while in Europe.... the snow is no where close to making the list.
You always hear the saying 'Never say never'.... well.... I need to remember that one. A few months ago, my friend Millie called and asked if we (Morgan and I) would be interested in going to Germany with her and her daughter Emry. Without hesitation, I said we would love to knowing how much fun it would be spending a weekend on a mother-daughter trip. Emry is Morgans best friend out here and it was a weekend these girls will never forget (hopefully- never).
Thursday afternoon we left out of Malaga and landed into Frankfurt. When making the arrangements online.... we did not realize that Frankfurt, just like most other cities had more than one airport.... and did not even know about it until we landed..... 128 kilometers outside of Frankfurt. We quickly realized this when the taxi driver quoted us 190euro taxi ride to our hotel. Of course we did not take it and instead waited for the bus along with every other passenger on our flight (or so it seemed). After a joyful 2 hour bus ride... we got off and tried to find our hotel... at 1:30am. Without having perfect knowledge of exactly where we were, we found a taxi, jumped in, and rode 3 blocks.... 3 whole blocks to our not so pleasant hotel.
After the airport hiccup.... we should have known that the rest of the weekend was going to follow suit and have us guessing what was going to happen next and how much more curve balls we would take. Needless to say... Booking.com (where we always book hotels and apartments from... and is typically amazing) FAILED us in the worst way possible. Our hotel was in the shadiest district of Frankfurt. It was on the same block as the strip clubs, topless casinos, hourly room/hotel rentals, shops filled with all sorts of things related to the topic of the block. Not only was everything lit up like Christmas decorations, most of the doors to these places had pictures or silhouettes of women on them and men... creepy men standing in the doorway and street sidewalks. In between these clubs and wonderful places you would like to introduce your 8 year old daughters to was the soup kitchen. I would like to say- I am all for helping those in need and feeding the hungry.... but I would prefer it not to be done in front of my daughter. Not because I do not want her to know about those who need and the importance of helping them but to prevent her from seeing the 20+ men (all of them were men) standing around drinking, puking, peeing, and doing drugs right in front of her little innocent eyes.
Right before the flight:
(and right after this picture... Morgan spilled her WHOLE cup of hot chocolate all over Emry... what a way to start the weekend)
Our hotel:
This was one of the more 'appropriate pictures' I have to post of the neighborhood...
Friday morning we woke up and walked to breakfast: Bagel Brothers. It was so good!!
Adding to the weekend of curve balls, Millie took a bite of her bagel and one of her brackets to her braces came undone. Luckily a worker was so helpful and walked her down the block to a dental office. They were not able to help her but called an orthodontist office who was willing to see her if we hurried over. Rushing to a taxi, we made it to the orthodontist where the girls patiently waited and Millie got her braces fixed... for FREE. They were so nice and helpful it was awesome.
The girls waiting:
From there- we were FINALLY going to the Christmas Market!!
First market: Frankfurt:
Not kid friendly (like our hotel neighborhood)
After this market, we made our way to the Wiesbadien market.
We took the train from Frankfurt to Wiesbadan.... where another gentleman was so helpful in showing us what train tickets we needed to purchase, what train we needed to get onto and then sent us on our way with a chocolate Santa for the girls to share.
This one was so cute and perfect!!
On the train:
These little ladies looked EVERYWHERE for these stacking dolls.... and they found a booth filled with them!!
After this booth- we finished walking around and called it a night....
which means... went to eat :)
Of course it was beginning to be too easy for us. On the train ride home... we showed our tickets to the police/security and out of 4 tickets... only ONE was correct. What?? How could that be.... we purchased them all together and all the same.... but apparently not. We were penalized 40 euros for having the wrong tickets... or being in the wrong train.
We finally made it to Frankfurt... and headed towards the hotel. Walking down our street at 10:30pm on a Friday night is not exactly comforting but we did it... without looking back.... or to the side.
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