Day 15 7/4/06 - Japan, Germany

Ueno -> Narita -> Frankfurt

Highlight

• Sadly, we have to say goodbye to Japan. As soon as we were checking in at the airport, apart from everyone trying to speak to us in Japanese, it was a totally different atmosphere. The plane ride really reflected the German culture. Efficient, but unremarkable. Surprisingly though, the meals were quite good.
• What do you call people from Frankfurt? Frankfurters?? Anyway, they don't smile, are extremely tall, and have excellent English. They also speak very fast.
• Unfortunately, everything was more expensive than Japan.
• We caught a train into the city centre. What a shock! The trains are all very dirty and have graffiti all over, but at least they run on time.
• Frankfurt - the buildings are grey and dirty, but occasionally you get glimpses of beauty.
• I dunno if it's because we were in the touristy area, but all the cliches seem to hold true. You really can find pretzels and sausages everywhere, and the Germans themselves lap it all up.
• All the shops open until 8pm, which was a good sign, as it didn't get dark until around then.
• The department stores also have basements with food, but no taste testing or cheap discounts at the end of the day though :(
• With a few exceptions of European labels, the shops are almost the same as Oz.
• The women are especially tall. I saw so many tall women going out with shorter guys. And unlike Japan, there are actually fat people as well as thin.
• There are also lots and lots of punks around too!
• Our hotel is very basic but quite cute. See review.

Food

• Bento box- fried vegetable, chicken and fish on rice from Tokyo station kiosk (380).
• Red bean danish from kiosk (105).
• White bean bun.
• 'Anpan' - another red bean bun.
• Lufthansa snack 1:
  • beer
  • pretzel
  • biscuits
• Lufthansa snack 2:
  • salmon rice triangle
  • egg and tomato sauce sandwich
• Lufthansa lunch 1:
  • beef with mashed potatoes
  • honey chicken
  • prawn salad
  • bread roll
  • cucumber sushi
  • fruit salad
• Lufthansa breakfast 1:
  • salmon on noodles
  • cashew chicken and noodles
  • bread roll
  • chocolate cake
• Instant noodles.
• Pastry triangles.