Frankfurt-er

October 15

Ride the Trenitalia to Aeroporta Roma (pardon any misspellings) and read through a good portion of Paul Auster’s The Brooklyn Follies, a book I’ve lifted from Casa Celeste’s. The Lufthansa flight attendant is staunchly teutonic and a barrel of Korean tourists are on board. “Cheese?” or “Turkey?” sandwiches are offered by the aisle-wide stewardess as she plows up the aisle. The short hour and forty-five minute flight leaves us stuck at the airport in Frankfurt waiting for our next flights, which are at least twelve hours later. At midnight, a uniformed woman comes upon the scene of all of us lounging in chairs, which are set up for relaxation, and orders us to leave right away!! By this time, I am going on only 2- or 3-hours of sleep, and feel like murdering her but two hours later, returning to the place which I’d left, I found a new passel of people and sat down in a chair with no foot rest. I have discovered that Air India would not be set up to take baggage until 9:00 a.m. When I am able to check-in, I have met a retired couple from NYC, who have been up since at least 36 hours ago and who tell me they are returning from having spent the previous 3 months in their home in the western part of Spain (he’s originally Spanish but is retired from the NYC Fire Department and she’s from Ecuador). Also find a free Samsung internet service where I can read my email… When 11:30 a.m. rolls around, I know I’ll sleep for at least a portion of the trip.