My Life in Travel

Part 1: Adventures in Frankfurt Airport
This story happened exactly one year ago. I was on a business trip in Paris for some days. When the time came to fly home, I got an email from Lufthansa, which was the air company operating the flight, that there is a delay with the flight, but the length was not mentioned. I was waiting for my flight in Charles de Gaulle Airport in France and at the end, flew with 1 hour delay. At that moment I’ve received a notification on Lufthansa mobile application saying that the next flight was misconnected. I was confused. I had a stop in Frankfurt for a bit more than 1 hour, and when I landed here, connected to the network and saw that the status of next flight was updated to “cancelled”. What was happening in the airport itself I cannot share by words. Imagine hundred of people running with their luggage looking for the Lufthansa service centers to see what can be done for their flights. There were few stands with Lufthansa logo, which were empty, no one was available to help. Finally, when I found one of their locations, which could help with the flight information, they informed me that there was some issue with their system and all flights from Frankfurt are being cancelled for that moment. I was also informed that the next flight to Yerevan was only in 2 days and they could not do anything to “bring me back” home earlier. I was really stressed at that moment. But the support agent informed me that as a compensation they will give me special coupons for hotel stays which include breakfast and dinner. He also gave me a coupon for the train to get to the hotel, which was next to the airport. However, he gave me a coupon for the first night only and said that I have to come back in the morning, so they can give me another coupon for the next night stay as well.. Well, ok, no problem.

Here the second part of stress started. This guy showed me where to go for the exact train, how many stations to go etc. So I followed his instructions and seemed this was not that hard. But when the train passed 1-2 stops, I understood that something is wrong here. I asked people inside and they said that this train goes to the city center and not to the hotel stop I needed. I was like – whaaat?! But ok, not a problem. I decided to leave in the central station and take the next train back to the airport or another one which would go close to “my hotel”. The queue next to the information desk at the station was endless, so I found 2 policemen to ask for directions. And again a surprise! It appeared that there is a strike on trains in 5 minutes starting and no any train will operate for the next 24 hours. It was 10pm in the evening. Cold and dark outside. These policemen said that one of the options was to take a bus to somewhere and then change it to another one, but they did not guarantee that this will work too.. So, I decided that the best option I had at that moment was to download Uber and call for a taxi. And in 20 minutes I reached the hotel safely.

This was a nice looking hotel called Steigenberger really close to the airport (3km far). I wouldn’t say the personnel was happy to have dozens of “free staying” people like me. When they gave me the key of my room, I asked how and where can I get the dinner, and they gave me a pack saying that this is my dinner. People in the elevator with me were also surprised with such “rich dinner”. When I came to the room, I saw that this was a pack of sacks: mineral water, apple and cookies. Well.. at least I had a nice and big comfortable room to have a rest for this night.

In the morning, after the breakfast (which I should say was quite nice) I made check-out and informed that there is a free shuttle bus working 27/7 to get to the airport. Oh, seriously? Then why I needed to take a train, if I could use the bus to get directly to the hotel?
Anyway, shortly I was there and checking with Lufthansa agent possibilities for the next overnight stay. The lady said that there is no free room available in Frankfurt and she had to give me a coupon for a hotel in a small town named Kronberg, close to Frankfurt. But she also gave me 2 vouchers for the taxi that they cooperate with, which would take me to the hotel and back on the next day before my flight. So in about 30 minutes I was already in a small cute hotel, named Vienna House by Wyndham, located next to the train station of Kronberg. I should say the service here was much higher than in the previous hotel. The personnel was very kind, welcoming, ready to help with any question. I’ve arrived a few hours earlier than the check-in time, but since the room was cleaned and ready, the lady let me get in. This was a simple room, but quite nice and comfortable too. Of course, I was not going to stay whole day in the hotel room, and since there were no trains and no direct buses to Frankfurt, I called Uber and went to walk in the streets of Frankfurt.

Part 2: Christmas Markets in Frankfurt
I got the best taxi driver today. When I told him this was my first time in Frankfurt and I have only a day to see the main part of the city, he started to show me everything on the way, telling stories like a guide, advised which places I should go and which I can skip. Since it was already December, all streets were covered with Christmas lights and decorations. Every corner was full of people, as there were several Christmas Markets all around serving food and drinks (can you imagine any German market without hot and spicy Sausages and Gluhwein?), colorful souvenirs, singing & dancing people. Fun mood was all around, as well as the fog covering tops of the buildings, making the view somehow majestic. Literally, I did nothing but walking in all these streets and markets, checking the selling items and admiring lightened streets. The mood of Christmas was here and it was awesome. In the evening I called a taxi again and went back to the hotel in Kronberg, had my simple dinner and went to sleep. But before that here I want to share some pics from that day to pass the atmosphere of Christmas mood.

Part 3: Walking in Kronberg
It’s time to see what we have in Kronberg now. After the check-out I asked the lady in the reception what can I see here. She smiled at me and said – this is a small town, there is nothing to see here.. maybe the park with a lake..? But this wasn’t the answer I was expecting. Checked again what I have on Google Maps, left my luggage in the hotel storage and went out. It was so foggy outside that the building in front of you was hardly seen. The streets were empty, no any people outside. The feeling was like I am in a scary movie walking alone. But little by little, in the time I was walking high on a hill, the fog became less. I turned right and appeared in the center of the town, which looked like a scene from mystical places. After noon town started to wake up. It was Sunday and people started preparing their stands for the Christmas Markets. This was a nice place with cute small buildings and cobblestone streets. There was also a Kronberg Castle, which was closed for visitors on that day, but its first floor was open and operating as a part of the Christmas Market. I must say, I had the best Gluhwein in this little town. It was the perfect treat on this cold and foggy day before leaving the country.

Epilogue
I came back to the hotel, took my luggage and asked the receptionist to call a taxi that I can pay with the voucher I had. Arrived to the airport, passed all controls and flew home finally. But as a conclusion, I was convinced once again that nothing happens without a reason and in every bad situation there is something good coming. In my situation I was stressed because of the delayed and cancelled flight, but if not that, I would not have this chance to see Christmas lights in Frankfurt and walk in mysterious Kronberg, a town that I never heard about.

Believe in magic and Magic will happen with you 💖