Day 14 - Cairo to Frankfurt

We arrive at the main Cairo train station around 12:30 a.m. and we grab a cab to get to the airport for our Frankfurt flight.  Our driver is amazing and makes incredible time dropping us off with plenty of time to spare.  We look for the Lufthansa ticket counter so that we can change our tickets since we are leaving earlier than planned.  We are directed to an office that does not open until 6 a.m. and since the flight we want is at 4 -- well that won't work.  We must look lost because a worker asks what we need and informs us that we need to go through security and the ticket counter is on the other side.  He helps us get up to security and then wants money for his help -- ah, yes, Cairo.

We go to the counter and I am able to get the booking switched but we need to wait to see if there are seats.  The staff tries really hard to get us on the plane, they even consider putting us in the jumpseats, but the pilot says no because the plane is already overweight.  So, it's 4 a.m. and we are stuck until the next flight in 12 hours. We can try to find a hotel or hang out here. Both of us are tired, and after trying to get real information from the hotel and cab hawkers in the airport (no internet until the business office opens in the morning) we give up and just stay put at the airport, taking turns napping.
 
After a few hours, I go to the business office to get internet access and reserve our Washington DC to Houston tickets.  Mission accomplished and I head back to find Mister. We go upstairs to a small cafe to sit on the soft sofa, watch the news, and relax for awhile.
 

The Cairo airport is new, but sparse and they have placed the few restaurants in the strangest places requiring separate staircases to get to them.  I settle in to relax and Mister starts working on notes for this blog.  I go down to the Lufthansa office and get us booked onto the flight and go back up to get Mister -- it is time to go to the ticket counter again.  Back through security and we get our boarding passes and head for the gate.

We have awhile to wait still and are amazed that once we were able to enter the gate area, there were shops and restaurants all over the place.  Dang, sure wish we could have waited the 12 hours in here instead.

Once we get to the gate area, it takes awhile before they let us into the gate, after going through another security check, the United one. Everyone is watching the news waiting for the announcement of the new president.

It was scheduled for Friday, but had been put off until today, since it is Monday and the crowds will be less.  At one point, we look up and laugh as the flight attendants from the plane are waving through a secure door to get the attention of the gate agents so they can get the plane loaded.  The plane is the same as the trip down -- 4 1/2 hours - no entertainment whatsoever.  We both sleep quite a bit and arrive in Frankfurt late evening.  Since we missed the first flight from Cairo, the next flight leaving Germany is not until the next day.  I don't really feel well and so after searching around the airport, Mister finds a hotel right on location and we walk over and check in.

The room is at the Hilton and it is so very nice -- ah for the love of a good bed and nice duvet.  I go directly to the shower and bed, while Mister goes back downstairs for some dinner and a German beer, and watches a EuroCup game.  I go sound asleep and never hear him return.