Landing in Europe



The ICE train in Frankfurt Airport

September 3rd, 2010: It was about 6.30 in the morning when I landed in Franfurt International Airport. The night before was pretty hectic. The flight was at 1.20 am and I had little time to relax. Then there was this long flight spanning about 9 hours that left me quite tired.

Nevertheless, in Frankfurt, I quickly checked out of the immigration counter and got hold of my baggage. I then headed for the railway station. On my way I countered a few people who, when I asked in English, replied in German. I could sense that language was indeed going to be a challenge for me in Germany.

The DB lady at the reservation counter thankfully could speak English and she helped me get the best combination of trains to my destination -- Potsdam, near Berlin. For me it was the first rendevous with the German ICE trains. As I sat on my train I could sense what made the ICE one of the most advanced trains in the world. The compartments were clean and the staff smart. As the train left Frankfurt I could peer through my window that refreshed me. The countryside was verdant and green. I loved the greens. I took out my camera and clicked a couple of nice pictures.

The beautiful cuntryside enroute Frankfurt- Berlin 

The ICE began speeding and at one point of time the video screen outside the compartment displayed 152 Km/hr. It was thrilling. In India you never get to see a train touch even 100 Km/hr. I was speeding like a rocket and the countryside changed its form all too fast. Here was the green paddy fields that would turn into a dense forest in a few seconds and then into cute villages with red-coloured tile roofs.

With about two changes in trains I was speeding towards Potsdam, a journey that was to take me about 5 hours from Frankfurt. In the train I met quite a few German citizens and enjoyed my first detailed conversations in Europe. There was a student from Max-Plank and a few elderly gentlemen who could talk in English. We discussed a lot of things and the long 5 hours turned into an interesting opportunity for me to get a feel of German culture.

Inside the ICE

 I reached Potsdam at about 2 pm. The weather in Potsdam was bright and cool. The landlord of my appartment, Mr. Christian, received me at the gates and guided me to my room. Mr Christian is a fine gentleman with an equal flair for German and English. That surely was comforting for me.