We arrived in Frankfurt at 8am or 2am according to my body clock – and navigated our way to the DB office to activate our Eurail Ticket to continue our adventure by train. A quick S-Bahn (metro) ride from the airport took us to Frankfurt’s Haptbahnhoff. Finding the luggage lockers we used the first of our Euro coins to stow our big bag. With three hours until our next train it was out to explore the city of Frankfurt, get a little sun and a brisk walk to fight off jet lag.
The weather was a fresh welcome compared to the muggy, oppressive
heat of DC. We wondered up the main Strasse through a plaza filled with breads,
fruits and even a portable fishmonger. Just beyond this we found ourselves in
Frankfurt’s red light district. A bit of shock to go in one block from the station’s
striking architecture through a family filled morning market and then to find
yourself surrounded by casinos, junkies and girl-girls-girls. But on we trudged
and had a great time exploring the city before heading back to the Haptbahnhoff
for our overnight train to Naples.We had spent our first night sleeping on plane crossing the Atlantic. Now we're ready for the overnight train to take us south to Naples. Trains in Germany and Italy for that matter have a reputation for punctuality and our did not disappoint. Rolling out of Frankfurt at on the dot.
The sleeper car we had reserved (I must take a moment to credit Ginger for all the reservations, schedules and planning. My role is to carry the luggage and keep her from buying giant glass souvenirs that will reduce to sand before we get home.)
All the trains in Euorpe are better then what we have in the US. By better I mean cleaner, quieter, faster, on-time and well staffed. On the S Bahn (metro) the station announcements in German where easier to understand than the garbled static that passes for information on the DC metro.
The sleeper car on the Eurorail are are more like a New York City efficiency than a typical Amtrak seat. That is if your NYC apartment included a butler.
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