River Rhine

It has been a little hard to find the time to get to a computer in Frankfurt. The hotel doesn't have a place to get on the Internet and finding Internet cafes that are open late hasn't gone well.

Friday was another good day. We visited a new elementary school that was built with passive house design. It had several great design concepts. It will cost 5-8% more than the average school construction, but the pay back time on energy savings is 10 years. We asked several questions about statistics on the school, but the Germans don't seem so concerned with statistics as we do. They didn't know if test scores were higher in the school, if there were less absences, or any of the metrics we use to measure progress in the US.

They take a very different look at the school. They first decide if it the right thing to do. If it is the right thing to do, then they move forward. They don't ignore the economics of the situation, but 5-8% is an acceptable price to pay for a pay back of 10 years. And since it is the right thing to do, they do it.

We then stopped at the city offices to discuss their environmental policies. Frankfurt has a very forward looking city environmental policy. They are even considering not allowing the biggest polluting cars in to the city center. They are not sure how this will be received, but again, it is the right thing to do. They will deal with the fall out after they implement the plan.

We went out to the old helicopter base for lunch in the afternoon. The US government gave the base to the German government about 15 years ago. It took the German government 10 years to sell it to the city of Frankfurt. Now that sounds more like government in the States.

The city of Frankfurt has incorporated the area into their greenbelt around the city. I have the link, but I forgot the paper. I will put the link in a future post. What they have done with the old helicopter base is incredible. They have turned it into a great space for people to walk, people to rollerblade on the old runway, and some neat wetlands. When we were there, the kids were having a great time out there. It would be a kid paradise.

After I get out of here, I'm going to walk around the inner green belt. It is the site of the old walls that fortified Frankfurt. Might check out the zoo also.

Friday evening we had a wonderful dinner at a former European Fellows flat. The meal was delicious. The conversation was great. Her son joined us for dinner after just getting back from his studies in England. He is headed to New York to train for his new job in London.

We had a little trouble getting to the dinner. The first cab driver dropped us off not very near where we were supposed to be. He stopped, pointed down the street and told us to walk there. It wasn't there. We took another cab to the address we were given, but the lady had moved. Luckily, they only moved two blocks away and the neighbors knew where they lived.

Saturday was a gorgeous tour of the River Rhine. Again I forgot the link to the boat we took. The River Rhine is a UNESCO world heritage site, and it is easy to see why. Quaint old German towns, several castles, and some of the most beautiful scenery.

Yes, MOM, I did get a little sunburned, but nothing that can't be overcome. I know, I know, I know. If you makes it feel a little better, I did hear from one of the ladies on the trip that I should have put sunscreen on.

We had lunch at Rudesheim and came back to Frankfurt.

I did think the baseball game I saw in Washington DC would be my last bit of Americana, but I was wrong. We went to the Frankfurt Galaxy NFL Europe game last night. It was really a lot of fun and not that different than a NFL game. It was a slice of the states for three hours.

http://www.nfleurope.com/teams/FRA

The World Bowl is in Frankfurt next weekend and the Galaxy will be playing. I think there fans will be excited. We saw a good game and had a good time.

I'm taking a little personal time today to be out and about in Frankfurt.

I will have to say that the food has not been a problem thus far. The cuisine is a little different, but nothing I can't handle. I do still have Turkey and Romania on the agenda, but I have been quite happy thus far.