Fun, Friends and Frankfurt

A couple weekends ago, we traveled to Frankfurt, Germany to visit with some dear friends we met in S's A-100 class last summer.  They were stopping there for a few days before heading on to their first post, so we jumped at the opportunity of proximity, and hopped a plane to see them.  It was a short trip, but it was well worth it. We are all really close, but our kids had been especially close while we all lived in Oakwood together, so it was like old times watching them laugh and play after 6 months apart.  

We weren't quite sure what to expect with Frankfurt because S and I had heard such mixed reviews, but we were both pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed it.  Maybe it was the mild weather (high 70's the whole time compared with the high 90's + humidity we've been enjoying  suffering through here) and the abundance of international cuisine that had us so excited.  I seriously love Turkish food, but after 6 months of nothing but kebabs and a random Chinese takeout place, we were ready to mix it up. But I think it was more than that.  The city was clean, the people were friendly and it had an all-around great vibe.  We dined on Thai food twice (my all-time favorite food) Japanese/sushi, German bratwurst and delicious ice cream and other assorted goodies.  

Beer and Bratwurst.  Enough said.

At the Japanese restaurant.  And yes, it does look like E is trying to shove chopsticks up his nose.

Despite the amazing public transportation throughout the city, we walked everywhere.  S and I enjoy walking while visiting new places because it's the best way to really see the city.  And with such awesome weather, we didn't have to worry about sweating through our clothes the second we stepped outside.  

The Frankfurt Triathlon was going on the day after we arrived, so we walked from our hotel to the river to take a look while we waited for our friends' flight to get in.  We didn't see much aside from a few finishers who looked surprisingly not exhausted, but it was nice to plop down at a coffee shop and people watch while E napped in his stroller.  

We had dinners with our friends every night, took the boys on a trip to the playground, and explored the Frankfurt Zoo together.  I was expecting a little more from the zoo, to be quite honest (you know, wild animals and tight spaces sorta make me sad) but the boys had fun. E is still telling the story about how he and M got to see the tiger and the bear.  This story is usually followed by a mighty roar before he drops down to his hands and knees and crawls around like said tiger.  It made quite an impression, apparently.

The Tiger.  

It was so great to see this lady!

Our guys.

And all too soon it was time to say goodbye, but not before planning, however tentatively, our next visit with each other.  The first thing E said when he awoke on our last day was if we were going to see his buddy M.  Even in the taxi on the way to the airport, he was still asking, "We going in this car to see M?" I love that we are all so close and I love that E and M are such best buds.  And I can't wait until we see each other again. Have fun at your first post, guys!  Miss you!