I will try to comment on what I can remember over the last 2 weeks. It all started on the airplane... or flugsumthingoranother.
I had arrived early to the airport in Reno, my bags were right at or just under weight and FOR ONCE I wasn't hassled by the baggage handler at the check in desk. He saw me weigh the bags, and didn't bother to do it again himself. I was a little bit worried about having time at the airport due to flying on Thanksgiving day, but no problems, the airport was about as dead as I've ever seen it. My heart dropped a little when they told me they couldn't print my ticket for Frankfurt to Munich connection because I was on standby, but a quick call to Lufthansa cleared this up. I hate dealing with secondary operators for airlines (especially United... but that's another story). Me and Glen even had enough time to catch a hearty breakfast at Carrow's after I checked in my bags. I left Glen at the airport with a full belly and good spirits hoping for the best and repeating to myself "everything will work out ok."
The flight from Reno to SF was great, there were only about 20 people on the plane and I got a whole row to myself. I was in good spirits when we landed in SF and ready to run off towards the Lufthansa gate. Got there fine but became a little worried when I saw the lack of baggage in the other passengers laps for an international flight (as well as the hair I saw on the leg of a young, very German looking woman who was adjusting her very earthy looking boots). I had read that Lufthansa was pretty strict with their carry on policy (1 small bag, under 20 lbs and a personal item, i.e. small purse or jacket), so much so that one person called them "Luftwaffe". Everyone else seemed to be abiding by the policies. I had tried to stretch it a bit, hoping that my small carry on bag would pass for a large purse. I had stuffed it full of food when they told me my vegetarian food reservation might not make it (I called Lufthansa to confirm what expedia told me, and of course 26 hours ahead of the flight, this information had NOT been passed on). Not to mention the fact that even the large "purse" was over 20 lbs.
All my fear was for nothing, I made it onto the plane just fine. Unfortunately I found a surprise in my seating. I was 2 rows behind the special area for "bassinet" seating, where families with small babies can put the child in a bassinet after takeoff and attach them to the wall. Needless to say, there was no shortage of crying. Also, a few nights before the trip I had moved my seat from the "window row" aisle seat which showed 2 people sitting next to me, to the aisle seat in the middle row right across the way. When I booked it, it showed 3 empty spots between me and the person on the other side, aisle. Reality turned out to be quite different: I had to long bearded men which I can only hope were backpackers due to the smell sitting right next to me. There was one seat between them and a woman on the aisle. This woman on the aisle appeared to have family members with her, a and a son behind her in the next row, also with an aisle seat an no one next to him, and a sister (or lover) in the aisle seat, window row next to her, also with a seat in between her and the man at the window. All three sat away from each other, maintaining their barrier of privacy. It took me about 10 minutes to decide I must find another seat, there was no way I would be able to sleep. I ended up in the very back row with seat that did not recline, but far removed from the children and I only had to sit right next to someone on one side.
The passenger who "shared" the free seat between us with me was a very talkative, sarcastic, Indian Londoner. After we were served the included takeoff cocktails (beer for him, gin and tonic for me... why not, it's included!) he inquired as to why I would be visiting such a cesspool on my visit, advised me that I would no doubt catch some disease while I was there, wished he had stayed in America long enough to obtain his greencard (only 6 months more after 12+ years) and complained about all of various immigrants and asylum seekers. Told me how immigrants get their cells phones paid for and even "drinking money" for the month, and that many Afghan's receive $12,000 pounds to go back to Afghanistan (stating, who needs $12,000 to raise goats) and then come right back again. I see some parallels to my own country... He was a bit confusing to me, but interesting. Indian looking with a strong British accent, some weird Indian or Buddhist symbol I have seen before tattooed on his hand, with a red string tied on another, drinking a lot of beer and sounding like the darkest skinned member of the national front. Who woulda thought.
He left me alone after I turned on my headphones, I fell asleep for a while with my supercool "skyrest" pillow (the best sleep I would have for the trip) and woke up to someone trying to shove dinner on my tray table:
It looks much better than it tasted, which was like nothing. It was some sort of vegetable filled ravioli atop a bed of the same vegetables in the ravioli. There was a roll which was ok with butter, some fruit which was acceptable, and a tomato and mozzarella salad which really was quite good. Also some Tillamook pepperjack cheese. I love tillamook, but it was totally warm and squishy so I didn't eat it. The German next to me put it on his roll, which would have been an option had I considered it (thinking back, this should have a been a cue as to what much of my diet while on this trip would consist of).
After eating I tried to go back to sleep and struggled to do so for the remainder of the flight. I tossed and turned into every conceivable position someone who is modestly flexible can take on a plane, but to no avail. I slept fitfully through the flight, my ciracidan rhythm being forced to adjust to night when it was day. I must have woken up when I smelled food, and thus, breakfast was served:
I don't know that this was fitting for breakfast, but it tasted good and I was hungry, so I ate it. It was some very bland lump of spinach, some weird but good fried potato patties and some Indian type mix of veggies, spices and tomato sauce with another roll, fruit and orange juice. All in all, I don't think I did too bad for food on the trip.
We landed in the Frankfurt airport and I rushed off not sure what customs would entail. I found out it entailed nothing, but I did have to go through a security screening to get back to the domestic portion of the airport.
(Frankfurt moving walkway)
I brushed my teeth and changed my shirt in the bathroom and went to my gate. I was pleasantly surprised with a coffee machine at the gate offering lots of options. Too bad I didn't understand anything but kaffee and espresso, so, espresso is what I had, and quickly spilled all over my jeans. I don't remember the flight, maybe I slept.
Landed in Munich and got very quickly and easily to the baggage claim where the baggage carts were free! Got my baggage just fine and walked through the "nothing to claim" door hoping no one would ask me if I had brought any food items (I was transporting 12 lbs of beef jerky and 5 lbs of David's sunflower seeds). No one was there, I simply opened the door and found Barbara, my new surrogate mother and hostess waiting right there for me. We walked less than 200 feet to the door, and another 100 feet to the car, and we were off!
and looks down onto the lake and a church (which I think is St. Sixtus's) and to me, appears to be a smaller version of said church. 
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