Whitehorse to Frankfurt

Well, after great anticipation, the day has come!

Taking Kevin and Renata’s lead from when they travelled over, we checked in our luggage at the Whitehorse Eric Nielsen International Airport at 3:00 pm – four hours before departure time.  That way we could check in without a lineup, go downtown for a bite to eat before reporting back through security at 5:30. 

We travelled with our friend Darryl Raymond, best man for the wedding, and so he came with us for the check in and downtown.

Jennifer and Sue met us at the airport at 5:30 and bade us farewell – we’ll be seeing them there next week.

First time for us in the new departure lounge, and from here we could get a nice view of the airplane – a 767-300.

Before the boarding call, the flight crew assembled on the steps for a photo.

And then we were underway.  It’s really interesting taking off at this time -  in the evening.  Shortly after we were airborne and at cruising altitude the most amazing sunset appeared on the horizon.  Then it becomes apparent, because we’re travelling east across 8 time zones, that it’s sunrise at the same time.

In our economy class they pack us in like sardines.  We could barely lower our table trays to eat, and there was really not enough leg room.  If the person in front of you decided to recline the seat all the way back, you’d simply be squished.  Just the same, the service was good and the food remarkably so.  We enjoyed a spinach lasagna, and thin slices of pumpernickel that Hank really liked, but Susan and Darryl not so much.  Then an hour and a half before landing we had ‘breakfast’ – a bun with two slices of cold cuts and cheese, yogurt, and of course more pumpernickel.

Interesting routing, this polar flight.  We flew over Yellowknife, Cambridge Bay, Greenland, over the top of Great Britain, Amsterdam (the cloud cover opened up just enough to see Amsterdam and the Dutch countryside), and on to Frankfurt.

On arrival we said ‘bye’ to Darryl as he carried on to Zagreb.  Our plan was to stay overnight in Frankfurt.  An absolute breeze going through immigration and customs, and then down to the luggage carousel.  What a delight to see the word Whitehorse displayed.

One of the things you notice when arriving in Frankfurt at the airport is the drab grey interior and exterior of the buildings.  No artwork displayed, no waterfall features like Vancouver and Toronto.

We took a short taxi ride to our hotel – more of the grey colours. The air conditioning in the room is not working at any great level of efficiency – OK, let’s be honest, it’s hardly working at all.  Stinking hot here in Frankfurt with high humidity.

After a short nap and freshening up, we wandered around and Susan read a bit from her book on the back deck of the hotel.

Then we walked the short distance to where we will meet the shuttle bus in the morning that will take us to the airport.

On the way, another building – nicely designed, but again with the grey, austere colour scheme.

Back at the hotel we enjoyed a lovely meal with an item from this dessert menu ( made it grey in the photo in keeping with the theme here).

Susan had the hot chocolate cake, and Hank had the apple strudel.  A great way to end the day!!