Germany | Essen | Cannstatter Volksfest

Brayden 8Y7M18D

Bevlynn 4Y4M19D

My trip to Germany started with some dramas on the plane. 

We were all in our seats; it was a full flight. When the plane was about to depart, two ladies who sat 2 rows behind me screamed hysterically, "I can't breathe, let me out! I can't do this". Everyone was startled by the panic-stricken passengers. The screams continued... 

Few air steward and stewardess stormed to the scene. They were trying to understand the cause of distress. "The space is too small, I can't sit here". After trying to calm the passengers, they needed to change the seats or get the passengers out. This would delay the flight for an hour at least. One of the air stewardess was trying to ask for volunteers to change the seats. No one budged. 

She asked the man at the aisle seat if he could change seats, but he refused. She was annoyed and blurted "Would you rather have the plane delayed? This is so good of you (highly sarcastic tone)". I felt helpless - I was crammed in like a sardine in a can too.

Luckily, after a few attempts, 2 volunteers came. Thank goodness. I would have missed my trains in Germany if it weren't for them. 

First day in Germany, I had to travel from Frankfurt to Essen. While ordering at Mc Donald's kiosk at the train station, I was approached by a young woman. She said she's hungry and needed money to buy food. She claimed she's a refugee. I offered to buy her lunch instead. She started adding more than 10 sets (apparently for her 4 children at home). While waiting for the food, she asked for some money, out of pity, I gave her 10 Euros. She asked for more, even after my refusals.... my hands started to shiver. I wonder if it was out of hunger or fear. 

I suddenly remembered what had happened to me in the same area of Germany during one of my trips - when my bag got stolen before my flight. I could not get help from the airport help desk and almost could not get into the plane because I didn't have my flight information with me. My credit card was not working and phone does not have internet as we have it so conveniently now. It was quite a scare. 

I continued with my strong NO. She then left with the food. After grabbing some food, I felt much better.

The next days were busy, going from places to places:

Frankfurt --> Essen --> Dusseldorf --> Ulm --> Stuttgart --> Ulm --> Frankfurt

We were back to Cannstatter Volksfest this year (a mini-Oktoberfest in Stuttgart). Some locals were dressed in traditional costumes. We enjoyed the fun fair on the swing chair merry-go-round and roller coaster (got our ugly looking expression were caught on photo), played the coin games (and won some toys) and eating-drinking-dancing on the bench in the tent (where German band and modern band performed). We had some good laughs. The weather was perfect with cooling fresh autumn air. 

I'd love to bring the children here some day...

Bev called "Mommy, can you come home early?" Bray said "Can you show me the ducks in the river, how many of them?"

During the 2-week long trip, I barely had much sleep of ~5 hours daily but I felt energetic. The moment I touched down back in Singapore, I caught up on my sleep.