Pictures: My Lufthansa Flight from Portland, Oregon, to Hannover, Germany
On Sunday, September 2nd, 2012, I flew with Lufthansa Airlines from Portland, Oregon, to Hannover, Germany. This was a fortuitous date, apparently, because employees of Lufthansa went on strike right before my flight and immediately after. I totally threaded the needle on that one, like Tom Berenger in Sniper — “One shot, one kill.”
I arrived without problem in the arms of my wife on Monday afternoon, September 3rd (a day later, because the flight from the US to Germany is one long mother).
Also, the Lufthansa strike is over, thankfully, because I have a massive flight-crush on Lufthansa and I would hate to see my winged lover’s reputation sullied.
Here are the pictures from my intercontinental journey. Click one of them to open the gallery. Let us know if you can dig ’em!
This was one of the flight departure displays in the San Francisco airport. I got up from my seat and checked it over 10 times because I was terrified of missing my flight to Frankfurt… and also because I don’t trust Californians. :)
This was my view aboard that sweet, sweet Lufthansa flight. It was a long one, but MAN did they make it tolerable.
This was the view as we departed Frankfurt. I tried to capture all the bank towers downtown, but I accidentally bonked my iPhone against the window so hard I was paralyzed by my own embarrassment.
I can’t remember if this was during the ascent or descent, but this picture certainly captures the beautiful German countryside. It was very… what’s the word I’m looking for? “Bucolic?” Something colicy… much like the screaming infant 3 rows behind me. ZING!
Definitely approaching Hannover here. There was some turbulence, and I’ll be real honest with you — my palms were sweating. I HATE turbulence, especially because it is one of those recurring scenarios in which I am reminded of the fact that I am a huge pussy.
Getting close to the Hannover airport! …and no longer sure why I snapped so many pictures of the exact same thing. Thank you for your patience, Dear Reader. Don’t hate.
Coming in for the landing. This is right when I like to plug my headphones back into my ears and crank up iTunes even though the flight attendant has already told us to shut off all electronic devices. What can I say? I’m just hard like that.
Ah yes, that terrifying moment when you are about to touch down and it’s like you’re at the bottom of a staircase in the dark, sticking your foot out to feel for the floor… “OH JESUS I AM FALLING TO MY DEATH.” *errrrt* “Ah, made it. I was never really worried.”
This is a picture of the Maschsee, taken a few hours after I was reunited with my beautiful wife. And by “reunited,” I mean the birds were belting out an opera and the bees were machine gunning their pollen just everywhere.
This is the Courtyard Marriott on the Maschsee. I would love to stay here someday, but for now I have chosen to assume it is populated by rich assholes who aren’t really happy because they work too much and their kids hate them.
Awwwwww yeaaaahhh. That first beer in my new city. Can you guess which one was mine? That’s right; Daddy likes ’em big. Wait, I mean…
If you liked this post, please follow our blog by entering your email address in the upper right corner of this page. You’ll receive future posts directly in your inbox! No spam, ever! You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Glad you make it between LH work stoppages! The Germans are so considerate when they strike. “We’d like to notify you that we’ll be on strike for 3 hours between 10 am and 1 pm next Monday.” None of this US nonsense of “We’re gonna strike until we get what we want and we’re not gonna even give you a heads up.”
Thanks to you, my neighbors now think I have some sort of respiratory ailment that makes me snort uncontrollably. Seriously, though: your captions are laugh-out-loud hilarious. Thanks … I needed that.
Dude, flying into the `Schland from the East Coast of the U.S. is a few hours shorter than flying from the Left Coast. But what do I know, I got used to 10-hour one-way flights between the U.S. and Chile … anything shorter than 10-hours and I get *antsy* …
More beer, however, should solve just about anything ….
Hey, I’m a Capetonian with German heritage, I’ve enjoyed reading this immensely so far. I love seeing your perspective from an ‘Merican perspective, since I spent a little time over in Germany as well with some of your countrymen, playing Baseball, of all things. Hope you enjoyed it over on this side of the planet. What did you get up to here? (I bet you were surprised the Lions don’t roam the streets, and you landed on a tarmac landing strip…. hehehe. Kidding.)
Cheers?
Cape Town is awesome as always. Winter is making it clear that it will not be forgotten. We don’t get much snow here, but we just got some serious coverage on the local mountains. You should definitely bring the Wife for a visit of this awesome place (if she hasn’t been yet).
Keep it real. Cheers
I, my wife and three children were on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Phoenix. Towards the end of the flight, the steward asked my wife if the three were our children. After she replied yes, he said, “They are beautiful and well-behaved. You should breed more.” High praise indeed.
Glad to read (& see) you arrived safely. Fantastic that you threaded the needle of striking, as you put it wonderfully. I personally think that it happened on purpose. Lufthansa does not delay lovers… :-) Have a great time back in Deutschland!
Routine is good. It’s solid, reliable, and very German!
Things are good with me. I am leaving for FRA in 6 days (with a connecting Lufthansa flight out of CHI). I have a collection of folded shirts and pants awaiting their entry into a rather large suitcase, and I am restraining my excitement so I don’t overdose and find myself staring at the ceiling for hours at a time. :-D
Thanks so much for asking!
I’m going to visit my gf in Mainz. She’s lived in Germany since she was 9 years old. No special reason except to spend time with her. I am meeting her parents for the first time, which is quite special. :-)
We shall see if the Germans will have me or I will have them! :-D
I have a post in the making on ‘schadenfreude’ & I don’t know whether the Germans will bode well my American smile, or whether I can commiserate with their smiling while complaining! :-)
Oh, about that Courtyard by Marriott on the Maschsee? Nothing special there, but they did do one nice thing for me. I happened to be in Hannover around the time of the Maschseefest on a business trip, and they were very accommodating about keeping the business and pleasure billing separate for me to avoid expense report complications.
Oh God, My Wife Is German. 
Glad you make it between LH work stoppages! The Germans are so considerate when they strike. “We’d like to notify you that we’ll be on strike for 3 hours between 10 am and 1 pm next Monday.” None of this US nonsense of “We’re gonna strike until we get what we want and we’re not gonna even give you a heads up.”
LikeLike
Haw haw! I know. I’ve heard a great many jokes this past week about German strikes beginning and ending right on time. :)
LikeLike
Thanks to you, my neighbors now think I have some sort of respiratory ailment that makes me snort uncontrollably. Seriously, though: your captions are laugh-out-loud hilarious. Thanks … I needed that.
LikeLike
Good! Right on! We’re so glad you liked this post!
It’s a lot easier to have picture-focused posts now that I’m actually here in Germany. More to come!
And please, never stop snorting! :)
LikeLike
Dude, flying into the `Schland from the East Coast of the U.S. is a few hours shorter than flying from the Left Coast. But what do I know, I got used to 10-hour one-way flights between the U.S. and Chile … anything shorter than 10-hours and I get *antsy* …
More beer, however, should solve just about anything ….
LikeLike
Oh man, you’re accustomed to 10 hour flights? Horrible.
I’ve been to Africa twice, flying into Cape Town both times. That’s 14.5 hours in the air, one way.
My friend, please help me make Star-Trek style teleportation into a reality. :)
LikeLike
Hey, I’m a Capetonian with German heritage, I’ve enjoyed reading this immensely so far. I love seeing your perspective from an ‘Merican perspective, since I spent a little time over in Germany as well with some of your countrymen, playing Baseball, of all things. Hope you enjoyed it over on this side of the planet. What did you get up to here? (I bet you were surprised the Lions don’t roam the streets, and you landed on a tarmac landing strip…. hehehe. Kidding.)
Cheers?
LikeLike
Hi Red Baronsa! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Both times I went to Africa were for bowhunting safaris. I don’t hunt anymore, but the trips were amazing.
How is everything in Cape Town?
LikeLike
Cape Town is awesome as always. Winter is making it clear that it will not be forgotten. We don’t get much snow here, but we just got some serious coverage on the local mountains. You should definitely bring the Wife for a visit of this awesome place (if she hasn’t been yet).
Keep it real. Cheers
LikeLike
Right on! Thank you for the info.
Oh that’s right, the winter season is almost opposite from the western world, right?
LikeLike
It’s a Northern Hemisphere vs Southern Hemisphere thing. The South thinks the North are a bunch of hipsters, so we do things opposite. Hehehe.
LikeLike
Welcome back man
LikeLike
Thank you! It has been a year since I was last in Deutschland!
Great vault post, by the way!
LikeLike
You have some great photos to go along with your blog! You should enter some into Canon’s Project Imaginat10n https://www.longliveimagination.com
LikeLike
I, my wife and three children were on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Phoenix. Towards the end of the flight, the steward asked my wife if the three were our children. After she replied yes, he said, “They are beautiful and well-behaved. You should breed more.” High praise indeed.
LikeLike
Ah haw haw haw haw! That’s fantastic! :)
LikeLike
Glad to read (& see) you arrived safely. Fantastic that you threaded the needle of striking, as you put it wonderfully. I personally think that it happened on purpose. Lufthansa does not delay lovers… :-) Have a great time back in Deutschland!
LikeLike
Haw! Thank you!
It’s been crazy, but we are determined to find a routine.
How are things with you?
LikeLike
Routine is good. It’s solid, reliable, and very German!
Things are good with me. I am leaving for FRA in 6 days (with a connecting Lufthansa flight out of CHI). I have a collection of folded shirts and pants awaiting their entry into a rather large suitcase, and I am restraining my excitement so I don’t overdose and find myself staring at the ceiling for hours at a time. :-D
Thanks so much for asking!
LikeLike
That’s awesome! Any particular reason for the trip? Have a great time and a safe flight!!
LikeLike
I’m going to visit my gf in Mainz. She’s lived in Germany since she was 9 years old. No special reason except to spend time with her. I am meeting her parents for the first time, which is quite special. :-)
LikeLike
RIGHT ON BROTHER! I wish you the very best of luck! And dare I suggest you might someday move here to Germany? Dare I? :)
LikeLike
We shall see if the Germans will have me or I will have them! :-D
I have a post in the making on ‘schadenfreude’ & I don’t know whether the Germans will bode well my American smile, or whether I can commiserate with their smiling while complaining! :-)
LikeLike
The complaining! Oh God, the complaining!!
LikeLike
Oh, about that Courtyard by Marriott on the Maschsee? Nothing special there, but they did do one nice thing for me. I happened to be in Hannover around the time of the Maschseefest on a business trip, and they were very accommodating about keeping the business and pleasure billing separate for me to avoid expense report complications.
LikeLike
Really? Very well then, Sir. I shall stop badmouthing it. :)
LikeLike