Well, my self-imposed time off certainly expanded… but I wasn’t being lazy! There’s been enough going on to fill several newsletters.
As I told you, the first week of December Hiram and I were in Germany – the trip was wonderful, but getting there… If you will learn from my sad experiences, you will never ever NEVER fly United or Lufthansa. We were heading to Stuttgart on a four leg flight and were actually in the air on the Chicago-Frankfort leg when we were informed that the Frankfort-Stuttgart part had been cancelled. We were to take the train – which was much more pleasant – but our luggage… We spent the entire day wandering over Frankfurt Airport (which just might be bigger than Rhode Island…) and talked to at least 6 Lufthansa employees – ALL of which told us different places to go pick up our luggage (none were correct) and NONE of which told us we had to fill out an official lost luggage form (they merely assured us our luggage would be sent on to us – which it wasn’t in spite of me giving each of them a handwritten itinerary.) Then while walking through the airport a hundred yards or so away I saw a man not in any airline/airport uniform walking away with my suitcase! (It is a VERY distinctive bag – there is not another one like it in the world.) I shouted “That man has my suitcase!” He didn’t break rhythm – just let go of the handle and kept walking. By the time I reached my bag he was out of sight. At least I got it back. Hiram didn’t. And, to add insult to injury, after we were home (and had spent a lot of money replacing his clothes and medicines) we got a call from Lufthansa saying they had found his bag and did we still want it? Of course we did, but since we had not filled out their form (which NONE of the 6 employees we had talked to EVER mentioned to us) they would not send it to us. We said we’d fill one out then and there, but they said it was past time and refused. The complaint department refused to negotiate and said the bag and its contents would be sold. They also refused to communicate with me any more.
I cannot help but wonder just how much airlines make each year from selling ‘lost’ luggage? After all, it is found money for them and it is their decision to keep/sell it whether or not the true owner wants it back…
Moving on to the Egyptian trip in February. We had bought the airline tickets at the same time as the German trip or we never would have traveled with United/Lufthansa. Besides, lightning never strikes twice, does it? Well, believe me, it does. We were sitting in the airport, waiting to board the first leg of our flight, when it was announced that United had not called up sufficient crews so our flight would be delayed 1 ½ – 2 hours… which meant we would arrive at our connection an hour after our Frankfort flight had departed. I’m not ashamed to say that I threw a minor temper tantrum (minor meaning no blood and no broken furniture) and our gate agent (a lovely young woman whose kindness and hard work I celebrate – wish she had a better employer!) got us booked on a British Airways flight leaving for Heathrow (with an EgyptAir connection from there to Cairo) leaving in just 40 minutes. Of course they promised solemnly that our luggage would come with us. Of course it didn’t. (By the way, United, Lufthansa, EgyptAir and others are all part of Star Alliance, an airline cabal.)
We waited for over two hours in Cairo airport for our luggage and, having learned a hard lesson on ‘airline luggage appropriation’ in Germany I immediately filed a lost luggage report and was assured our luggage would be sent to our hotel immediately. You won’t be surprised to hear it wasn’t. We were staying at the Mena House Hotel, across the street from the Pyramids, one of the most elegant, exclusive and expensive resorts in the world, and all we had were the clothes we stand up in. We had to wear them for five days, as shopping for new was for several reasons not possible. Finally – through the heroic efforts of the Traveline company and our wonderful courier Ahmed Kamal – our luggage was found and delivered. Of course, we had to pay them around $120 for their time and trouble – and it was both well deserved and well worth the price – but I’m bitter that had United/Lufthansa done what they repeatedly said they would we would not be out that money. And of course they would not even discuss reimbursing us for their malfeasance.
So now you understand why I say please think twice or even thrice before flying United or Lufthansa if you value a set schedule or your checked luggage. I will say many of the individuals working for this company – gate agents and flight attendants especially – are wonderful, but the disdain and downright contempt in which these companies hold their passengers is dreadful.
Enough said. Now now on to good things about the German trip! The day we arrived there was a record snowstorm – over 18” in Fussen, our first Christmas market. Snow over my knees! And we had to spend the afternoon shopping for Hiram some new clothes… He did get some lovely things; the Germans really do know how to make stylish clothing that actually fits! Unfortunately there were some scheduled sights we were unable to see because some of the roads had not yet been ploughed. On the other hand, there were some things we saw we would never have seen otherwise, and for this pretty much snow-less Texan just driving through the snow-shrouded landscape was a treat. We did get to go to the top of the Zugspitz, the tallest mountain in Germany, and the weather up top was incredibly clear – bright blue cloudless skies, little wind… and snow piled higher than my head. Sadly, the beautiful weather – and it being a weekend – meant the gondola was absolutely packed with skiers. Sharing a smallish gondola with just about as many skis as people was not a pleasant experience!
We got to visit a small winery owned by a friend of our guide – and housed in a building once owned by our guide’s family – where the wines were superb! We bought a couple of bottles as well as some house-made balsamic vinegar. We toured a different Christmas market in a different town and stayed in a different boutique hotel every night, and though we had done every one of them before still found lots to see. Didn’t buy much of anything – other than brats on a bun and marzipan and sugared nuts, all my faves – but in Nuremburg I did get some lovely, buttery soft 8 button leather gloves in brilliant red. I love dress gloves, though there is little opportunity or reason to wear them in this part of Texas, and my favorite red leather ones have gotten very shabby over the years. If I had had the money – and the place to wear them – I would have bought several pairs in different colors. I did get a short knit black pair for winter driving, beautifully embroidered with brilliants and pearls.
I forget how many times we have done this trip, but it’s different every time and we love it. We were too late to sign up for this year’s trip – though we are on a cancellation list – but we’ve spoken for the 2025 trip. I’ll be more than ready for more brats and marzipan and sugared nuts then!
And that’s about all for this newsletter. I’ll tell you all about the Egypt trip – which was fabulous – in the next newsletter. What is wonderful is that no matter how many times you go to Egypt you can always see something different that you’ve never seen before. Even after eight (me) and nine (Hiram) trips. And yes, we’re already signed up for the February 2026 trip!
PS – don’t forget that on March 16th I’m one of six authors doing a panel discussion and booksigning for the Dallas Womens Forum, held at the Alexander Mansion on Ross Avenue in Dallas. Admission is only $10, which goes to charity, and it’s going to be a great afternoon! Please think about coming by…