Enjoy Germany Before You Get There

When traveling, "getting there" is supposed to be half of the fun. I agree and, when flying to a foreign destination--if at all possible--I like to get a head start on enjoying the new culture I will be experiencing by flying the carrier that most represents that country.

When flying to Germany, of course, that means flying Lufthansa. I remember on one trip to Frankfurt that connected to Stuttgart, I flew Lufthansa and, as soon as I entered the airplane, I started being surrounded by the German culture.

"Guten Morgan," the flight attendants said as they greeted me. And, when they presented me with dinner, I was able to start thinking of saying "Danke," instead of thank you. German newspapers and magazines were also readily available.

Another delightful aspect of flying on Lufthansa this time was that I sat next to a German gentleman whose conversation was not only interesting, but made the flight seem much shorter. I was able to ask him some questions I had about Germany-and we were able to share a variety of travel tips with each other.

And, at dinner time, it was meaningful to see that German chefs, such as Harald Wohlfahrt, then one of the youngest three-star chefs in the world, showcased. Once you taste dishes such as his Salad with Jumbo Shrimp, Green Asparagus and Vegetable Vinaigrette, you'll put aside any preconceptions that you may have had about German food not keeping pace with today's tastes. This was flavorful, stylish and elegant food served with flair.

In short, my transatlantic flight from Dulles Airport to Frankfurt was a very pleasant experience. But, I was also impressed with Lufthansa's connecting service to Stuttgart. Although it seemed as if we were going to drive there on the shuttle bus, once we were in the plane and underway, the flight attendants were able to deliver remarkable service in just minutes. Total flying time was 25 minutes, but, in that time, we were given towelettes, offered a variety of sandwiches, a choice of a number of beverages.

In addition, as we were about to land, we were treated to a chocolate souvenir. Even though it was a packed schedule, the flight attendants didn't appear rushed at all, but delivered very warm, friendly service.

So, by the time I really landed in Germany at my final destination, I felt as if I had already been here in the country for almost a day. That's a nice way to make a trip last a little longer.

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