Today was spent mostly in airports or on planes. We rose early for breakfast and to have our suitcases outside our room in Lucerne by 8:00. After a final goodbye to Ria, our PD (Program Director), we hopped into a van driven by Herman, our driver from yesterday, and he took six of us to the airport where we were met by John, our local guide. John showed us how to operate the electronic check-in, but unfortunately for us, our flight number had been changed and so we had to get special attention. But John stayed with us until we were safely through to security. My little fingernail file in my purse set off the alert, but the lady gave it back to me after rescanning the purse.

We then had six hours to explore the airport. We walked around, bought a pastry, read and worked puzzles, dozed. And not until about an hour before our flight was scheduled to leave did they actually post the gate.

Finally aboard Luthasana, we were given Toberlone chocolate for our snack with a "Thank you for flying Swissair" (on Luthsana?) and a complimentary drink. We landed in Frankfort, which has the longest terminal I've even seen, and we saw it all as our plane taxied the whole length of it. We disembarked right on to the tarmac to get on a tram which drove us to the opposite end of the terminal, and by then, we had a half-hour to get to the gate of our connecting flight to Altenberg, which was clear on the other end of the terminal. We made it in time to board a tram which drove us out to the plane --- yes, you guessed right -- on the other end of the terminal! I can truly say I've seen Frankfort airport from one end to the other.

In 45 minutes, we were landing in Leipzig, and there was Lysann with her sister, Yvonne, waving to us with a big sign between them, "Wilkommen!" that had been created for us by Yvonne's 8-year old daughter, Johanna.

We had reserved a car for D&I to get around in, thinking Lysann had to work all day all week. Too bad, we couldn't plan it to arrive on the weekend. The thought of trying to find our way to the hotel in Altenberg from the airport in Leipzig terrified us both. ((later Lysann corrected me: Altenburg - there actually is another town of "Altenberg" - but we're not there! Wonder where we would have ended up?) But Lysann had her car and assured us we would be under her wings. So we canceled the car reservation and drove in Lysann's car, through Leipzig to see where they went to university and the highlights of the city at night, Lysann assuring us we would be back to see it in daylight. On to Altenburg and to our hotel, Rossplan…all the time, talking and talking.

The Hotel Rossplan is a charming and clean hotel with a lot of atmosphere on a cobblestone street near the old city center. We're on the third floor of the small hotel, and our room is like in a garret. Actually, we have two rooms connected by a little passageway and a restroom with shower.

The girls had some champagne for us and we toasted to happy family reunions, "Prost!" And we talked and talked til our talkers were sore! It was non-stop from the airport until they had to leave, but now I think we are basically caught up on family news. Lysann has planned such a lovely visit for us, and yet if I saw nothing else here in Germany but her, I would be most happy. She hasn't changed at all, lovely and delightful. A little taller perhaps, but D says that's because I've gotten shorter. She has cut her hair and is now wearing glasses, now a beautiful woman and is precious, precious to us. She will be back in the morning to pick us up. I had thought we would be spending our days touring on our own, but Lysann has changed her schedule to be with us tomorrow, and:

TOMORROW: Dresden & Seiffen, Germany