The trip started out on a bad note. I walked into our Operations area and the MOD asks me if I would like to switch to the coach galley position because that flight attendant called out sick at the last minute. Of course they weren't going to replace the missing crew member so we were going out understaffed. I kind of snapped at the MOD because I knew being the most junior I didn't have a choice, so I questioned why he even asked, in a rather sarcastic tone, which looking back was not the most appropriate way to respond.
We ended up being a few hours late and the flight over was tiring because I essentially had to work two positions: aisle and galley. I couldn't have asked for a nicer crew than Jan (a native Floridian like me), Tom and Jane. They all pulled together and helped me. I think we were all tired when we got to Frankfurt.
On the flight over, Tom told me that he and three other flight attendants were renting a car and driving over to Miltenberg, which is just inside the Bavaria state. I signed on for the fun and we hit the ground running when we arrived.
The drive was a little over two hours as we headed east towards Frankfurt airport and then southeast towards Miltenberg. We were on the autobahn, and I was hoping Tom would hit the 200km per hour mark since there is no speed limit, but there was too much traffic.
Our first stop was Kloster Engelberg, just on the outskirts of Miltenberg. Tom wanted us to visit this monastery because they make their own bread and brew their own special beer. It sits on top of a steep hill overlooking the Main river and the town of Miltenberg.
The beer was great and bread was wonderful. We had it with emmental cheese and potato salad. It was so flavorful and tasty!
We sat outside in the Beergarten and enjoyed the weather.... it was a bit overcast but the temperature was just right. The gardens around the kloster were beautiful with lots of colorful flowers. After our beers we enjoyed the grounds for a bit.
Our next stop was down the hill to Miltenberg. We stopped at a little wine bar in the old town while Tom went to park the car. After our wine we walked along the main street in town enjoying the sights.
Right at 6pm we arrived at the Faust Beer Brewery. The owner was nice enough to let us in even though she was closing up for the night. We went into this huge refrigerated cave like room and selected a few beers to take home. I picked two wheat beers and their special "fest" beer for special festivals.
Loaded down with heavy bottles, we made our way towards the town's Michaelismesse festival. It's an Oktoberfest type fair that runs for 10 days starting the last weekend of August. It's one of the biggest folk festivals in the Bavarian region.
We made our way thru the various stalls and rides and planted ourselves in the beer hall.
Our German beer girl would have put the American waitresses to shame. She carried our five liter sized beer mugs like they were feathers.
There was a German style polka band that provided our entertainment while we enjoyed our beers.
We ended the festivities around 9pm and began the drive back to Mainz and our hotel. I slept most of the way. The next thing I knew we were at the hotel. Tom might have hit 200km per hour on the autobahn, but if he did I slept thru it.
