Starting today our Studentenausweis (Student Identification) allows us to travel within the federal state of Hessen using any combination of buses and trains, with the exception of Intercontinental and Intercontinental Express. A small group and I went to Frankfurt to take a look around. I went because I knew the city and could show them some interesting points.
The other people were sluggish from the beginning because last night our friend Mert had his birthday party across town. Some did not sleep so well during the night and I had not fared to well either. Too many Getränke (drinks) caused me to find a comfy spot on a couch and slip into an ethereal world of semiconciousness. I took a cab home with some other people and was promptly awoken by the sound of someone buzzing my doorbell. After the initial realization that I had not brushed my teeth, my penance for the previous nights activities had passed. The others walked at a snail’s pace through historical Frankfurt. It was clear that the cultural significance of St. Paulskirche, the Main Tower, and other attractions had not been enough to overcome their desire to find a flat surface for a few hours. It is no suprise they took the early train home.
I stayed two hours longer and Frankfurt to take a few more photos, but instead found myself casually buying chocolate, candy, and various schnitzel just to satiate a German tapeworm that demands such things. The Currywurst was so delicious I ordered a second.
About three stops before my home a confrontation happened on the bus between two parents and some punk kids riding in the back. Though the parents were sitting in the front, the mother came all the way to the back with her baby to confront one of the boys who was smoking on the bus. She demanded that they stop smoking since it was unhealthy for her child. That stopped the situation for a whole five minutes before the Kippen (slang for cigarettes) burned once more. This time the driver stopped the bus and came to the back. He demanded to see if the kids had a pass. Nope.
The driver took them to the front of the bus and made them all pay for tickets. But, oh, that driver a clever one was he. The driver then demanded 40 Euro from them all, which is the fine for Schwarzfahren (riding without paying). Of course there was much to be said about forking over that kind of money. The driver then asked “Mochten Sie mir die Polizei (police) anrufen?” With 240 Euro promptly placed in his hand the driver then kicked the kids off the bus.