DAY 2 (continued) - Despite a bit of confusion at the front desk regarding my scheduled arrival date, I am able to check into my room at the Hotel Mondial. There is a slight language barrier...only the eldest seems to speak a bit of English and they speak Russian between one another. Forget about asking them how to get on the hotel's wi-fi (which is not included). The room itself is larger than I expected, but certainly not the level of accommodations I enjoy when traveling with Valerie. The CRT TV produces a lovely buzzing sound when switched on, but I have little reason to watch it much. Only CNN is in English. On a more positive note, the room temperature is ideal.

The folding shower glass door is a bit unusual. You have to hold it up as you unfold it because it feels like it will fall into the shower until its seal rests against the edge of the bath. And it does not quite fit the space when unfolded, leaving a gap through which water can escape. That said, I am grateful to have hot water. How can I complain?

DAY 3 - Though the plan is to meet my coworkers at 9am, I am up (and hungry) early. I head down to check out the Hotel Mondial's included continental breakfast buffet on my own.

Meat

A nice selection of cheeses

More meat

Apple and orange juice

There is a basket of bread on every table. The same guy who checked me in comes over to ask me if I want coffee, though not in so many words.

The sun rises early in Frankfurt, but comes up while I am eating breakfast. I step outside to see where it is hitting.

The older gentlemen from the front desk comes running outside and yells at me to come back. I tell him I am just taking a couple of photographs and will be back in a second. Apparently, I am supposed to leave my key at the front desk before leaving the hotel.

After a productive first day at Crytek, my Big Red Button coworkers and a colleague (who has joined us from the United Kingdom) walk to dinner. We spot a Tesla Roadster parked along the way...one that is apparently on a 10,000km road trip of Europe.

Our group settles on dining at Conrad's, a place that appears to specialize in German fare...and one that appears to accept credit cards (we are quickly learning that not many restaurants do). Jeff and I immediately notice the Big mixed sausage platter for 2 persons (Große gemischte Würstchenplatte). This seems like the ideal way for us to sample a variety of sausages, so we decide to share an order.

Something light and healthy to get us started

Something not nearly as healthy. Cosmo and Yordan both order Jaeger Schnitzels. I may have to order another schnitzel before we fly back to L.A.

2 beef sausages (rindswürstchen), 2 grillled (pork?) sausges (bratwürstchen), 4 Frankfurter würstchen (the ones that look like hot dogs), 6 pork nürnberger sausages (the smaller ones buried under the pile), 1 blood and 1 liver sausage (blut-und leberwurst), with sauerkraut and homemade mashed potatoes (auf Sauerkraut mit hausgemachtem püree oder bratkartoffeln). Amazingly, Jeff and I could not finish this...but we came damn close!

DAY 4 - Tonight's commute back to our hotel is a little cooler

This totally looks like a shader I wrote last year

Snow on German cars

Why do I rely on the smartphone for pics when I have my DSLR with me?

Snow covered sidewalks of Frankfurt

Corner of Eschersheimer Landstraße and Baustraße

Time to head back to the hotel

Back at the hotel