Point Alpha

Wednesday we went with the students to Point Alpha. It is about a 30 minute bus ride from Fulda. After WWII, Germany was divided into 4 regions. East Germany was under Soviet control, the Americans were in the central/south area, the French had a small part in the southwest, and the British had the north/central. After some time, those who lived in East Germany realized life was better in the west and began to move. The Soviets built a wall in Berlin and a fence 1000 km long along the border to keep the people from leaving.

This place was in the Fulda Gap, a long-standing trade route from the East to Frankfurt and the most likely route the Soviets would take if they invaded. So the Americans stationed troops here from 1961 until the wall came down in 1989.

The place where dad is standing was known as the Green Zone. There were two fences built by the Soviets. But the fences were still in Soviet territory, so if you crossed one and thought you were free, you were still in great danger of being shot. And for a time there were land mines between the two fences, causing an even greater danger.

One of the Soviet guard towers.
White poles with red on top marked the border between East and West Germany.
A tank and helicopter used during this time.
A view from the American guard tower looking East. The American flag still flies here at Point Alpha.

Thursday:

OK...the day started with great plans to travel to Frankfurt and meet Jill. Dad had to give a test, grade it, and turn in his grades. He didn't think he would be done in time, so Matt and I were going to leave earlier so Jill wouldn't have to wait by herself at the Frankfurt airport.

We got to the bus stop, caught the bus, arrived at train station with almost an hour to spare. We found Platform 3 and waited...waited...waited. No train to Frankfurt. (There was an announcement of some sort, but all in German) So we waited longer. The scheduled time came and went. Then a train arrived...not the ICE train we had tickets for, but another one. I asked a intelligent looking, uniform-wearing man if this is the train we should take to get to the Frankfurt airport. I showed him our tickets! He said Yes, take this train. So we climbed aboard.

It didn't feel right and I began looking around for someone else to ask. Finally, a nice older lady asked in broken English if we were OK. I showed her our tickets just as the train was leaving .....in the WRONG DIRECTION!!! Too late, we were on our way.

She told us to get off at the next station and return to Fulda, then ask someone there which train to take. By the time we got back to Fulda the next train for Frankfurt had already left, so we waited again. Finally at 12:44 we boarded the ICE train for Frankfurt. In the meantime, dad had arrived earlier than he had planned and was on the train we should have been on originally. The announcement that we didn't understand was informing everyone the train would be late. By the time it arrived we were on our way to Hunfeld. What an (unwanted) adventure!

Jill did arrive and dad met her. We have rented a car and have now arrived in Munich. It's great to all be together after a crazy morning.