Riley makes it to Germany... Finally.

After a rather uneventful 7 hour flight into Frankfurt, I managed to get myself, two carry on bags and two huge checked bags out of the terminal where my wonderful husband was waiting to greet me! I finally made it to Germany!! Now let me start by saying that I LOVE my dog, Riley, but I NEVER want to go through the hassle of shipping a dog overseas again... First his carrier wasn't big enough, I bought him the biggest crate available, the next size up was for Saint Bernards! Luckily the nice people at United figured out a way to rig his crate with 2x4s so it gives him the three inches of clearance required for international flights and he finally got all checked in about an hour before his flight thanks to my awesome Dad, Step mom and sister. Once I landed (3 hours before Riley) I walked all over the airport asking where the animal pick up was, after attempting to talk to about 4 different Germans we were handed a map to the "animal lounge". We drive over the animal lounge and they tell us it is going to take an hour to process my dog after his plane lands... Ok, well now we have about two and half hours to kill before I can attempt to get my dog, So on to sight seeing in Frankfurt! It is such a interesting city, really pretty and I love the cobblestones. I am sorry but I didn't take any pictures, after 15 hours of  traveling I looked like a hot mess and was not about to take any pictures.

We eventually headed back up to the airport to get Riley. First I had to check in and get a security card and then pick up my paperwork from one office and take it to another, after they processed it we had to take it to customs and get it cleared and then head back to the original place for the vet inspection. Now normally this would be done before I picked him up but as the German animal handler told me my dog "is not happy and does not like him." So I get suited up in a sterile gown and booties, and head over to the horse stall they had quarantined Riley to. The vet kindly asked me to put the leash on my dog and hold him so she could look him over and scan him for a microchip. She asked me about three different times if I was sure I could control him, I explained to her that I used to work for a vet and I think that set her mind at ease, at least a little bit. Finally about an hour and half later we have Riley and start our two hour drive to the base. The German countryside is so pretty, rolling green hills, adorable little houses and happy cows dotted the landscape. Riley and I finally made it to our new home!