We got back on the 23rd but haven't had a lot of time to post about it. Thanks to everyone who answered my questions or participated in this board because I read a lot of what was posted by other people too.
I had been stationed in Germany nearly 20 years ago and wanted to take my kids there and show them around. They are teens and I wish I had done it when they were younger (pre-teens) or adults now. They were bored silly 90% of the time, or so they said. My next big trip I will be going alone.
When I started planning the trip over a year ago, a co-worker/friend joined in and so did one of my son's friends. So, we ended up being a group of 5.
Our first day we had a little difficulty finding a taxi big enough for all of us and our backpacks. Finally, we found a van driver who drove us to the downtown pick up office for our car rental. I think next time I go, if I do, I will just pay extra and pick it up at the airport. It was a nightmare trying to find my way out of downtown Frankfurt without a GPS or a city map. When we left I dropped it off at the airport, which was a little more expensive but worth it.
After finding our way onto the autobahn we drove to the old air base where I had been stationed, which is now Hahn airport. Things sure have changed and it was a little depressing. I didn't stay long but went back later in the trip and found an old maintemance unit area I thought may have been the one I worked in. Crumbling buildings, garbage dump/recycling center? and barbed wire still on the fences. It was kinda depressing. It was also confusing as the roads around the airport/old base have changed so much. I also found two of the little towns where I used to live, one unrecognizable as it had tripled in size and the other about the same...found that old house.