Upon Margaret's and my arrival at Frankfurt airport, Pat and Cynthia were patiently waiting. P&C had already arranged for the rental car, so it was off to baggage claim and then off to the country. Our first stop was Kaiserslautern so Margaret and I could visit an ATM machine and get Euros to pump up the economy.
Margaret goes first! She enters her card, selects an amount, enters her pin, and receives the message "Could not validate this card." The card is returned; Margaret tries again. She enters her card, selects an amount, enters a different pin and receives the message "Could not validate this card." She is undeterred...She enters her card, selects an amount, enters yet another pin, and receives the message, "Your card is being held; please enter the bank." Patrick, big brother and, more importantly (at least during this trip), interpreter, and Margaret enter the bank to resolve Margaret's ATM problem.
Now it is my turn. I enter my card, select an amount, enter my PIN, and receive the message "Could not validate this card." Well, I'm no dummy, so I go directly into the bank to find out if Patrick and Margaret are being met with success. Margaret has her passport out and, while she and Patrick are talking to the gentlemen behind the counter, I look at the card I am holding only to discover my American Express card in my hand. I tell Cynthia what a stupid thing that was to do and Cynthia and I proceed back outside and see I will be able to get Euros with my ATM card....of course, it worked!
We never found out why Margaret couldn't use her ATM card....she tried all her PINS! Big brother came to the rescue and sold Margaret some of his Euros.
More German stories to follow.....