Frankfurt am Main is the largest city in the state of Hessen, and the fifth largest city in Germany. Commonly called Frankfurt, this city is the financial and transport capital of Germany, with it's international airport and home to headquarters of most of the German banks; in addition, it is home to the European Central Bank, the German Federal Bank, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and the Frankfurt trade fair. Besides it's economic stronghold, Frankfurt is home to over 60 museums, and once a year it is possible to gain access to all of them for a relatively low price called the Museum Embankment Festival. It was this weekend that I was in Frankfurt, and the day was quite a busy one. We began with a three hour tour of the city, followed by a few hours of free time to eat and visit the museums. Some people chose to stay behind for the evening events, but I tried to get to see everything I wanted in the time we had been given. I'll share some of my favorite places from the tour.
Starbucks: You think I'm kidding, don't you? In all seriousness, I was so happy to see a Starbucks when I got off the bus I had to go there for breakfast. Before I left for Germany, I was developing a love for Starbucks Mocha Caramel Frappuccinos and I was very happy to see they had them there. That's one thing I'll be looking forward to having when I touch down at Logan International in Boston. You can take the girl out of America, but you can't take America out of the girl.
Römerberg: Römerberg is the town square of Frankfurt, and it is where one can find the Römer (Town hall) and the fountain of Justice. It had been severely bombed during WWII, but many of the quaint and picturesque buildings have since been rebuilt identically to their pre-war predecessors. Founded in the 15th Century, Frankfurt has served as the coronation cite throughout the Roman occupation of Germany when it was a part of the Holy Roman Empire. Paintings of all 52 kings elected into power can be seen in the Imperial Hall.
Eiserner Steg: Auf Englisch, the Iron Bridge, connects the district Sachsenhausen to the main part of Frankfurt. Built for pedestrians, this bridge sees its share of people daily, but perhaps the most memorable are those in a white dress and tux. The rails of Eiserner Steg are covered in locks left by couples married in Frankfurt. Tradition is that the couple comes to the bridge after their wedding with their friends and family as witnesses, and together they lock the lock and throw away the key to signify their unbroken bond. The town will even engrave the locks with the couple's name and marriage date when they go to pick up their marriage license. The hopeless romantic inside me is crying a little at the beauty of this gesture.
Frankfurter Dom St. Bartholomew's: The Cathedral of Frankfurt has been through quite a lot since its construction in the 14th and 15th centuries. The original structure was destroyed in 1867 due to a massive fire, and during WWII six successive bombardments led to severe structural damage and an annihilation of the interior of the church. Nevertheless the Dom is still standing and its presence is another reminder of the history of the city.
Jewish Holocaust Memorial Wall: This was certainly a moving sight to see. Along the Jewish cemetery runs a wall containing over 12,000 names of native-born Jewish Frankfurters who were killed during the Holocaust. Most of them list the concentration camp where they died. Over the years, names have been removed or added as more detailed records have surfaced. The most famous name on the wall is Anne Frank, who was born in Frankfurt. Stones are left on the metal bricks as a sign of remembrance.
Kleinmarkthalle: The cheapest way to eat in Frankfurt is by walking through the Kleinmarkthalle. Here it is easy to get your fill on samples from all of the different vendors, from meats and cheeses to breads and nuts and even some spiced cider and dessert. Just remember that the people actually sell these things and want you to buy them, it's not a free-for-all!
Goethehaus: This multi-story house was the childhood home of the writer, artist, and politician Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and the last stop on the tour. While I had never heard of Goethe before, the house was quite an exhibit to see. My favorite part was the elaborate furnaces and the functional grandfather house.
