Frankfurt

I arrived in Frankfurt on Wednesday morning (10:30). Rachel was already at the airport, so we met at the Treffpunkt and then made our way into the city. We found the hostel without any difficulty at all -- I was there last year -- and set about exploring everything.



On Thursday, Wayne, Meredith and Gena arrived, and on Friday, Darrel, Matt and Rocky made an appearance. It was nice to have everyone there!! Especially since I went to the airport twice on Thursday and twice on Friday, because of flight delays. I know Frankfurt airport like the back of my hand, now, so go ahead and ask anything...



It was nice to start the visit in Frankfurt, and explore the big city a bit. Here are a few impressions of the financial capital of Europe:

How I made it through Day 1 ... and every day since =). Not Starbucks every time, but definitely the coffee.

Model of the city of Frankfurt in the 1890s. This is the old city center, which is only a 7 minute walk from the hostel where we stayed, Das Haus der Jugend. As hostels go, I highly recommend it. The beds are comfortable and the breakfasts are excellent. You can sleep in a dorm-style room, or in a 4-person room with WC and shower in the room. Guess which one I chose?

Model of the city in 1945. Frankfurt was considered a "front" city, and bombed extensively by the Royal Air Force between October 1943 and March 1944. The bombs, as you can see, were quite effective. One of the docents at the museum did tell me that this model makes things look worse than they actually were (although they weren't great, based on photographs I saw), because the people who made it were arguing for the opportunity to raze the old city center and replace it with "modern" (1950s) skyscrapers and apartment buildings -- you know, those hideously ugly block things. I, for one, am really glad they didn't win and that people chose to rebuild the old city. Ok, so it's not "authentic", at least you get a sense of the old city, and some of the buildings/facades did actually survive.

The cathedral. You can tell from the model that the ceiling of the main section didn't make it, but the tower, originally built in the 12th century, survived the war.


A good thing that resulted from the bombing ... these Roman ruins (originally baths, later converted into an imperial residence), ca. 7th - 11th centuries, were uncovered.

Two Germans sharing our table for lunch ... and Der Römer - Frankfurt's city hall. It contains the "Kaisersaal", where lots of people like to get married.


Buildings around the main square. They were rebuilt according to old pictures.

Justice -- she isn't blind, and is carrying a big sword.

Giant Euro outside the European Central Bank, which is housed in Frankfurt. The students asked if giving it a swift kick would help the exchange rate. No, sadly.

Bull and bear outside the Frankfurt stock exchange. Last time I checked, the DAX was doing pretty well ...

"America" statue outside the Stock Exchange.

The group in front of the old opera house.

Me, looking almost as tired as I felt at that point, with the sun setting behind me over the Main river.