After a few weeks in Alsatian and Alpine villages, we are ready for a city break! Frankfurt fits the bill, a financial capital, excellent public transit, a blend of foods and cultures, a place to sell back our leased car and a major international airport.
On our way, we had to make one more stop along memory lane - a small town on the Rhine that we visited back in 2013. On that trip, we spent one night in hostel inside the castle, and another in a cozy hotel with a much more convivial atmosphere. We got to see both on this quick stop, but with the temperature topping 105’ F, we were more attracted to the river than the town.
Once in Frankfurt, we ditched the car and returned to exploring on foot. Thoroughly destroyed in the World Wars, most of the city has a very modern feel. There’s a lovely river walk along the Main and abundance of green spaces.
There is also a perfectly reproduced town square, supposedly looking exactly as it did in the previous century.
Then there is the strange clash of the old and new.
For more preserved historic areas and ruined castles, we took short train rides to the outskirts. We strolled along the river west of the city, and went hiking through the forested hills to the north, with views back over the city.
We enjoyed a few more German specialties. Frankfurters, of course, and all the other kinds of sausages, which we got at the covered market of produce and prepared foods. A giant strudel pastry that took us all day to finish. The local specialty - a green sauce made of cream and every kind of herb, often served with schnitzel. The local beverage - apple wine, a strong, noncarbonated cider, which we tried at the Apfelweinfest! And of course, that most German of street foods, the donor kebab, another insanely large portion for a crazy low price.
I always heard Frankfurt was a buttoned up business city with not much tourist appeal, but as always, we found plenty to enjoy. I’m glad we had the chance to stop by before flying out to our next faraway destination, South Africa!