In recent years, most of our trips to Europe have required that we connect to a second flight departing from Montreal. But on this trip we flew directly to Frankfurt and as a result our travel day was much shorter. The day started well as there was no need to set an early alarm and a mid morning taxi took us to the airport. Everything ran like clockwork. It took just over an hour to complete the travel to the airport, flight check-in, baggage drop, and security clearance. We had plenty of time for another coffee at Starbucks. Over the years, our packing and travel methods have become pretty well organized and Pat insists on an early arrival to the airport for the flights. ¨You just never know¨, she will say. But in the airport today at 11 am it is really quiet. There were no line ups anywhere.
It is a bit hard to see the detail in this picture due to the glare off the glass of this aquarium located in Vancouver`s International departures lounge. But, there is a diver in the tank and his job seems to be to feed the sea anemones. The grey, eel looking fish really wanted a full body massage!
The aircraft was also very quiet, with many empty seats. The captain announced that Frankfurt's weather upon arrival would be plus 12 with mainly sunny skies. This sounded good as we were leaving a cloudy and showery city. The best thing of all was that the seat between us was empty so we could spread out and pile everything on it.
We arrived in Frankfurt nine hours later and our bodies were saying it was our usual time for bed. Time change is always a struggle for us but we have three days before starting our ride to adjust. We took a taxi to our hotel and quite fortunately, our room was already available.
Our street and hotel for the next three nights in the district of Sachsenhausen.
After a short nap we headed out to explore the area. We stopped in a square known as Römerberg - the historic heart of the medieval old town and a popular tourist destination. The square was busy with a large gathering celebrating 80 years since the May 8, 1945 end of WW II. It included a folk sounding instrumental band on the stage and on their breaks there were speakers denouncing fascist movements. As it was all in German, it was hard to know exactly what was being said. We sat at an outdoor restaurant which was occasionally in the sunshine, taking it all in and enjoying a beer and traditional sausages with potatoes for dinner.
Pedestrian bridge crossing river Main. Bridge Eiserner Steg first built in 1868. After being blown up in the last days of the Second World War, it was rebuilt unchanged in 1946.
The Römerberg is the town hall square of Frankfurt am Main and has been the centre of the old town since the High Middle Ages. The name comes from the Haus zum Römer, or Römer for short, which has served as the town hall since the 15th century. The square has been the site of important events ever since.
According to the internet, VVN-BdA is the Association of the Persecuted of the Nazi Regime – Association of Anti-Fascists. And of course the significance of May 8 1945 - the end of WWII.
Carrying on, we found the Zeil. A pedestrian street considered to be one of the best-known and highest-selling shopping streets in Germany. At the eastern end of the walk is the Konstablerwache square also called "Konsti" which had a great outdoor wine and beer garden on Thursday nights. We grabbed a couple of glasses and a spot at a table where we enjoyed a conversation about our planned trip with some locals.
Great transit options in Frankfurt with street cars and bicycles everywhere. The cargo bike in the picture is popular to scoot small children around.
This is part of the major pedestrian area in Frankfurt.. The leafy sitting area serves as bike storage area and is a popular place to lock your bike up.
Chatting with the locals at the beer and wine market. Our seat partners were very friendly and we could converse with their limited English and our zero German.
Scott AndersonWe've never been to Frankfurt somehow. It looks like it would be a fine spot to begin or end a tour. Reply to this comment 3 weeks ago
Jacquie GaudetAh, the single nonstop flight! I'm thinking of starting and finishing our next European tour in a city we can reach that way, rather than having to decide between either a longer travel day with a connection in Canada or a complicated connection in Europe. Reply to this comment 3 weeks ago
