Frankfurt
photo journal
When I mentioned that I was headed to Frankfurt, most of my friends and colleagues said something to the effect of, “Oh. Well… where else are you going?” And partially because my partner and I were starved for travel, (as we’ve all been effectively grounded for two years) but also because of this type of reaction, we booked ourselves a route through Amsterdam, Brussels, Brugge, Maastricht—and then Frankfurt. Just in case.
But I was truly delighted by this city. Frankfurt has a reputation of being a place with less character than its neighboring cities. An industrial, modern, banker-filled city surrounded by a country filled with charming small towns and history. A lot of Frankfurt was wiped out in WWII, and so, most of the old buildings one expects to see in a German city are no longer. And yes, there are skyscrapers. However, there is something oddly comforting about the mid-century modern and bauhaus buildings that dot the city. We took many strolls through sweet neighborhoods, my favorites including Sachenhausen and Nordend, where the simple concrete structures encouraged me to look up, noticing the smaller details. Like the open windows, and sensible curtains and planters. I’d often spot a tenant or two sipping a coffee from their balcony. Overall, Frankfurt evoked a sense of nostalgia within me, and invited me into a feeling of coziness—as though I could sit in an armchair inside an apartment in one of the bauhaus buildings with a cup of tea and a ginger cookie, and simply listen to the sounds of birds and bicycle wheels whirring by.
I like cities that aren’t overwhelming to see most of in a handful of days, and Frankfurt certainly falls into this category. It felt doable yet relaxing. It felt like an easy sip of air. We enjoyed leisurely breakfasts at a coffee shop that we visited twice in four days, and the waiter learned our names. We became extremely familiar with the Alte Oper (Opera house) and its vibrant square, where children played with large bubbles.
So I hope one day you might visit, and if you already have, that you share in my delight for this beautiful city.
