We arrived in Frankfurt at 2pm and checked into our hotel. Our room is on the 44th floor so our view of the city is amazing. We can see a rail yard from our room and we have enjoyed watching the trains move about.
The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is one of the world's largest stock exchanges by market capitalization and accounts for more than 90 percent of the turnover in the German market. There are lots of office buildings and sky scrappers here so the city has a much more modern feel to it.
Our driver/guide met us in the lobby at 3pm for a half day of sight-seeing. He took us to see the Opera House and then we walked down the main shopping avenues for a bit. The kids immediately gravitated to the giant fountain outside the Opera House and had to stick their hands and feet in the water.
Opera House
no matter where you are, you have to touch the water
Frankfurt was one of the most important cities in the Holy Roman Empire. From 855 the German kings and emperors were elected and crowned in Aachen. From 1562 the kings and emperors were crowned in Frankfurt, initiated for Maximilian II. This tradition ended in 1792, when Franz II was elected.
Frankfurt was severely bombed in World War II (1939–1945). About 5,500 residents were killed during the raids, and the once famous medieval city centre, by that time the largest in Germany, was almost completely destroyed. Post-war reconstruction took place in a sometimes simple modern style, thus changing Frankfurt's architectural face. A few landmark buildings were reconstructed historically, albeit in a simplified manner (e.g. Römer, St. Paul's Church, Goethe House).
We walked from the Opera House down through the pedestrian shopping area (think 5th Ave New York level shopping) and past a statue of Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832). Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on botany, anatomy, and colour; and four novels. His most celebrated play is "Faust."
After walking about a bit, we then took the car to the Romerberg (the square surrounding the city hall). "Römer" is the German word for "Roman" and the name of a complex of nine houses that form Frankfurt city hall (Rathaus). The houses were acquired by the city council in 1405 from a wealthy merchant family. The middle house became the city hall and was later connected with its neighbours. The Kaisersaal ("Emperor's Hall") is located on the upper floor and is where the newly crowned emperors held their banquets. The Römer was partially destroyed in World War II and later rebuilt.
Romerberg and St. Nicholas's Church
Romer, City Hall
From the Romerberg we walked across a bridge over the Main River to a kids play area that has been set up for the last few weeks in July. The kids had a great time burning off some of the energy they had pent up after a 5 hour car ride this morning.
We then went to dinner at a local restaurant recommended by our driver to try some local food and beer. We dined outside on bratwurst, sauerkraut, hamburger steaks in a green peppercorn sauce, salad and fried potatoes. Brannon had a local dark beer that he said was delicious. There was a playground just across the street so the kids headed over there for a bit while Brannon and I finished the meal.
After dinner we returned to our hotel room to hang out for a bit before bed. Tomorrow we are headed to the wine country.
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