ABOUT FRANKFURT
Frankfurt is not only the 5th largest city of Germany and Germany's second largest metropolitan area, it is also the unofficial financial capital of Europe. The large amount of skyscrapers in its city center is unmatched in Europe, at the time of my visit (2010), the 2 tallest buildings in the EU are situated in Frankfurt, the city is often nicknamed Mainhattan. It is also sometimes called Bankfurt or "the world's smallest metropolis". Most of the skyscrapers are situated around the park Taunus-Anlage or in Messeviertel, the huge exhibition area. Heavily bombed by the Americans during WWII, most of Frankfurt's historical buildings were lost. The most important historical buildings and churches are situated around the square Römer. Europe's third largest airport and Germany's most busy train station are also in Frankfurt. Frankfurt is also famous for its exhibitions, especially the annual car exhibition. Frankfurter Messe is the world's largest trade fair organiser.
Frankfurt was the hometown of Goethe, his home is now open to public and there are many museums, theaters and an opera, so there are much more then banks and exhibitions. Situated on the other side of the river Main, the picturesque district Sachsenhausen is situated with its many pubs.
The landscape in the city is mostly flat, but Frankfurt is surrounded with green mountains. Frankfurt lies in one of Europe's most populated areas, the midsized cities of Offenbach, Darmstadt, Mainz and Wiesbaden are all located within 30 min by train, so many people commute there. I made trips to theses cities. The city is also famous for its Frankfurter sausages (thought the name is rarely used in the city).
Frankfurt is connected by an extensive subway system (U-bahn), trams and buses.
MY EXPERIENCES
The experience of Frankfurt was something really special as the volcano in Iceland closed most flight connections in Europe, just hours after I arrived in Frankfurt. Everywhere I went, to trains and in the hostel I stayed, I talked by people who all told the same story; that they were trapped and couldn't get home or had to take the train home because of the volcano. My plane was expected to leave on Sunday the 18th, but I had to take the train instead to Hamburg, made some sightseeing there, and then took the train to Rostock, where I could take the ferry to Sweden. That was not what I was expecting when I got interested in Frankfurt 20 years ago before my first visit, when seeing the impressive skyline in a magazine.
Frankfurt is a very expensive city with a high standard of living. But it is also a city of contrasts. While the men in black suits walk in thought the entrances at the skyscrapers in the financial district, the red light district is situated just 2 blocks away with its many drug addicts and prostitutes (and Turkish fastfood restaurants). My hostel, Five Elements, was situated in the red light district, Bahnhofviertel, but also right between the main railway station and the financial district. The weather was good for being in April, it was grey the first day, but it was warm and sunny most of the time. Frankfurt is rumoured to be dangerous, but I thought it felt safe even on a friday night, except for area around the central station. It is too bad that many people only go there to change planes at the airport, because the city itself has so much too offer.
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