A Rainy Day in Frankfurt

The final city I visited on my trip was Frankfurt, the largest city in Hesse, and the fifth largest city in Germany. Frankfurt lies on the river Main, which is the longest tributary of the Rhine. It is home to Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, which is named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Frankfurt’s most famous former resident. His portrait hangs in Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie (Städel), which is the same portrait that was used for the cover of his travelogue, Italian Journey. Its airport and main train station make it a convenient and perfect disembarkation point for a trip around western Germany. I began my journey here and here is where it ended.

The City

The Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof is one of the busiest train stations in Europe. I think I saw more people on the train platform in Frankfurt than I did during the whole vacation. After spending nine days traveling through relatively smaller cities, I got a little jolt when I arrived in Frankfurt. It was a reminder that soon I would have to go back to reality. As it had been with my arrival in every other city, the rain didn’t start until a few hours later. Once again, I borrowed an umbrella from the hotel and went out to explore. I was meeting some friends for dinner that night and before dinner we planned to walk around the university campus and visit a coffee shop that members of the Frankfurt School once frequented. I got a slice of apple cake with poppy seed sprinkles and cream and it was delicious. I didn’t take any light rail or buses in the other cities I visited, but we took the U-bahn frequently in Frankfurt. The city is just too big to walk on foot. And since I was with friends, I got on the right train every time. I have a wonderful habit of getting on the wrong train the first time I travel in a new system. The next day we planned on visiting the Städel and getting dinner. Before I met my friends, I walked along the river Main. The last time I was in Frankfurt, it was warm and sunny and I watched the rowers on the Main. This time Frankfurt was cold and rainy but that wasn’t enough to deter the rowers. They were still out enjoying their Sunday morning. And I was too. I love the view of the skyline from the river. And there are lots of bridges with wonderful views as well.

Going to the Städel again was a real treat. I like going to museums by myself but there is something magical about going with friends. Both of my friends have art backgrounds and so exploring the museum with them was fun as I got to learn a lot about the history of the paintings. The highlight of my trip was at dinner that night. We went to a small corner restaurant near the museum and had squash soup with fresh bread and a cappuccino. The soup and coffee were perfect after a cold and soggy day. The restaurant was packed and we had a table right in the middle of it. It was energizing. Everyone was talking and enjoying the atmosphere and the food. Sunday dinners are perfect. At one moment I had a realization of where I was and what I was doing. Sometimes the simplest activities resonate the most with us. I think my trip was a perfect representation of that. We stayed until closing time and then parted ways. I walked back to the hotel through a silent city. The only signs of life were the lights of the skyscrapers. The clouds hung low in the sky and threatened rain. As I walked, I thought of the fun memories I made on this trip. And now, all these months later, I am sitting in a quiet coffee shop and reflecting again on what I experienced. I see my friends sitting across the table from me and I can taste the soup. It warms my heart a second time.