Europe Day 1: Frankfurt, Germany Dec'07

Frankfurt here I come!!!!

After flying for more than 13 hours -_-" finally reach the destination. So glad when the pilot announced to buckle up & get ready for landing. I was so excited. So little time, so many places to see. Hope the long hours doing research with uncle Google is sufficient.

The 1st thing was to do was getting a "DAY ticket" where the rides (on bus, tram & train) in the city for the whole day is covered, & cost only 8.50 Euro.
That's where the problem started. All the wordings were in German at the ticketing machine. oh & nobody understand ingrish. Tried to peep what other ppl was doin & the 1st 2 tries was a TOTAL Failure .... found out later the machine was rosak. KNS... when a kind hearted guy offered to help buy the ticket, the machine HANG permanently. After like 4ever getting the ticket, jumped on the train to the city. Quickly placed the bag pack in the locker at the train station (2 Euro/day) & the FUN begins!!!

The 1st Stop : Old Opera House (Alte Oper). It's a classical building beautifully restored. It was build in 1880 but was destroyed in 1944. Notice Mozart's Statue standing proudly??

Then took the rail towards Hauptwache. Once stepped out, saw the baroque “Hauptwache”, once the most important ‘police station’ in the free city of Frankfurt turned into a cafe.

Cross the road & there stand the mighty St. Catherine’s Church (Katharinenkirche).
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was baptized here.

Got lost & walk until this tower called out begging 4 attention.
The Eschenheimer Turm was 1 of the 42 watchtowers of the former city fortifications. It shines out as the highest city tower in Germany. Thank god the metro was just beside it.

Next Destination : Paulsplatz that is dominated by the red sandstone St. Paul’s Church (Paulskirche). Paulskirche is a symbol of the German democratic movement. This is where the assembly (1st freely elected parliament) drafted a constitution for a unified Germany.

Stop for lunch. This Super Loooooooooooooong Sausage was GOOOOD!!!! Will blab more about the X-mas Market & yummy food later in another post.

Proceed on into the narrow alleyway, the Stone House (Steinernes Haus) is on the right.

The bold looking house made of “steynen & muwren’ (stones & walls) is a old trading house, 1 of the few preserved Gothic profane building that were designed like royal residences or castle.

On the way , we passed by Liebfrauen Church.

Then continue the walk to Romerberg, the square where it’s lined by historical timer-framed buildings known as the Ostzeile.

But now with all the X-mas store around, it look completely different from the photograph provided by Uncle Google. I (the pig in me) was distracted by all the stored selling so much goodies. *slap self* stop drooling thinking of the food.

The Römerberg is the central square in Frankfurt's Altstadt (Old Town).

The actual Römer is only the middle one of 3 houses with its characteristic stepped gables. Römer, where the Emperors enjoyed themselves at the banquet feast. It has served as a town & city hall since 1405. All the emperors who rules the empire form 768 to 1806 was immortalized here in oil paintings.

In the centre there’s this Fountain of Justice (Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen). The statue of goddess Justitia, holding the scales of justice but without her usual blindfold, faces the Römer.

On the southern side of the Römer is the Old Nikolai Church (Alte Nikolaikirche).
This is the Customs Tower (Restenturn). This is where the collector sat: the paymaster who collected the harbour fee.

After having lunch, proceed walking to The Iron Bridge (Eiserber Steg) which is already well over 100 years old.

St. Leonhard’s Church (Sankt Leonhardskirche) is visible from the bridge. Lazy to walk over there as The view was so much better from the bridge :P

Then final top was Dom (Cathedral) also known as St.Bartholomew Church. The 95m high tower can be seen from afar.

Nearby there’s this so called Garden, was searching high & low, but only STONE wall & steps were found. No flower & plants. It’s called the Archaeological Garden . And now I know.

Southern side of the Cathedral is Frankfurt Oldest “textile shop”: The Canvas House (Leinwandhaus). It used to served as a trading place for cloth & linen.

It was a hectic day, taking in as much sight as possible within 7 hours before the train trip to Erfurt. And boy was it FUN & tiring.

The trip was enjoyable with great Frankfurt transportation. Just stepped out of the metro & you can see the touristy stuff. The city is clean. & the best part, people don't understand Ingrish -_-

Saw, Touched, Smelled, Experience so many things I ish saturated by the end of the day.