Good (bad) Friday. 18.4.14

Aniol said he and Aina were going to Frankfurt today with friends, so I figured I’d go too and meet them there. They were going by car, and me bike train/bike. I had a Post-It with destinations and a couple addresses. I thought it would be a good day of exploring, but I was soon disappointed.

I arrived at 10am which is when Aniol said he’d be there. I figured I’d head out on my bike and we’d contact each other by phone: text, call, or Facebook. I tried, but we never connected. I started the journey to my first destination; a popular neighborhood called Sachsenhausen. It’s supposed to be a nice area with a mix of old and new buildings and a nice shopping area. I blew it, and didn’t realize that everything would be closed on Good Friday. I rode along the river and began to enjoy the scenery so I delayed my crossing over the Eiserne Steg (bridge.) Once on the south side of the Main, I just began cruising in whichever direction I felt. There was a slight incline, so I decided to keep going up. Up Up Up. The ascent wasn’t difficult, and I relished in the extra effort. Finally, a bit of cycling to boost my heart rate. Even if it is just a few beats.

I ended up in a normal neighborhood. I didn’t see anything really special. I past right through the shopping area I had on my list. It’s easy to miss because EVERYTHING IS CLOSED and nobody is out. There were a few people, but nothing like I had expected for a Friday. I just kept on riding up the hill. I did see an apartment building which was a cool piece of architecture. It was curved with terraced levels and had at around 10 floors. I slowed to take a look, but wasn’t enthralled, so I kept pedaling.

Hmm. What’s over that wall? I don’t see any structures, just trees. I found a cemetery, but nobody of past centuries were laid to rest there. I only saw a couple dead dates before 1900. I walked along the rows of headstones to check names and dates for anything interesting. Wilhelm seems to be a common name. Wilhelm (or William I) is the name of a past King of Prussia and first German Emperor. It’s a cool name. And the name of a cool punk band: A Wilhelm Scream. A “Wilhelm Scream” is a movie sound effect that is used a lot. It’s a stock recording of a guy screaming. It’s used in Star Wars, and other films usually when someone is falling a great distance.

After Sachsenhausen, I crossed the Main again to check out the Frankfurt Cathedral. Officially it’s the Kaiserdom Sankt Bartholomäus and was built in the 14^th and 15^th centuries upon a previous church. Today, it’s totally been rebuilt. Inside is mostly new, but they kept a few old pieces which can be seen in a few spots where the newly constructed walls incorporate the old stone structures. It’s a tourist magnet. The altar wasn’t that spectacular. The walls weren’t as ornately adorned as other churches I’ve seen here. Yay, a cool building on the outside under delivers on the inside. Moving on.

I made my way to Innenstadt. What should be a bustling shopping district was an almost empty network of wide shopping side streets. Rain came in an instant and what people were there huddled under what few overhangs there were. I did the same to wait it out. It got cold too. It was windy and even with a few layers on I was still a bit cold. I should have worn jeans, but I hate riding my bike in jeans. I should have brought gloves too. Just as quickly as it came, the rain stopped and I headed back out onto the now wet stones that make up these streets. With so few people, and many businesses closed, it wasn’t too exciting. Moving on.

From there I just started riding. I would check my notes and the map on my phone, but I still became turned around and made too many U-turns. Oh well. Being alone makes it easier to deal with.  I had no schedule, so I just relaxed and took in the sights. Frankfurt is the biggest city in Hessen and has some contemporary skyscrapers of different shapes and heights. Most buildings were glass which looked really dynamic with the passing rain clouds and sunshine taking turns creating reflections on all the glass. That part of my day was cool.

I was hungry and could only find a donner shop. There were cafes open, but donner is the go-to meal for on-the-go people. I bought a falafel donner and pommes “mit zunehmen.” (to go.)  I ate my late lunch back by the Main and really began feeling better with food in my belly and sun on my face. I could see story clouds not too far away that must have been dumping rain pretty heavily. I could see the blur that occurs when a cloud and rain become a blue-gray haze that hovers over the affected area. Good or bad, it’s all perspective. I love the rain, but not when I’m lost in a city and my hands are getting colder and colder. I could see the cloud from a distance and was happy to view it while the sun warmed me up and I chomped down my donner and pommes (French fries.) Once done with my food I remained on river side bench and read Congo. This was the best part of my day. I should have been doing this the whole time. Forget the tourist shit. I just want to sit by the river, eat some food, read a book, and bask in the sun.

After my siesta by the river, I took the train back to Darmstadt. I’d had my fix of Frankfurt for one day. I’ll try again with a better plan of attack. Plus, after I told Rita about my day, she said she’d show me around next time.