Frankfurt

We were able to take advantage of the breakfast at the Hotel Hollendar Hof before checking out and boarding our taxi to the train station. The front desk had already called for the taxis before we checked out, so we were able to get on the way to the train station by 8 am.

Concorde Hotel in Frankfurt

Although the taxi ride wasn’t long, there was a good deal of traffic on this Monday morning. We were glad to have the taxi service. Once at the train station, we were able to find our train to Frankfurt easily. However, once we were at the train, we learned that there was a technical problem so we had to walk to another track in the station. The train was fairly crowded, but we were able to get seats for the short ride between Heidelburg and Frankfurt. The Concorde Hotel in Frankfurt was only a few blocks away from the train station and was easy to find. This hotel isn’t far from the hostel where we stayed in Frankfurt in 2010.

Frankfurt skyline

Although it was only 11 am when we arrived at the hotel, a room was ready for Mary and me. The four of us piled our luggage into the one room then went exploring in Frankfurt. This is the only hotel where we stayed without an in-room safe. Because of that, we carried our remaining cash with us when we went out. We were also interested that the bathroom in the hotel room had a circular window. The presumptions is that they appearance was to resemble a Concorde jet. We really had no idea, but the room was clean and quiet. 

Cathedral of St. Bartholomew

We took a subway from the nearby train station to Frankfurt’s old town, exiting the subway at the Imperial Cathedral of St. Bartholomew. The church suffered significant damage following bombing by the Royal Air Force in March 1944. The church and 312 foot spire were reconstructed in the 1950s. After touring the 1500 year old cathedral, we walked along the river crossing a couple of bridges and taking snapshots of the historic old buildings as well as Frankfurt’s modern economic center. We were amused by flocks of Egyptian geese, Greylag geese and Moorhens along the Main River.

Mary at La Casa del Gelato

When we arrived back in the old town, we walked through the Christmas markets picking up a few gifts for family back home. We ate kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), Frankfurt style bratwurt and other sandwiches for our late lunch. We had dessert at a sidewalk café, La Casa del Gelato. Cindy and I got Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Chocolate Cake), Jodie got a an ice cream parfait and Mary had spaghettieis, which is ice cream that has been extruded to look like spaghetti. Everyone enjoyed the dessert. The subway wasn’t far from us, so we went back to the Concorde Hotel by around 5 pm to pack up for our flight back to the US. 

Frankfurt Christmas Market

Mary and I walked back to the train station to confirm the quickest route that would take us to the light rail tomorrow. Our flight isn’t until 10 am, but we need to be there early to check in, drop baggage and get through security. Once back at the Concorde Hotel I read a book from the Lexington Public Library while Mary, Cindy and Jodie chatted until 7 or so. We turned in at 9 pm hoping to sleep well ahead of the long flight home tomorrow.