‘ Mainhattan Eu ro pe’

Th e of

Frankfurt, fondly referred to as the ‘ Mainhattan of Europe’, is a rather new city — having been fully rebuilt after WWII. That bit of information from my walking tour guide came as a surprise, because when you walk through its lanes, especially around Hauptbahnhof, the heart of this city, it would seem as though it was hundreds of years old. The design and architecture has been replicated to resemble the pre- war era in a quest to retain its original character.

Frankfurt, like other German cities, does not rest on its past glory. While its relationship with culture and history might not be the essence of its existence, it manages to keep the romance alive by dabbling in high- end fashion and cool contemporary art that sometimes defies description.

It’s quite unfortunate that Frankfurt is often passed up as a holiday destination, since it shines as a businessman’s first choice; but a closer look at this city opens up a whole lot of possibilities.

ALL ABOUT THE FOOD

It began with a pretty German girl leading our walking tour, packed with visitors who were eager to know the reason behind Frankfurt’s insistence to remain “in the past” architecturally. Of course, not all of the city is so; the newer areas have gleaming skyscrapers and swanky shopping malls, giving it its nickname — Mainhattan. Be warned that while walking tours help you familiarise with the surroundings and allow you a closer look at the place, are not easy on your legs if you are not used to much walking.

Hauptbahnhof, where our tour started, is the cultural and social hub of Frankfurt with its cool and swanky cafes and restaurants. It is here where you are sure to find the best of street food such as warm pretzels, Currywurst and endless varieties of breads, pastries and meats, the German delicacies exported to other parts of the world.

Dining out is a favourite pastime for Germans, especially Frankfurters, the guide enlightened us. “You see why we have so many different types of breads, buns, pastries, ice creams or meats — we love our food.” With that she grabbed another pretzel and marched forward. I swear it was her fourth since the beginning of our tour. “You should try our Currywurst and Gruene Sosse ( green sauce). You heard of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe? He loved it,” she explained proudly. Fully enlightened, I saved this bit of information for later.

Okay, so I had heard of Frankfurt’s most famous resident, but not about his weakness for the green sauce, which he apparently included in every meal. But going by the number of food carts and the people surrounding them, it was clear that Frankfurt had a vibrant food culture although she explained that the food scene here was not as happening as in some other European cities. “But no one can make Currywurst like we do,” she concluded.

RÖMERBERG & LOVE BRIDGE

We reached the Romer only to find it cordoned off in preparation for the Ironman Run, but that said, the top of the quaint building could still be seen. The Romer also served as the Town Hall of Frankfurt. This square is surrounded by several old buildings, many dating back to the 14th century ( rebuilt in the same style post- WWII). I might add here that one little ice cream shop ( yes, our guide led us there!) has the best ice creams in the world.

With our minds fixed on the ice cream cones, we walked towards the Main River and the Eiserner Steg ( Love Bridge), another of the oldest structures of Frankfurt. Here, things got a little romantic.

While our guide explained the history of this 19th century bridge, a couple on the tour busied themselves with attaching padlocks to the bridge as a partially blind musician egged them on with music. It was indeed the perfect place to pledge