Day 1: Frankfurt

We arrived at 5:30AM local time with very little sleep. Though our flight was mostly empty and we were able to spread out, sleep was elusive. The train connections from the airport were easy but due to some problem on the tracks ahead of us, we made it only partway before our train ended up sitting in the station without moving just two stops from our destination. Naturally, we decided to disembark and walk the rest of the way. We had been well-researched for coming out of the station nearest our hotel but we needed some time to get our bearings as we exited near the Old Opera house. While we were regrouping we had several members of Franfurt's massive banking community stop and offer help. Johnny was excited to point out that despite my advice to the boys about not drawing attention and avoiding being spotted as tourists, I was unable to blend in. One of the gentlemen was kind enough to tell us that it was too far to walk. So we decided that we would walk, figuring that we knew better.

We had a lovely view of the city as it was just coming to life. As the light came up, the commuters streamed into the streets, off to work in one of the busiest financial districts in Europe. There are several skyscrapers downtown, each sporting the logo of an important bank, trading company, or insurance company. We reached the hotel with the intention of leaving our luggage and heading back to explore the city. As we sat in the lobby planning our day, the manager of our hotel informed us that he had moved some things around and our room would  be ready immediately. We were clearly looking like people who needed help. With great appreciation we headed up for a much needed nap.

When we awoke refreshed, we headed off to the zoo, just a five minute walk from our hotel. The Frankfurt Zoo is well designed for the animals. The layout is reminiscent of earlier times when zoos were extensions of private gardens. The exhibits have been retrofitted to better suit the animals in their natural habitats.

Following the zoo we headed to Römerberg, the city's historic center. This square was home to the 12th century marketplace responsible for the birth of Frankfurt. We investigated several nearby churches. Paulskirche was the first home to the National Assembly, a product of the revolutions of 1848 and authors of the German Constitution that would eventually lead to German Unification in 1871. In the Kaiserdom, we stood in the spot where Holy Roman Emperors were crowned. More impressive was the gothic styling of the church.

Our last historical connection was the memorial placed in the center of the square, marking one of the more famous book burnings of the Nazi era. The memorial is flat and one could easily walk over it without realizing. The quote around the outside is from German poet, Heinrich Heine, who says that it is a short step from burning books to burning people.