Long time no post - life has been such a whirlwind since I got back from Chile! Almost as soon as I took off, however, I found myself flying to Germany with a girlfriend. This was the Eurotrip that was originally supposed to be the SoutheastAsiatrip. After a chain of unforeseen events though, my good friend Jenn who studied abroad with me last summer in Madrid, decided we would head to Europe for two weeks with nothing but a backpack slung over our shoulders. Our first destination was Frankfurt, Germany, where we met up with one of her good German friends, Fabian. Funnily enough, Fabian had actually studied abroad in Fresno a few years back, which is where he met Jenn. Now that we were in his home turf, it was his turn to show us around.
A boat selling kebaps right on the river
Frankfurt is considered the financial district of Germany, and though its "skyscrapers" pale in comparison to those of Manhattan, the skyline over Frankfurt Main (a major river through the city) is still a pleasant view, as families and young people gather by the river for conversation over a few beers.
The view of the city skyline from Frankfurt Main, where people exercise or just hang out
Unfortunately, Frankfurt isn't much more than the economic hub of the country, and so other than meeting up with Fabian and his girlfriend, we did not have any other plans for the city. We probably could have gone to see the largest stock exchange in the European Union, but instead we decided to take the train to Hamburg the day after instead. Hamburg, we had heard, was one of the most bustling cities in Germany with an uncomparable nightlife. Too bad that the day we got there happened to be right after a long weekend, so it was pretty silent. As Jenn liked to tell everyone who asked about Hamburg, "We'd walk for blocks and not see a single soul." In spite of this, however, I liked Hamburg - it's harbor gave me the feeling that I was in a European version of Boston.
The Hamburg harbor
Hamburg Rathaus, the city or town hall
