Sightseeing With James Pt 2

James and my trip to Frankfurt was great!
Went by train, planning to do the walking tour. I didn't realize it, but I did the same tour with Sharon when she and I popped over to Frankfurt 6 years ago for the Celine Dion concert.
It's a good tour; I recommend it.

Of course, Frankfurt has it's share of big old cathedrals. I did get to the point of saying "seen one, seen 'em all" at the end of our two year stint in Dresden, but then being gone to Asia for four years, I have to say, I am glad to be back, and to see them all again! I don't think I will get tired of them any more; I just took them for granted last time, but now I know.

The other thing I enjoyed so much before, and really missed while away in Asia, was the stained glass! 

I love stained glass, and the beauty of it on a nice sunny day. If they are plain, I just enjoy the colours. Or, I like looking at the pictures being portrayed, as well the stories being told through them. 

This bishop, he was an important one, of very high standing... with his hat on he was barely five feet tall.  

This was displayed right in the front foyer of one of the churches, quite big and beautiful.

But I liked the replica which was displayed outside the church around on the back side. 

I think this one is very beautiful!

Speaking of beautiful, that's what the weather was like on this day - perfect for doing this walking tour! 

The big beautiful cathedrals look more dramatic when the sky is such a vibrant blue! 

Awesome.

This is cool, the more modern buildings in the foreground, and the cathedral standing off behind.

I remember seeing these in some of the towns/cities we visited in Eastern Germany. They are found in the sidewalk in the front of some homes, they show the name of the former resident of the home, whose life was taken in a death camp during WW2

It was January 7th when James and I went on the walking tour, and this was the day they were taking down the very large Christmas tree in the market area. That was one big tree, it was no small job taking it down! James and I both agreed that they should just have a tree planted there to use year after year - but that probably makes too much sense. 

I still think the old style building are the nicest ones; they have character! 

Most of them have been rebuilt, only one or two were left standing, barely, after the war.

This inscriptions quotes a surprising prediction made by the poet, Heinrich Heine, in a poem he wrote in 1821; written more than 100 years before it actually happened.

German: "Das war Vorspiel nur. Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen."

English translation: "That was mere foreplay. Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings." 

This is one of the few houses which actually remained standing after the war; so what you see is as was both before and now. 

There is a story behind this building... perhaps James can refresh my memory and I will update the post?! ◑_◐

James remembered:
"During ww2 when the allies were busy dropping high explosives on civilians, they needed to keep a path from the old town square to the river open so the frankfurters could evacuate to safety. Nearly every firefighter in the city came down to that area turned their hoses on that particular house--it was absolutely essential that it not catch fire and collapse because that would close off the last evacuation route in the area. The house was saved with little to no damage, and the bloke who owned it only died a couple years ago. He lived there his whole life."

Well, there you go, history lesson.
Awesome.
Thank you James!!

I still enjoy the fact that there are "cats" on top of the buildings. 

Supposedly this will keep your home secrets from leaving through the ears of the house mouse, because the cats take care of the mice... definitely.  ◕‿-

Ceiling inside one of the modern conference buildings in Frankfurt central. Cool. 

Another door picture, because you know I like taking them  ⊙‿⊙

Instead of doors, how about windows for a change? 

                                                              These street signs are all close to the old Jewish ghetto. They are located in the southeast of the former walled city core, a former location of important Jewish businesses. This whole area is huge in the history of Frankfurt, as it is where a large part of the racial segregation began.                             As they are trying to show through this row of street signs, the name of this particular street has changed many times throughout the years.    

The most popular memorial in Frankfurt is probably the memorial right beside these signs on Neuer Börneplatz, commemorating the 11,134 Frankfurt citizens, including Anne Frank, killed during the holocaust. It's quite sobering when you see this, knowing that each little raised stone contains the name of an individual, their birth date, and where they were exterminated. Wow.

That's our group; James, a couple from Montreal, and the tour-guide. Perfect size group, in my mind - in fact two less would have been even better   *hehe      `•¸•´

The city center was once surrounded by a long, high stone wall built in 1180, to protect the citys altstadt (old town) from attack . This wall is knowns as the Staufen Wall, Staufenmauer, and was Frankfurts first city fortification. Staufen would have been the name of the German emperor at that time. There is not much wall left standing today; in fact basically only what you see here! 

Random, well utilized outside prayer table.

Ceiling at the entrance of a shopping mall, (not well thought out).

Wall art - thought invoking.

The following are just a couple more of shots I like, taken during the tour:

Another example of old vs new. 

Opera house

Incorporating the old into the new.

Another cat on top of a building  ❤

Really good time; great way to spend one of our last days together before he had to fly away home. Thnx James, I enjoyed it!!