The Beauty I Experienced in Frankfurt 🌆

The beauty I speak of is not the traditional German-style architecture near Römerberg Square by the town hall—such buildings can be found all over Western Europe, even in small towns.🌍 The beauty I speak of is not the Frankfurt Cathedral, famous primarily because ten German emperors were crowned there over its 600-year history.🌍🌍 The beauty I speak of isn’t even the dark green pedestrian bridge over the Main River, often romanticized. If you ranked the world’s bridges by age, one barely over a century old would be buried deep in the list. If judged by aesthetics, I’d say it’s less impressive than Guangzhou’s Haizhu Bridge. And as for romantic significance? Sure, it’s adorned with love locks, but Paris’s nearly collapsing Pont des Arts still reigns supreme in lovers’ hearts.🌍🌍 During an exhibition once, we were unusually well-prepared, finishing hours of work in just one. It was a Saturday afternoon, and after wandering out of the "Pencil Tower" (Messeturm), I hopped on a tram for a spontaneous Frankfurt city walk, eventually settling on a grassy patch along the river’s south bank.🌍 Late January, but the day was blessed with blue skies, fluffy clouds, and gentle warmth.🌍🌍 A flea market stretched along the embankment, stalls cluttered with all sorts of odds and ends. People strolled leisurely, few stopping to browse, let alone haggle—as if they weren’t there to shop but simply to bask in the rare winter sun. The vendors were even more laid-back, setting up their wares only to read or nap, as if airing out their rusty bodies and dust-covered heirlooms.🌆 The riverbank was lined with lush green lawns, resilient even in midwinter. Seven or eight children chased a kite that stubbornly refused to land, hovering just overhead, their giggles and shouts ringing through the air. The river shimmered with dazzling ripples, hiding a few waterfowl—maybe ducks, maybe mandarin ducks—nestled in pairs, bobbing gently on the current, preening each other’s feathers with their bills.🌆🌆 Not far off, the bridge’s dull green was gilded by sunlight, suddenly vibrant. Its stark silhouette clashed with the architectural style of the opposite bank, yet somehow turned them all into a backdrop. The cathedral’s spire peeked over the rooftops like a classic but outdated party hat. In another direction, the glass skyscrapers of the CBD glittered along the skyline.🌆🌆 Frankfurt is Germany’s financial hub, home to the European Central Bank, and a major transport nexus for Europe. You’d expect a fast-paced, high-pressure city. Yet what I felt was pure relaxation, as leisurely as any of Europe’s sleepy little towns.🌆🌆 #TravelDiary #GermanyTravel #Frankfurt #Wanderlust 🌍✈️