That Frankfurt is the smallest metropolis - how often have we heard that? "Metropolis with a small town feel" is the phrase we hear over and over again. Sometimes I might think whoever uses the phrase is about to donate five euros to the famous phrase piggy bank.
But wait, it's actually true that Frankfurt is a small metropolis. But - yes, what is actually meant by that?
The area itself? When I moved from the Main-Taunus-Kreis to Frankfurt about 15 years ago, the smaller distances within the city were a big advantage. Sure, it's kind of mega to live in a huge city like Tokyo or LA. But when I leave the house and know that I can walk to my workplace in the Ostend if I have any doubts, then that's also a piece of quality of life. When I stroll with my visitor down Berger Straße into the city center for a coffee, the way there is like a little personal city tour for the foreign guest, who is immediately in the middle of Frankfurt's flair and experiences the city's longest shopping mile up close.
What makes Frankfurt a metropolis?
Is it perhaps the mixture of over 130 nations that meet here with true Frankfurt originals? To the locals who "integrate" countless newcomers like me every day and every year? ;-) Or maybe one of you?
Clearly, the size shows itself here quite clearly. Sure, the character of a metropolis shows with the coherent skyline, which is unique in Europe. But as soon as I go only a few subway stations out of the city center, I am in the middle of the "small". For instance, when I roar a few stops north, say to Heddernheim, known as "Klaa Paris," where fools cultivate the local carnival tradtions.
In Frankfurt, the glamour of big money meets directly with the openness and steadfastness of a village.
Here I can still get my braids braided in an African hair salon and spend a small fortune on delicacies not far away.
Frankfurt's great hour comes especially at night, when the towers light up the night sky. And while New York has to green up its Highline, a former above-ground railway line, to create nature and idyll, Frankfurt is nestled in greenery. If you're looking for an idyll, you don't have to look far for "small" Frankfurt:
A detour into the city forest or to Schwanheim in the west makes me forget the hustle and bustle of the city, especially on a Sunday.
And ultimately the motto applies: "Small, but mighty" - as is just the way with small places, and which also help to make one "<link https: www.zeit.de entdecken reisen merian frankfurt-main-metropole-wohnort _blank>staying in Frankfurt is easier than leaving."
·<link https: de-de.facebook.com frankfurterpause _blank> Frankfurter Pause, fans of cinnamon buns beware. You haven't experienced anything like this yet! It threatens, a high addiction factor: am still undecided whether I prefer the combination walnut/maple syrup or apple/cinnamon - what do you think? The little coffee house wants to scare away the little hunger in between.
Roßmarkt 10, 60313 Frankfurt
· <link https: www.sevenswans.de _blank>The Seven Swans Mainkai 4, 60311 Frankfurt - the star restaurant welcomes you inconspicuously behind a brown wooden door, hidden in the narrowest building of the city. Yet the "Seven Swans" is one of only two restaurants in Germany to have a star for a purely vegetarian menu! Small but mighty, stop!
· <link http: www.mampf-jazz.de home.html _blank>Mampf Shrink-wrapped jazz fans know where the musi plays. The love of music lives in the tiny Mampf with its drawings and posters. The motto "In the mood for Jazz", came about when creating a live podium for Frankfurt's jazz scene in the late 80s. Sandweg 64, 60316 Frankfurt