Frankfurt Feels: Damp Socks and Unexpected Kindness
okay, so frankfurt. it’s…a lot. i landed yesterday, completely wrecked from a red-eye, and immediately felt like i’d stepped into a slightly damp, very efficient machine. the air itself feels engineered.
my persona today is…a vintage clothes picker. which means i’m mostly interested in finding things that smell faintly of mothballs and regret. and honestly, frankfurt delivers. i’ve already stumbled into three shops that look like they haven’t been updated since the war. which, you know, is a vibe.
i just checked and it’s…a persistent drizzle, apparently. it’s the kind of damp that seeps into your bones and makes you question all your life choices. i’m pretty sure my socks are currently staging a revolt.
but here’s the thing about frankfurt: it’s unexpectedly…nice? i was bracing myself for coldness, for a city that’s all business and no pleasure, but people have been genuinely helpful. like, actively helpful. i asked a guy for directions to a secondhand shop (obviously) and he walked me halfway there. halfway!
apparently, if you get bored, *wiesbaden and mainz are just a quick train ride away. someone told me that mainz has a really good flea market, but you have to get there early to snag anything decent. i also overheard someone complaining about the prices at a cafe near the roemerberg - they said it was a total tourist trap. you can check out some reviews on TripAdvisor if you're worried about getting ripped off.
“Don’t trust the sausages from the train station. Seriously. Just…don’t.”
that was a warning from a woman i met at a tiny, incredibly cozy bar. she looked like she’d seen things. important things. involving sausages. i’m taking her advice.
my weather app says the temperature is 11.57 degrees celsius, feels like 11.08, with a minimum of 10.57 and a maximum of 11.97. the pressure is 1021, humidity is 88%, and the sea level is 1021, ground level 996. honestly, i don’t know what any of that means, but it sounds…oppressive.
i spent a good hour wandering around the sachsenhausen district, which is apparently famous for its apple wine. i didn’t try any, because i was too busy looking at the buildings. they’re all crooked and charming and look like they’re about to fall over. it’s perfect. i found a shop selling vintage buttons - buttons, people! - and i’m seriously considering buying them all.
i heard that the kleinmarkthalle* is the place to go for food, but it gets insanely crowded. someone on a local forum (Frankfurt Forum) said to go early on a weekday to avoid the worst of it. i’m planning a reconnaissance mission tomorrow.
“The best kebabs are always the ones that look the most questionable.”
that was some drunk advice i received from a guy wearing a very questionable hat. i’m filing that away for future reference.
honestly, frankfurt is growing on me. it’s not glamorous, it’s not postcard-perfect, but it’s…real. and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. i’m off to find more mothball-scented treasures. you can find more info about the city on Yelp. and if you're looking for a place to stay, Booking.com has a ton of options.