Frankfurt - Germany

Frankfurt - Germany - 2014

In search of the Rhine

Number of images: 70
Created on: Wed Jul 16 06:04:44 SAST 2014

I guess we have wanted to visit Edith's brother William Davey for some time, but never quite got there because of the need to travel to Pretoria in order to apply for a Schengen Visa. Well we finally bit the bullet and to our surprise only had to travel to Westville. In no time Edith had done all the organising and before we knew it, we were in a a Lufthansa Airbus 380 bound for Frankfort.

Despite the enormous proportions of the plane, it did not offer appreciably more space for Economy (Cattle) class travellers. The flight went well and before we could wipe the lack of sleep from our eyes, we were being met by William and Waveney. We purchased travel passes for a week and were soon bound for their home using the excellent public transport system. This system never failed to impress me. If I did have miss giving it would be that the suburban trains frequently run down the center of streets and cross other streets. This does not seem to be a problem as one soon realises that the greater German public adhere to the laws governing the use of public thoroughfares and the law in general.

The Davey's have a lovely home in a somewhat crowded (by South African standards), but pleasant urban environment. The home has a basement, a ground floor living area which includes the kitchen and a guest loo, a first floor with a full bathroom two bedrooms, and a study and a second floor that has the master bedroom and a full bathroom. So there is plenty of space and the varions levels make it easy for anyone on one level to almost forget that there may be someone else on another level.

Their home is really well built. The doors and windows are simply amazing. The fit and function of the same is superb, and I guess the insulation, excellent (we visited during the summer). The windows when compared with those originally fitted to our home, are in a different class. Most of the interior fittings such as the lights and cupboards were installed by William, and probably sourced from Ikea in the form of flat-packs. I liked the cupboards, but was not too keen on the free standing chests of draws. The kitchen fittings, which included draws, were fine. I particularly liked the decision to rest all the units on feet so that one can clean under the cupboards and also prevent them from being affected by any liquids spilt on the floor.

The windows and patio doors all have three positions: closed, open (swinging freely from hinges on one vertical side), and kipped (opens through 10 degrees om hinges on the lower horizontal side). I would guess that the latter is generally the preferred position for an open window as it provides ventilation whilst probably keeping the rain out. This position for a patio door allows the door to be open without it providing immediate access to anyone wanting to enter the house, much the same as a security gate across the doorway would.

Most of the windows and doors are fitted with steel roll-down blinds on the outside. These are used for security and additional protection against the elements. I have to say that I was surprised by the levels of security installed and the extent to which the local folk are security conscious. I never saw children's bicycles and toys lying outside of the front of the homes I passed whilst in Frankfurt. This seems to suggest that the Perth, Western Australia is far more relaxed in that respect.

The public transport system is by comparison with what is available in South Africa, simply phenomenal. It always seems to be available and within no distance at all. William's home ius within easy walking distance of two inner-city train stops (platforms). Given the density of the housing it means that most folk are not that far from access to public transport. We also travelled on the regional train a couple of times in order to reach the Frankfurt Airport. One of the highlights within the context of travel was a trip to Cologne on an Inter City Express (ICE), primarily because it travelled at 300 kph and the journey took an hour, half the time it would take to complete the trip in a motor vehicle on a good day.

For me the most significant feature of the transport system was the extent to which it accommodated cycling. There are cycle tracks all over the place. In addition cyclists are allowed to share pavements and roads with pedestrians and motorists respectively where it is reasonable to allow it. A good example is the relaxation of the one way restriction for such roadways for cyclists to proceed in either direction with caution.

Cycling for me really comes into its own when cycling along rivers and through the country side, and facilities for doing this abound. The terrain is generally also not unduly hilly, and that makes cycling reasonable distances achievable. Edith and I cycled 40 kms along the Nidda and Maine Rivers to Mainz with William and Waveney. While the going was tough at times, we managed it with enough gas left in the tanks to see some of the sights there before returning by train.

We also spent a day cycling in the opposite direction along the Nidda taking in the sights along the way. On another day Edith and I cycled through the country side to the quaint and somewhat upmarket village of Bad Homberg.

Would I return to Germany. I guess I would as I would certainly like to cycle through a region that would allow one to follow a route through a sequence of small villages. Originally I thought I would like to cycle along the Rhine. But after having done that trip on a boat in the world heritage site area, perhaps not. Now I am thinking that a cycling trip along a river in France would be the next adventure.

Ignore that, left typing this to watch the start of the Tour de France. Now think a cycle through the Yorkshire Moors would be a good bet. Ultimately the bottom line is pleasant countryside during the dry season with some sites along a route that supports cycling and is relatively flat. I am sure we we will find something before June 2015.

Finally what else struck me about Germany. Well, it is a highly organised and disciplined society, but then I expected that. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of Germans that could converse in English and were quite willing to do so. I was kinda primed to not to expect to see much commemorating World War II. Despite that, it did surprise me. It also saddened me somewhat, as despite whatever lead up to that conflict, and the resultant misery that it then caused on a huge scale, all those involved, and the generations that followed, paid a price.

It was an expensive place to visit given the value of the South African Rand, but it was not exorbitantly so. The value you received was generally always worth the price. That said, and irrespective of what the Germans demand for an apple, it was only made possible by the generosity shown towards us by William and Waveney and we are indebted to them for that.

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