african food, brazilian drinks, salsa dancing and israeli music

MUSEUM FEST in Frankfurt!!

Jess and I had a busy day yesterday. We started out slowly but left the apartment at 11:30 headed for the school's annual welcome BBQ. We participated in the Oberursel City Rally (a kind of scavenger hunt finding clues in the old town and visiting supporting businesses) then returned to the school for the food. I had to work for awhile refilling condiments and the salad bar and then we were off to Frankfurt.

The Museum Fest was amazing and crowded! Imagine Portland Saturday Market x 100 on both sides of the Willamette River. There is a huge district filled with museums (The Museum of Cinema, The Museum of World Culture, The Jewish Museum, The Museum of Money, etc., etc.). All of them are open this weekend free to the public PLUS there are bands, food and drink booths, and crafts for sale lining both banks of the Main River. We arrived a little shell shocked at the number of people and decided to find something to eat first. The African food booth called our names - some kind of meat with vegetables and pineapple and curry sauce poured over rice, delicious! We found a table to sit down off the main path with a view of the river (and the crowds) and enjoyed our meal.

Suddenly, we both heard the music at the same time - hey, that's Brazilian! We followed the sound down to the river's edge and discovered Caipirinhas! We ordered but were a little disappointed - we'd tasted better (heck, we've made better). But, it was nostalgic - we thought of Dona Santa and Miriam :). Onward.

Next stop, the salsa bar for some great Latin music and a bartender who spoke Spanish. Yeah, I could communicate even if it was only to order a drink! We ambled along through the crafts and clothes (carried by the crowd really) then made our way across the pedestrian bridge to the melee on the other side of the Main. I wish we had remembered our camera - the view from the bridge was beautiful. The sun was setting behind the business district of Frankfurt (tall glass buildings next to rebuilt stone churches). The lights from the festival reflecting off the water up and down the Main. River cruises, floating restaurants, and private boats all moored for the evening and snippets of different types of music coming from every direction.

By now it was dark and we were thinking of making our way back to the UBahn station. Along the way, we passed an information booth for the Jewish Museum (a small, unassuming booth with bookmarks for sale and pamphlets about upcoming exhibits). Along one side of the booth there were three guys playing Jewish folk music. They were absolutely amazing - clarinet, accordian, and bass - especially the clarinet. We sat down in the grass and enjoyed the impromptu concert for the next 30 minutes. What a great end to the experience!

We walked two blocks away from the crowds, hopped on the train, and made it home 45 minutes later around 11pm (2300) exhausted! We enjoyed (and survived) our first Frankfurt festival.