Germany hardly needs an introduction, the land of beer, Oktober Fest, Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Schiller, Goethe and so many other things that it could take all day to list. Here, a gallery of a short trip to Frankfurt and surroundings, and a stopover at Weil Am Rhein.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is the financial capital of Germany, most banks call this busy city home, it its one of the most important financial hubs in the world. The greater metro area of Frankfurt, which includes Offenbach has about 2.5 million people. It all started in about 800 AD when it was first called "Franconofurd"

To the international traveler Frankfurt might not be the first city that comes to mind when looking for a place to visit. However, Frankfurt has a rich and lengthy history and many things to do ans see.

Learn More About Frankfurt At Wikipedia >>                    Frankfurt's Official Travel Website >>

Dreieichenhain

Dreieich is a town just minutes outside of downtown Frankfurt, it is part of the Frankfurt Rhein-Main urban area. Dreieichenhain (PDF) is one of several communities that make up Dreieich.

In the 11th century, a tower castle (Burg Hayn) was built from which the Lords of Hagen, later Hagen-Münzenberg (1075–1255), administered the Imperial hunting forest of Dreieich. The settlement beside the castle was first mentioned as a town on 23 September 1256.

The Falkensteins, who inherited the land from the Hagen-Münzenberg family, died out in 1418, and the Counts of Isenburg managed in time to acquire the lordship over Dreieichenhain. In 1816, the Isenburg-Birstein Oberamt of Offenbach passed along with Dreieichenhain to Hesse. The name Hain in der Dreieich was changed in 1840 to Dreieichenhain.

The castle mentioned above, Burg Hayn, and its immediate surrounding old town, with many shops and restaurants make it a worthwhile place to visit.

Learn More About Dreieich At Wikipedia >>

Weil am Rhein

We were traveling from Germany towards Italy, we needed a place to stay overnight because we were taking it nice and easy. When we looked for a hotel we came to the conclusion that judging by the prices every hotel in Switzerland must be a Five Star establishment. This was how we came across the Hotel Otts Leopoldshöhe. A very beautiful old red building with a newer wing in the back.

Since we only stayed the night I don't know much and I don't have much to say about Weil am Rhein except what seemed like a bit of an unusual experience.

Next to the hotel there is a small shopping center, on the top floor you can find Yan Chinese Restaurant and buffet. We went to have dinner there and it was great, but of all things, here we are in smallish town off the beaten track and a family from India was celebrating their wedding in a Chinese restaurant. The comparison would be to find a group of Texans with the gallon hats, checkerd shits, big belt buckles and cowboy boots in a small Japanese village, the would really stand out. The world has definitely become a smaller place.