Frankfurt

I had my first day off of work! At Paly, my high school, during my junior year we had 3 German students at our school. After the first semester one of them left as her program was over but the other 2, Annika and Jeannette, were in a different program and stayed for the year and became friends with me and my group of friends. So I decided that I would take Friday off and go to visit them. We met Thursday night in Annika's home town of Frankfurt. They met me at the train station in Frankfurt and after hugs and lots of smiles we went to the store and bought and made dinner. After a late dinner (it was almost midnight by the time we were done) we went pretty much straight to bed. The entire weekend was very relaxed, I don't think we left the house before 11 any day. Friday we spent the afternoon lounging around next to the Mine river and then ventured into downtown. We met one of Annika's friends dads who owned an Italian wine and vinegar store and got to try some incredible vinegar. I was also informed that I look Italian to go along with American and German. We then spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing at a cafe. In the evening the three of us and Annika's older sister went to a park overlooking the incredible Frankfurt skyline. Saturday we went to Hessenpark, an outdoor museum of old buildings from the region and had a very relaxed day wandering and having multiple picnics. One of the most interesting buildings for me was an old synagogue that had been rebuilt. That evening we went again to downtown and had some traditional Frankfurt food. Annika was peer pressured into having pig knuckle and the rest of us had apple beer and pork with green sauce. After dinner we had an interesting conversation with a drunk guy who was having his bachelor party. For the party they walk around and sell small things like alcohol to raise money for the wedding. He informed me I looked Greek, nationality 4, and was all around hilarious and drunk. Later that night we met Annika's friends at a cocktail bar, I had my first martini, dry, and spent the evening at her place. Sunday was spent at a botanical garden and Annika's grandmother's house with Annika's friend Clara. After a very fast dinner and some sad goodbyes I caught a late train home after one of the best weekends so far in Germany.