We took another trip to Frankfurt for our daughter to see a movie with a friend. We spent five hours so the girls could watch a two-hour movie in a city which is only 20 km away from Oberursel.

Frankfurt 2010

Well, this was my chance to take some photos at least. The streets were crowded with shoppers and people lingering in the new eating establishments on the Zeil. The sycamore trees have grown taller since my last visit and many more improvements have been added. Lanterns are attached to wires above the trees, the pedestrian walks have been smoothed out, more seating arrangement around the trees has been added, etc.

Frankfurt Zeil

With today’s fairly mild temperatures, many Germans were just lounging around the public areas and it almost had a southern feel to it. I say almost, because the dark and heavy clothing would not  be a match for a summer evening.

New Zeil shopping street Frankfurt

And Frankfurt would not be Frankfurt without its Würstchen. This guy walks around with his portable grill in front, ketchup and mustard on his sides, and wallet underneath his grill.

Frankfurter Würstchen

I do come home with tired legs and flat feet, but Frankfurt is always interesting.

Good news for all of us expats, re-pats, global nomads, or just late shoppers.

Supermarket REWE has extended its shopping hours to 24:00. At the moment, this applies to one local store only: Oberursel, Im Zimmermühlenweg. But if this proves to be a smart move, I am sure more will follow suit.

Visit REWE to see the list of local supermarkets and shopping hours. Below Finden Sie Ihren Markt, just type in your location.

Also, for expats being used to delivery service, lebensmittel kurier delivers in towns such as Bad Homburg, Oberursel, Wiesbaden, Schmitten and Kronberg (among others).

This morning proved to be a good time for a short walk in the forest. There was a slight drizzle, but this does not keep the forest-loving Germans indoors.

Forsthausweg Oberursel

I saw quite a few joggers, dog walkers, and bicyclists. A few cars came along the Forsthausweg (forester’s lodge path). They were either on their way to one of the forest restaurants or they were trying to find a way around the road blocks which had been set up for today’s bike race on Hohemarkstrasse.

Hohemarkstrasse Oberursel

Some foreigners claim public holidays to be quiet and boring in Germany. Because shops in Asia are generally open seven days a week, I am sometimes asked what Germans actually do – since the shops are closed – on such days.

Very general, some young people hang out in cafés in Frankfurt, families might take walks or visit the Opel Zoo (its front page pointing out that they are OPEN on holidays) or Freizeitpark Lochmühle. Some people relax at home or visit relatives. You might also find the whole family at a local beer fest. But public holidays are meant for spending time with family and NOT out shopping.

Once in a while, when I am pressed for time, I wish shops were open on Sundays and holidays in Germany. Tomorrow is such a rare day – a list of all Verkaufsoffene Sonntage in Hessen for 2010 (scroll down to view list).

But overall, quiet public holidays and boring Sundays have their charms, too.

For a list of public holidays in Germany, visit worldtravelguide.

If you visit or live in Bavaria, the biggest state in Germany, there are three extra public holidays:

06 January (Epiphany)

15 August (Maria Ascension Day)

01 November (All Saints’ Day)