Runaway: The Best German Cities 2: Rüdesheim and Mainz

  Rüdesheim

My urban odyssey moves towards the more rural area of sunny Rüdesheim. Due to its medieval air and views over the broad Rhine it would make a good competitor to Heidelberg. I would even say it would beat it with regards to the legends hiding behind those stone walls. Moreover, there are some peculiarities making Rüdesheim totally irresistable.

The first thing that meets the eye of the the new-arrived flaneurs (the railway crossing the centre of the town streches along the mighty Rhein) are small hills and valleys with covered with vineyards. There simply seems to be no other flora around, which gives you the sense the town would not dissapoint you.

True, Rüdesheim is famous for its wine industry produsing famous white dry Riesling and a brandy Asbach Uralt.

The second thing grabbing attention is the  ropeway (gondola lift) hanging above those vineyards and transporting the passengers just to the famous monment of Niederwalddenkmal from 1883.

 The part of the monument is a park which provides with a perfect view of the Rhein and the surroundings.

 Back down to the city center you can walk along the noted age-old Drosselgasse lane with its tiny pubs. A must-drink is a so-called Rudesheimer coffee served in a special mug. The dark bitter coffee is mixed with a burning Asbach brandy just in front of the somewhat amazed customer and then carefully decorated with whipped cream. Tastes amazing!

Mainz

There would be definitely more to this town that I would manage to portray since I only know its sunny wharf where I used to sketch and the cosy campus of my university.

As opposed to other campuses like Uni Frankfurt's,Uni Mainz has a centrally located one and you can manage all your to-does withing one well-organized territory and not more than 15 mins to reach the futhest destination. I unfortunately habe very few shots of this place. But once in Mainz, don't hesitate to visit one of the oldest Unis in Germany. Green lawns with students peeping into books or just hanging out, botanic garden, the sounds of the rockband from the Philosophicum lecture hall or movies shown in the 'Muschel' (the shell-shaped building)- a nice alternative if you appreciate the so-called campus spirit.




The center of Mainz is very old and has this touch of the Middle Ages atmosphere cities like Frankfurt or Berlin wourd hardly be embodying. Right about the time this post will be published the marvel of the Christmas market starts (although I sort of ironicized on its part at the beginning, but still =) and it makes sense to grab a refreshing hot wine in one of its cabins and enjoy the approaching XMas air.

 My personal tip to enjoy the city would be searching the lanes through for antique shops and works of art like this book antiquary or Mark Shagal's window.

The alley along the Rhine is one of the most peaceful places I've seen in Germany. Take some wine and contemplate the intricate bridge's architecture and the comforting and smoothing  feeling the capital of Rheinland-Pfalz radiates or better take a small boat jourey on Rhine, which promises a much better perspective of the two cities in concern. But my friends and I are not always that touristically conscoius. Lat time we spent on Rhine was either sketching or blowing soap bubbles.