Spring Dippemess - Off to the Fair!

Frankfurt Spring Dippemess
Thursday, March 28, 2013
 
Funny word, Dippemess, so you are probably wondering what it is. This is a fair held twice a year on the East side of Frankfurt. Part carnival, part beer tent, part county fair - minus the agriculture and animals, with lots of rides and food, German style.

Dippemess is a tradition which dates back to the 14th century. At that time, the Maamess, as it was then called, was a medieval market for domestic articles. Potters from the Westerwald, Kannebäckerland and Urberach came here to sell their wares, especially their ceramic bowls and pots. These were known in the Frankfurt dialect as "Dippe", from which the event soon took its name. Over the years, more and more fairground booths and popular attractions joined the market as well. Today, it is Frankfurt’s largest fair and Germany’s most popular Easter event. With visitor numbers reaching 2.5 million annually, the Dippemess always features the latest High Tech rides and attractions.

(Above description borrowed from the Heute newsletter who borrowed it from the Frankfurt on Foot blog)

My own thoughts - wow - this is awesome!!  The food is in its own league.  You can get crepes - the popular being filled with Nutella - candied nuts, chocolate covered nuts (and these range in flavors from Snickers, Nutella, Chili, Yogurt...)  I bought some candied Macadamia Nuts.  YUM.  Also, there are massive varieties of popcorns, chocolate covered fruits (kiwi, strawberries, bananas, pineapple - that's just what I recognized!).  There is also chocolate covered peppers!  In addition to all this snacky food... there's also beer garden tents and loads of stands selling bratwurst, wienerschnitzel, chicken nuggets, fries, even Thai food.

The rides range from toddlers to adults, from carousels, bumpercars, throw a dart - win a prize, to roller coasters, fun houses and much, much, more!  So, step right up and enjoy the fair!!  I'm going to go back, hopefully in the evening to catch everything lit up! 

There's no cost to get into the fair, you just pay individually for the rides you want to go on, and whatever you want to buy.

In the blue jacket is my friend's daughter Braelynn.

 

This is another friend's daughter, Piper.

Hollis having big kid envy... I want to go on that ride!

 

That's one tasty bratwurst!!

Chocolate covered peppers!

 

 Chocolate covered strawberries!

The Roller Coaster - Alpina Bahn

 

A Happy Birthday in Heidelberg

Happy Birthday, Robert!   

Birthday Destination:  Heidelberg, Germany

Saturday, March 16, 2013

The city of Heidelberg emerges from the hills of the Odenwald into the Rhine plain.  It is a 1 hour train ride from Frankfurt.  It boasts the castle, a University Library that was erected in 1901 and has one of the largest book collections in all of Germany (over 2 million volumes), several museums, the Old Town area with quite lovely architecture, shopping and eateries.  The Old Bridge which crosses the river Neckar gives some of the best views of the city and castle; and if you cross over the bridge and do a short climb, you can reach the “Philosophenweg” (Philosopher’s Path)  or, as my tongue tied self said the “Veloceraptor’s Path”  Hahahaha.  Must’ve had dinosaurs on the brain (ahem, Cory).

Heidelberg Schloss (the castle) sits high above the lovely banks of the Neckar river, just above the Old Town.  It can be reached by funicular, vehicle, or walking, but we, of course, rode the Funicular up. This was once a vast residential complex that was built and repeatedly extended from the 13^th-17^th century.  It was once a well fortified Gothic castle, but today, is mainly ruins for our adventuresome selves to explore and enjoy.  One of the highlights at the castle is in the Cellar which holds the famous Great Tun of 1751.  Essentially it is a giant beer/wine barrel – this one holds 48,400 gallons.  They must’ve thrown some amazing parties.  Just sayin’!

 

We ran out of time and didn’t have a chance to get down to the Old Bridge, so I plan to return to fair Heidelberg, so that I might stroll the banks of the Neckar and walk along the Philosopher’s Path.

Hauptbahnhof Train Station in Frankfurt

 

All Aboard!

Heidelberg Schloss - the Castle Ruins

Michelle and I

 

 

Cool drain spout!

This clock had numbers and astrological signs

The Famed Portrait of Queen Audra of Heidelberg Schloss

I had one too many from this barrel... and this was the LITTLE one!

This is the Great Tun of 1751 - holds 48,400 gallons.

There is a stairs on the right, a viewing platform up on top and a spiral staircase coming down on the left.  It's HUGE.  Notice the adults at the base?

 

Views from the castle of Old Town and the Neckar river below.

This is how Hollis spent all of her castle tour - conked out!

As soon as we walked out the front gate, she woke up and had some snacks!

 

 In Old Town Heidelberg

Nice lederhosen, babe!  (Andy on the left)

 

 I'm such a poser!

 

 It's common to see stands like this one where you can buy plant bulbs, flowers, etc.

(Even in Frankfurt)