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Magnificent river - magnificent views!
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Rick Steves in his guide book on Germany didn't hold a high opinion of Mainz.
Nevertheless, our research showed that Mainz has a long and rich history,
dating back two thousand years to Roman times. In the 17th century its princes
transformed the face of the city, commissioning the best architects and
sculptors to build unique royal palaces and new churches. It sounded
interesting to us, so we headed south by train to this city located where the
Main River merges with the Rhine. It was a sunny and hot day, with temperatures
in the 80's when we stepped off at the Mainz Bahnhof. I had a copy of a book by
Earl Steinbicker, "Daytrips In Germany," (highly recommended) which contains an
excellent walking map showing how to reach the main tourist sites.
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It was an easy 20 minute stroll during which we stopped to watch children at
play in a plaza's fountains, with a little window shopping thrown in. Further
on in yet another plaza was a giant statue of Mainz's most famous citizen,
Johannes Gutenberg. He was best known for the Gutenberg press, an innovative
printing machine that used movable type.
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Our destination was Marktplatz, a central starting point for many of the main
sites. Saturday market filled the square with locals (and tourists) shopping
for fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and foods.
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