Mainz, a cheerful city
Mainz is a city with laughter. Living in such a beautiful city right on the river.
The city offers a wide and varied range of leisure activities. Since I am interested in culture, I often watch a show at the Theater Mainz, which is free for students of the Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) and Mainz University of Applied Sciences. There are also extensive shopping centres in the area around the theatre. When I get off at the “Höfchen” bus stop, Marktplatz am Dom is just a few metres away. Here I find department stores, boutiques and street cafés with a view of the cathedral. The Gutenberg shop and ZDF shop are also located here. Mainz isn’t as expensive as Munich or as small as Bamberg, so it is very affordable to live in such a peaceful and beautiful city.
When the weather’s good, I often go to Stadtpark and Volkspark. The two parks are close to each other, and students gather here together for picnics. There are also barbecue spots, cafes and minigolf courses. From the Stadtpark, the view of the Rhine is breath-taking. There, I could find many people jogging and cycling along the Rheinpromenade or simply relax besides the river. On hot summer days, I could see people hanging out here in deckchairs and hammocks or play beach volleyball with friends. Wednesday is student day when everything is offered at a reduced price.
Lots of student parties take place in Mainz on Wednesdays and Thursdays — for example in the Kulturcafé Qkaff on the JGU campus. I have lunch here at midday and party in the evening. But there’s also plenty going elsewhere in town in the evenings. For example, Mainz has many Irish pubs to enjoy where I go with my friends to drink and enjoy karaoke in the evenings. KUZ is also a good place for different kinds of entertainment. The culture centre organises parties, readings and concerts. Popular locations for party nights are also the culture club Schon Schön on Große Bleiche and the Red Cat Club near Schillerplatz. The Pussy Cat-Cocktailbar is also part of the Red Cat Club.
A good place for cocktails is Ballplatzcafé Novum. Tuesdays is cocktail night, when two cocktails are offered for the price of one. And the best thing about this café is that after a night of serious partying, you can order breakfast here until 4 in the afternoon. Haha. Next door is Lomo — a mix of restaurant, lounge and book bar. The bar has a wide collection of books which you can help yourself to and read during your visit. It also hosts readings by young local talents.
Last but not least, I definitely enjoy visiting the Kupferbergterrasse in the Oberstadt, to see the beautiful view of the whole town.