Hamburg and Lübeck

page 3

Hamburg is known as a wealthy city in Germany. It was once one of the 'hanseatic cities' - together with Lübeck and some other towns up there - I forget. Anyways, they all traded a lot in the old days, beat off the Danes and other invaders, and generally had a merry old time. There are still certain areas of the city where you get this feeling. Other areas are covered by graffiti and quite dirty. I guess if you want to see romantic German towns, and clean tidy villages, don't go to Hamburg (or Frankfurt either, for that matter).

The 'Binnenalster'. I think the name comes from the river Alster, and the fact that they made a lake out of it in the middle of the city. Hamburgers (not the ones with cheese) are quite proud of this. There is even a drink made with beer and lime soda they call 'Alsterwasser' in northern German, I suspect out of deference to this lake, but which is called 'Radler' in the south, probably 'cause they don't like the north. But you'd have to ask a real German to authenticate this.

The main train station ('Hauptbahnhof') in Hamburg. It's kind of old, but I like it. I actually like stopping in the different train stations in Germany. Each has its own character. Frankfurt for instance is crowded and hectic, just like the city. Hamburg is somewhat more orderly, and older. It also has a lively drug scene in front of the entrance, I think. I sat on the platform in front here for awhile and enjoyed the sunshine through the glass roof.

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The 'Binnenalster'. I think the name comes from the river Alster, and the fact that they made a lake out of it in the middle of the city. Hamburgers (not the ones with cheese) are quite proud of this. There is even a drink made with beer and lime soda they call 'Alsterwasser' in northern German, I suspect out of deference to this lake, but which is called 'Radler' in the south, probably 'cause they don't like the north. But you'd have to ask a real German to authenticate this.

	The main train station ('Hauptbahnhof') in Hamburg. It's kind of old, but I like it. I actually like stopping in the different train stations in Germany. Each has its own character. Frankfurt for instance is crowded and hectic, just like the city. Hamburg is somewhat more orderly, and older. It also has a lively drug scene in front of the entrance, I think. I sat on the platform in front here for awhile and enjoyed the sunshine through the glass roof.