Resetting in Hamburg: What did it teach me?
Lessons from Hamburg for me and maybe you
I spent the first weekend in May in Hamburg. The purpose of the trip was to meet my class teacher, who came to Germany because of the war in Ukraine.
Hamburg allowed me to shake up emotionally and taught me something. As you understand, apart from the meeting, I had nothing much planned. But I am satisfied with the trip.
Lessons from Hamburg
Sense of style and taste are more important than money.
Hamburg was destroyed during the war and transformed into a beautiful city with exciting architecture, unusual urban ensembles and numerous bridges and parks. It still is a port city, but it has its character and sound. HafenCity, once a derelict port district, looks like an example of modern architecture today. Not surprisingly, the Elbe Philharmonic Orchestra concert hall fits in perfectly here.
If you want to express yourself, find the right place and time.
Hamburg immediately gives the impression of being a wealthy, respectable and thriving city. But there’s also an area for “self-expression”. That’s where nightlife comes in all its glory. If you want a glimpse of it, the Schanzen district is worth visiting. Here is the famous Reeperbahn, or as the Germans say, “die sündige Meile”. In the clubs along this street, one of which is ‘The Top Ten Club’, The Beatles started playing in the 1960s.
Cut the odds.
Walking the streets of modern Hamburg, I noticed there aren’t any trams. Is that a problem? No. Because Hamburg has an underground, an electric train and bicycles for hire. You can get anywhere in the city quickly. Maybe streets with trams would seem cosier, but the city would lose its unique, futuristic character.
The connections are always present, even between Venice and Hamburg.
Hamburg has a neighbourhood called Speicherstadt, which translates as “warehouse city”. Stacked on stilts made of tall oak logs, the Elbe canals are home to several red-brick storehouses. They look out over the channel on one side so that goods could be brought in directly by boat. On the other side, the doors faced the land so that the goods could be transported by ground.
It reminds you of Venice.
No to formulaic thinking
What is the first thing you think of when you say ‘hamburger’?
A round bun with a beef patty? And in Hamburg, it’s a sandwich with herring and onions. It’s unique because Germans don’t spare the fish.
You can get one at Fischbrötchenbude Brücke 10. The pastries, fish and prawn rolls are fresh, and the pontoon is rocking to the beat of the Elbe while you gaze out over the harbour panorama and savour the flavours.
Hmm… Why didn’t I make a list of cafes and restaurants like in Barcelona?
Anything simple is bound to taste good (just like in Berlin).
I hope I’ll expand the list of German (and not only) cities whose local cuisine can say the same thing ;)
If you want to experience the country’s coffee culture, head to the port city.
The local port is one of the hubs for the coffee bean trade in Europe. But apart from work, there is a continuously evolving culture of preparation and consumption. I was advised to check out Elbgold Coffee House. But I’d love to hear other recommendations too, as it wasn’t my last trip to Hamburg.
It’s never too early to plan
Before I even left Hamburg, I had already sketched out a list of places I would like to visit; among them:
- Alsterarkaden is a series of historical arcades.
- The Alter-Elbetunnel was considered a masterpiece of engineering at the time of its construction.
- The International Maritime Museum occupies ten floors.
It seems that in this museum there will be something more grandiose than in the Red Bull Hangar.
I think the list could be expanded. I will be glad if you take an active part in it.
