Tag: red light district

Easter with the Anarchists (and some tourist stuff too)

On By Alison HaywoodIn Culture, SightseeingLeave a comment

Hey there! Long time no blog… I know, I know, I’m bad. Well, to make up for my lack of activity over the past couple of months, I’m going to write you a blog post with LOTS of pictures…

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See, here’s a picture already! That guy’s backpack says “FCK NZS” – a popular slogan here in Hamburg.

I spent Easter weekend in a rather non-traditional fashion this year: at an anarchist street festival. While Americans were out hiding eggs, Christians were going to church, normal Hamburgers were enjoying bonfires on the beach and Swedes were hanging colorful feathers on trees, the Hamburg neighborhood of Sternschanze was throwing a block party/street festival/demonstration. Continue reading “Easter with the Anarchists (and some tourist stuff too)” →

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The little town of Lüneburg: Hamburg’s best day trip

On By Alison HaywoodIn Sightseeing, Travel2 Comments

Just 20km south of Hamburg’s bustling downtown and industrial river ports lies the little town of Lüneburg, a city frozen in time.

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The Lüneburg harbor.

It’s easy to forget the city of Hamburg is much older than the second world war, because outside of a few restored churches, not many buildings from the pre-war era remain. Lüneburg, on the other hand, escaped the brunt of the bombs in both wars, and periods of affluence followed by poverty in the city’s history lead to beautiful houses being constructed, then preserved, as there was no money to tear them down and build anew. The result is like a step back into the middle ages. Continue reading “The little town of Lüneburg: Hamburg’s best day trip” →

Exploring Hamburg’s various Christmas markets

On By Alison HaywoodIn Christmas season, Culture, Traditions, Winter2 Comments

One of the biggest draws of Germany in the wintertime are the different Christmas markets that spring up in almost every town, and Hamburg is no exception. Germany’s second-largest city has dozens of different Christmas markets, all with unique themes and styles, and there is scarcely time to see them all in the six weeks leading up to Christmas.

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The entrance to Hamburg’s largest Christmas market located at the Rathaus (City Hall). The market opens and turns on its lights well before dusk. Photo: Alison Haywood

Continue reading “Exploring Hamburg’s various Christmas markets” →

Wasted in Wales, a traditional English Christmas, and Ye Olde Trip to Nottingham

On By Alison HaywoodIn Christmas season, City Life, Night Life, Traditions, Travel3 Comments

For a number of reasons I decided not to go home to Washington for the Christmas holidays. But the prospect of staying in a dorm all Christmas didn’t exactly excite me either, so I decided to go somewhere much closer and cheaper instead: England.

_MG_1541 Continue reading “Wasted in Wales, a traditional English Christmas, and Ye Olde Trip to Nottingham” →