Friday, May 19, 2006
03/2006: Hamburg : 'am I really loathing this city...'
It's bitterly cold. Venture onto the underground which, of course, is easy to use and annoyingly efficient. At 9am the main train station is reverberating to the sound of football chants from blue and white scarf-clad Hamburg fans swigging from beer bottles and staggering under the weight of crates containing further supplies.
Later find self in the middle of the central shopping area and have to avert eyes from siren-like window displays.
I think, I'm developing a deep loathing for Hamburg. Only because weather is freezing cold, drizzly and misty. And I set out at 8.30 and was on my feet until 6pm, so am exhausted. Encountered mostly uncooperative staff at the hotels I visited - it’s the weekend, people are checking in and out and the staff are usually fairly junior and overworked. Was also accosted by more than my fair share of crazies along the way too, although this is probably because I took 12 tube rides and was in some rather insalubrious areas. Had my first glimpse of the infamous Reeperbahn red light district, which was somewhat tacky and tame on a wet Sunday afternoon.
Ate fantastic prawn pasta in the railway station washed down with an acceptable glass of Pinot Grigio for the princely sum of 10 euros. Am feeling more disposed towards the city today!
It's bitterly cold. Venture onto the underground which, of course, is easy to use and annoyingly efficient. At 9am the main train station is reverberating to the sound of football chants from blue and white scarf-clad Hamburg fans swigging from beer bottles and staggering under the weight of crates containing further supplies.
Later find self in the middle of the central shopping area and have to avert eyes from siren-like window displays.
I think, I'm developing a deep loathing for Hamburg. Only because weather is freezing cold, drizzly and misty. And I set out at 8.30 and was on my feet until 6pm, so am exhausted. Encountered mostly uncooperative staff at the hotels I visited - it’s the weekend, people are checking in and out and the staff are usually fairly junior and overworked. Was also accosted by more than my fair share of crazies along the way too, although this is probably because I took 12 tube rides and was in some rather insalubrious areas. Had my first glimpse of the infamous Reeperbahn red light district, which was somewhat tacky and tame on a wet Sunday afternoon.
Ate fantastic prawn pasta in the railway station washed down with an acceptable glass of Pinot Grigio for the princely sum of 10 euros. Am feeling more disposed towards the city today!
# posted by hotelreviewer @ 1:24 pm 
