Hamburg

Great article in the NY Times. "NO one tells you how pretty Hamburg is. That’s because so few people mention Hamburg in the first place. American tourists and businesspeople gravitate toward other German cities: Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt. And so Hamburg, bigger than all but Berlin, remains a bit of a mystery, poised to become a thrilling discovery. Did you know about the lake? It’s smack dab in the city center and skirted by regal buildings, a postcard-ready tableau if there ever was one. And the canals? They lattice the part of the city nearest the Elbe River, allowing Hamburg to joust with Stockholm, Amsterdam and Bruges for informal rights to call itself the Venice of northern Europe. Hamburg in winter is cold and often gray. No getting around that. But the indoors migration of many Hamburg residents gives the city a quiet and peace that I relished on a recent visit. Sure, the blustery weather persuaded me to skip the lake ferries and Elbe cruises recommended in summertime. But it wasn’t an obstacle to appreciating Hamburg’s formidable charms. ..." author: FRANK BRUNI - source: NYTIMES Published: January 19, 2012
My Hamburg!!! --- Kjell