In high school, a boy named Florian from Hamburg, Germany studied abroad at my school for a year, and we became close friends. We stayed in touch over the years via email. While I was in Europe for a few weeks two summers ago, I stopped in Hamburg for a few days so I could catch up with him.
I had never been to Germany before, and while I found the German language to be harsh (it seemed like everyone was yelling all the time) and the words unbelievably long, I was surprised to learn how many people spoke English. It helped that Hamburg has a business college that requires all students to be fluent in English, and Flo had just graduated from the school, so he and all of his friends spoke flawless English.
Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany, and the eighth largest city in the EU. It’s home to almost 2 million people, though it doesn’t have many skyscrapers, giving it the feel of a smaller town. It has a subway system, canals, great shopping, popular nightclubs, and a colorful Red Light District. And you can often find a nice hotel in Hamburg at a great price. I didn’t take pictures of everything I did and saw there, but below are some of those moments I did document.
My friend Florian works in Hamburg, but lives in Reinbek, a small, charming, and beautiful German town a short drive away from Hamburg. We enjoyed spending time in this peaceful park on the grounds of Reinbek Castle.
Here’s a picture of Flo standing in front of Reinbek Castle (Schloss Reinbek). You can dine on the outdoor patio with a view of the lake.
Below is a beautiful church in Reinbek that we passed by often.
I stayed in Reinbek with Flo, but spent most of my time in Hamburg. Hamburg’s town hall building (below) is regal and gorgeous, and looks more like a castle than a government building. The tower is 367 feet tall, and the structure contains 647 rooms (that’s six more than Buckingham Palace).
Hamburg was the first city I’ve been to with a Red Light District, so we of course took a stroll through the area. We didn’t go inside any of the establishments, but it was still bizarre and entertaining! I never knew gas masks were considered sexy…
I was surprised to find out that Hamburg has several canals running through the center of the city. Some of the larger ones had steps on the banks where people could sit and relax.
We visited an outdoor food market full of fresh goodies. Besides staples like fruit and eggs, there were German sausages and cheese galore!
Hamburg features beautiful parks and gardens throughout the city. We took some lovely walks through them.
I visited a German grocery store and found all kinds of fun things, including this funny alcoholic egg drink.
I love how cigarettes in Europe have huge warning labels on them (I don’t smoke–this belonged to one of Flo’s friends). “Smoking can be deadly” sounds a bit scarier in German.
