Lebowski in Hamburg

This is for my nephew Drew Gilligan, a true Lebowski fan.

Dusseldorf Airport

GoNOMAD's Senior Travel Editor, Traveling Home

I am in perfect airport position back here in Düsseldorf, thanks to the best airport hotel I have ever stayed in. When I checked in back at the Düsseldorf, Maritim I found a letter from the manager telling me to enjoy the executive floor and feel free to make the mini bar my own. I was back in room 757 and rapidly fell into my routine, sauna, hot bath and blogging. First though I wondered through the perfect Düsseldorf Airport, tonight I may just walk the few feet across and dine there, it is after all the best airport I’ve seen over the last few weeks.

I like to joke and on any given travel day say, “another day in the office”. It has been an amazing spring and I am so grateful! In the last few weeks I have traveled by snowmobile in Lapland, gone on safari in Kenya, skied the French Alps, toured Düsseldorf and Hamburg. The flight delays, mugging and great friends met have exceeded any expectations. I wasn’t sure if having my face carved up due to skin cancer had anything to do with my ambitious undertaking but I can assure you that sitting still isn’t in my makeup. I am looking forward to getting down to my real home office and putting it all down. I miss you Lil and thanks for understanding, Max the stories will flow. Memories make the man, lucky for me I just made some new ones .

St. Georg, My Hamburg Hood

While rolling on steel wheels back to Düsseldorf I though a lot about Hamburg and my temp neighborhood. I got the answers I needed from the Hamburg Tourism brochure and its info about the St Georg area. This is verbatim, “ Steindamm and Hansaplatz, with a drug scene , numerous Turkish shops and a large mosque.” It further tells about the sex scene and states there is scope enough here for all manner of lifestyles. True enough and I must say I really kind of liked being in such a diverse local area. It certainly was a long way from my home in Cottekill. I stopped at the same place for Turkish coffee every day and actually got to know the owner well. The working girls did indeed nod after a few days and knew I wasn’t cruising any place but back to the St. Raphael Hotel. I ate dinner several times near the Bahnhof and found it good and the people watching great. Hamburg is like a bad little child that you love. I am sure spanking fits in the hood some how!

Reeperbahn and the Beatles

Thanks to a website I found done by a Beatles fan I cruised the Reeperbahn before boarding my train this morning. I went past several of the sites listed in the quiet of morning; I could almost feel the vibes. I stood in front of the Top Ten Club where the boys played and actually lived in the attic for a bit. It was from there that George was deported. It occurred to me that it would only have been a city like Hamburg that would have given the Silver Beatles a break. Everyone gets a break in Hamburg! http://webs.wichita.edu/mschneegurt/hamburg/hamburg.html

Fusion In Hamburg, Top Asian

Olaf Niemeir is a genius with food, especially Asian food, his passion. I had an amazing meal at Fusion at the Side Hotel last night. Platters of delicious dishes came out of the kitchen and every morsel fantastic. Olaf spent 20 years cooking in Asia and it shows. All ingredients are natural and every bite burst with flavor, one of the best meals I’ve had in a very long time!

The Hamburg Station and the Working Girls

I headed to the Baunhof to reserve my seat on the 2:45 train to Dusseldorf tomorrow and of course there wasn't room even with my fancy 1stKlasse pass. Thoughts of a missed flight on Friday freaked me, but the clerk informed me that I could get on the 9:46 instead. It took me no time to say ja danke. I have passed through this station about 100 times over the last few days. So much so that I am getting greetings from the working girls that work just down the street from the station and near my hotel. No more pssst, mien Herr. They know it its just the American who passes frequently with his eyes straight ahead.

Hamburg Harbor, 50 Million Tons

I took a turn around the Hamburg Harbor yesterday on the Maritime Circle Line and found it fascinating. The goods shipped from the containers via Hamburg are amazing. The cranes and ships are massive in size and strangely picturesque.

Over 50 Million tons of goods pass through every year.

Jumped for a Dumpster

I was jumped tonight and most surprised, I was taking this picture of a graffiti dumpster when a few seconds later was pinned against a wall. The two in the distance in this photo thought I was taking their picture. I took one down then there were more hands on me and other guys. I really like my spot at the Best Western St. Raphael and my big room, even its location near the Haupt-bahnhof (train station) and access to the city. “Why did you take our picture”? One guy yelled. I thought quickly and told them that they should look at my digital pictures; I was simply intrigued by the dumpster. They did, one more punch and they were gone. I thought about all the photos I have taken and wondered why it would be one of a dumpster that almost got me dumped.

Ballin Stadt, Hamburg's Ellis Island

I spent the morning cruising the amazing Hamburg Harbor heading by boat to one amazing place, the Ballin Stadt, the place where 5 million people departed Germany looking for a better life. We in the US tend to think only of the emigrants plight from Ellis Island on, there was so much more involved. Ballin Stadt explains it all and very well, think of an Ellis Island in reverse. The people were housed and paper work dealt with, no easy task. People from Eastern Europe often went to America via Hamburg and this museum covers the saga so very well! I myself am looking for answers as my Mom's father most likely came through here.

Beatles and the First Gig in Hamburg

I was on my way to visit with Kathrin Beulshausen who works for the high design hotel East in the St Pauli section of Hamburg when I ran into some Beatles info. There was a small little ramshackle place called Indra with a sign stating the Beatles played there on Aug. 17 1960 and that was their first engagement and started their career. A tour bus was parked outside and the blinds drawn tight, perhaps some new super stars in the making?

Hamburg and the Sea

I arrived in Hamburg and hit the streets running, even though it is a holiday here. It was great to see Hamburgers enjoy a day off and I happened upon the Hafenfest der Welt. The harbor was filled with ships and a carnival atmosphere prevails, it’s a great time to visit this city that has an eye to the water, more bridges than Amsterdam, London and Venice combined. I walked miles just getting my bearings for my appointments in the morning. I am going to love this city!

Working Girl, St Pauli Hamburg

Leaving Dusseldorf and Rolling to Hamburg

I am up early and writing this as the sun also rises. I am leaving Dusseldorf today, a city that has been really great to explore. From centuries past to the modern skyline of today, Dusseldorf really has a lot to offer and I am actually looking forward to my return in a few days.

I will hit the rails today and head to Hamburg, from all accounts another thriving city with plenty to do. It was in Hamburg at the Star Club where the Beatles cut their teeth playing clubs. Rolling on!

Neanderthal in Germany

Just in case you want to know what a marathon of travel can do to you check out the top picture. We went to a fantastic museum this morning near Dusseldorf that is the Neanderthal Museum. It was in this gorge that in 1829 miners found bones of our ancestors. It was a fascinating place to go way back in time, before jet lag and politics took a toll.

A Perfect Dusseldorf Afternoon

After a morning of exploring the Aldstadt of Düsseldorf we meet as a group to see some of the surrounding countryside. The first stop is the Scholoss (castle) of Benrath a magnificent palace with stunning grounds. It is however the waffle with ice cream and cherry topping that catches all of our attention. The Schlosscafe is located and set amidst gardens and the moat. Swans cruise by and the bright sun warms up a perfect afternoon.

Next up is the small and picture perfect town of Kaisersworth on the Rhine River. It is glow time and we strolled through the town and down a country road to a beer garden. A few rounds of sparkling white wine on the banks of the river loosens tongues and laughter. Soon we head to the porch for a dinner of local dishes. Next thing we know it is 11 P.M. and sleep is on our agenda, a perfect Düsseldorf day is done.

UNWTO and Kenya's Tourism

It seems strange to be thinking about Kenya while sitting in a super room at the Maritim Hotel in Düsseldorf but sometimes past trips come back to haunt you. I was checking out the web this morning when I came upon a new release about the UNWTO Secretary - General Francesco Frangialli’s recent visit to Kenya. He stated that Kenya is of need of help and that tourism is so very important to the country and its citizens, not to mention the region. We at GoNOMAD went on our own fact finding mission and couldn’t have been more pleased to see the steps Kenya’s Tourism Board is taking to save the tourism industry there. The UNWTO is going to help with tech and marketing assistance via its alliance with Microsoft. Not a moment to soon!