Road Trip: Part One

At the end of June, me and two flatmates embarked on a road trip. We began the journey in Hamburg, where one of my friends hails. Hamburg is a huge harbour city, once part of the Hanseatic league, in the north of Germany.

The Speicherstadt district is where all the trading goods were stored.

Any visitor to Hamburg is pretty much obliged to go to the Reeperbahn: an unashamedly bold red-light district (the biggest in Europe in fact). It's wild reputation certainly is deserved, at least upon my first impression. In any case, beer is an intrinsic part of German culture, whether you are in a Bavarian beer garden or the Reeperbahn, beer should always be involved in any trip to Germany!

Relaxing with a beer after taking a boat trip through the harbour city.

Hamburg is one of the most exciting cities in Germany, rivalled only by Berlin. But unlike Berlin, I could also envisage that life in Hamburg might also be pleasantly relaxed at times too.

After a couple of nights in Hamburg, we had a quick stopover in Berlin, where another friend joined our road trip. I had already been to the city before during the winter, but it was nice to be there in temperatures above -15C! Again, as mentioned, beer has a cultural significance in Germany. A great excuse to try a Berlin speciality: Berliner Weisse.

Woodruff, blackcurrant and rhubarb flavoured beer.

The beer can actually be flavoured with fruity syrups, this makes for – to put it politely – an interestingly unique beer experience. Far too sweet for my liking, it tasted more like cider, which would've definitely tasted nicer.

After an evening in Berlin, we set off again in the morning: bound for Poland...

Warsaw & Berlin

Last weekend I met up with a friend in Berlin and we went to Warsaw. I had always wanted to visit Poland, and since I was already in the area, I thought why not head over there? It's only a 5 hour train ride away.....

The iconic palace of culture in the heart of the city.

I don't really know what I was expecting, but Warsaw certainly exceeded any expectations I had. The old town part of the city is beautiful and, although the rest of the city isn't conventionally pretty, I really liked it. There was plenty to see and do there. I'd like to go back one day, but maybe not during the harsh temperatures (-15c) of winter.

ACTA protest (against strict copyright and censor regulations) in the old town.

Whilst in Warsaw, we stumbled upon a peaceful ACTA protest. Also, in the evening, we saw huge convoys of police vans, armoured trucks and cars racing towards the area where loud bangs could be heard. It turns out it wasn't about the protest, but rather a football match had been cancelled, unleashing the wrath of the fans.

Upon returning, I then checked out what Berlin has to offer.

The infamous Brandenburger Tor of Berlin.

Berlin is unlike any city I've ever been to. Not only geographically - it has no clear centre – understandable considering the rich history of the city, but also in the feel of the place. There always seems to be something going on – probably why the night life there is raved about – justly in my opinion.

The memorial for the Jews who lost their lives during the holocaust.

Of course, there is also plenty to do in Berlin, not just for tourists but also if you live there I imagine, and that's before you even consider all of the obligatory sights that one must see (the Berlin wall, Bundestag and Fernsehturm to name just a few). Again, I can envisage coming back some day.