Going to Germany

[dubigrasu]

OK, I'm going to be for few days in Germany, more exactly I'm there to see the Roger Waters's concert in Hamburg.
I'm gonna spend one day in Hamburg and one in Koln, that's not too much time...
So, considering the short time, can anyone tell me what is there really worth seeing?
I mean, not night life or restaurants and things like that, but something significant, something unique perhaps?
For example one thing that I will definitely visit in Koln is the "Cologne Cathedral", an extraordinary building that always fascinated me, and now is my chance to actually see it.
I know that Hamburg is one beautiful city and there is plenty to see there and I already found something to my (maybe dubious?) taste: Miniatur Wunderland "The world's largest model railway museum" Yeah, don't laugh, I like toy trains . But what else...?

Yeah, I know about Wikipedia and travel guides and such, (I once read a travel guide about my city and was almost nothing there that I would recommend visiting.) but I prefer to hear some real people opinions.

[rickst29]

As a foreign visitor with limited time, about 20 years ago, I found the adjacent museum of Roman artifacts (built around and above a wealthy Roman citizen's villa) to be at least as interesting as the Cathedral. Within the Cathedral, I was greatly impressed by many of the art and religious objects. Incredible! But the building itself struck me as a lot of "big, REALLY BIG", without the fascinating carvings and glass of a place like Chartres. Also, due to damage in WW-2, a large proportion of the Cathedral consists of restoration. For me, it looked too much like a replica -- of itself, of what it was before USA troops and airmen used it for target practice.

But that's a matter of taste. In any case, you won't have to think in terms of a separate trip to the Roman Museum -- IIRC, the two buildings are about 150 meters apart.

[dubigrasu]

Great thanks, I'll add that to my (rather small) list.

But the building itself struck me as a lot of "big, REALLY BIG

Oh yes, but that's only one (a big one) aspect that fascinated me. I mean the building is really old and its construction began in around 1200 with a huge 400 years hiatus. One of the cranes used for its construction just stood there abandoned for those 400 years as the biggest thing in the sky.
Can you imagine, generations were born and died and that crane was still there!
OK gotta stop this

One thing also that I would like to see there is a pipe organ concert in that cathedral...that would be fantastic.

[eskroni]

Hey,

did you already leave for Germany? You might, since the concert is on the 10th and 11th of June....

If you have some time to see stuff in Hamburg,
I would suggest a walk through the old "Elbtunnel". I found it once by accident and I really did enjoy it.
Seeing the elevator for the cars to go down and drive below the Elbe to the other side is something.
Also, the tunnel itself looks nice - with tiles making pretty patterns on the wall.
Just don't walk all through the tunnel, since there's nothing pretty on the other end.

And another suggestion would be to take a boat tour around the harbour. Take one, that also goes
into the canals, so that you see more of the city. They often offer also the description in English
(in case that you don't speak German).

I hope, that this is still a bit helpful to you. Have a nice trip and enjoy the concert.

Sigrid

[dubigrasu]

Thank you Sigrid, excellent!
I'll leave this evening (I'm gonna see the second show) so I still have some time left.
Old Elbtunnel...checked, and definitely gonna take that boat tour through the city canals.

Hope I'll have the time to visit everything I planned

enjoy the concert

Oho, I WILL!

Thank you.

[dubigrasu]

International Maritime Museum = check (very nice, I had to be dragged out)
Park Planten un Blomen = check (Including the late evening water and lights show)
Alster Lakes = check (drank a beer while watching the boats)

And many other places.
I especially liked the ¨journey¨ with the balloon:

and the submarine:


But I´ll tell you what impressed me the most (and found it by accident while wandering around), this:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nichol ... h,_Hamburg

Then spent a day in Leipzig where my girlfriend lives and went finally to Cologne where...well, the Cologne Cathedral left me without words. I knew what I was about to see, still...is so darn big beautiful and old and...BIG...it boggles the mind really.
I was so impressed that I had to drink a beer to get over it

[doktor5000]

Then spent a day in Leipzig where my girlfriend lives ...
[...]
I was so impressed that I had to drink a beer to get over it

Hey, you could have told before, i'd have offered you some beers

[wobo]

Then spent a day in Leipzig where my girlfriend lives ...
[...]
I was so impressed that I had to drink a beer to get over it

Hey, you could have told before, i'd have offered you some beers

If you'd visited the financial capital (Frankfurt) you could have offered me a beer!

[isadora]

It's easy travelling to Germany.
But it's a struggle, to get yourself together for the journey back.
For me, one of the best places to spend holidays.

[dubigrasu]

Do not worry, there are still things to see and beers to drink in Germany for me, there is still time.

One thing I will stay away from though is Sauerbraten I saw it on the menu and said well...I played the game, why not also eat it?
I know, people like it, but no more for me please, I will just skip direct to the coffee.
I do like their understanding of a big coffee, I asked in a shop for a big coffee and they gave me this flower pot with coffee in it