Beer

 

From Karlsruhe to Munich to Goettingen, the beer in Germany is fantastic. We even had a chance to visit the world famous Sapten brewery during the trip.

Tour d'Allemagne

I'm heading out on a tour of Germany with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation tomorrow. I'll try to get updates and photos up on the blog, but it will be tough. Cities: Brussels, Karlsruhe, Munich, Leipzig, Weimar, Goettingen.

Riot in Kreuzberg!

Okay, it wasn't a full blown riot. But according to the Berliner Zeitung, 50 vandals attacked our local Commerzbank. The prominent German financial institution has been in serious trouble lately. The police say the people dispersed before they arrived, but the assailants are being described as "leftists." The reason for the attack is still unknown.

Link to photos:
http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/berlin/polizeireport/121692/index.php?pos=0&popup

Mr. Big

 

Hamburg is renowned for its red light district called the "Reeperbahn." And no self-respecting hotbed for prostitution would be without a condom shop. This one is offering 100 EUR to the man who can fill out the above rubber. Legend has it that only 2 whippersnappers have mounted the challenge.

The Free Hanseatic State of Hamburg

 

This past weekend, we visited our friends Mandi and Daniel in Hamburg. It's a great city that doesn't get much press in the tour books - but we recommend it highly.

Some Facts:
Second largest port in Europe (after Rotterdam)
The port is actually on the Elbe River
Wealthiest city in Germany
Second largest city in Germany
Founding member of the medieval Hanseatic Trading League

Huh?

Der Spiegel had an interview with Uwe Luthahrdt, a former senior member of the far-right NDP party. He left the party when he found members doing Hitler salutes and displaying other Nazi symbols. Here is an excerpt:

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What did you hope to get from the party when you joined?

LUTHARDT: I wanted to do something for Germany, I wasn't interest in a Greater Germany. And suddenly everyone was saying we'll take back Silesia (present day Poland) and then we'll give the communists a thrashing.

Dude! What did you expect? What a moron. By the way, the picture above is an NDP poster that reads, "We're cleaning up!" We'll let you figure out what they're talking about.

BREAKING NEWS: Good Customer Service in Germany

As some of you know, I am obsessed with finding quality customer service in a land where the motto is, "F$%# the customer, they'll buy here anyways."

But Berlin Linien Bus, the long-distance bus company, bucked this trend. At the last minute on Friday, we needed to switch our tickets for our trip to Hamburg because Danielle got sick. Instead of being met with the usual, "Oh, that's impossible" the representative told me, "No problem at all." I was stunned. When I asked her if I would need a new ticket, she said, "No, you can use your old one. I've changed it in the computer." Wow, that's amazing. Good work Berlin Linien Bus! Now I hope the rest of Germany (including you Deutsche Telekom) takes a page out of their play book.