Hamburg

There is so much to say about Hamburg, Germany. This is probably the greenest place I have ever seen! It has rained every day since I arrived on Thursday except for one. I have been busy exploring this beautiful city and learning so much about the German culture. -The people here are very passionate about every aspect of their lives, especially sports! Yesterday, Hendrik and I went to the soccer (fútbol) game between Hamburg and Köln.. What an experience that was. Every person in the stadium (70,000 strong) was yelling and cheering on their team for the duration of the game! In the end, Hamburg ended up losing 3-4 but the game was fun nonetheless. 


Both Friday and Saturday nights were spent clubbing. The clubs here are completely different than what you would find in Lubbock or most parts of the United States. Techno and House music are the major genres you hear in the clubs. They do play some Rap and Hip Hop but not nearly as much as they do back in the states. Additionally, when Germans "go out" for the night, they mean the ENTIRE night. I was not home until six or seven in the morning both Friday and Saturday night. I was able to meet some of Hendrik's closest friends. -They were very nice and made me feel like I had known them for quite some time. 


From a historical viewpoint, you cannot go more than a few minutes without seeing something of significance. In downtown Hamburg it is common to see a very old building with beautiful architecture directly next to a newer building that is not nearly as nice. The city is like this because of WWII. When the world was at war with Germany, random bombings occurred throughout the city and destroyed many buildings. Looking even closer, you can see the remnants of bomb shelters in the subways. There are metal sections in the entryways where solid steel doors (two feet thick) once stood to protect Hamburg's citizens from the bombings. Seeing these things were both sad and interesting at the same time. Part of me felt sad knowing amazing buildings were destroyed while another part of me felt fascinated by how integrated history is throughout the city. 


My time in Hamburg has been amazing so far! I am sure there will be much more to talk about by the end of my stay here in Germany. 

"Guns Up" at the game.