Arrivin' in Hamburg

I arrived in Hamburg around 8 pm, the skies were a little bit gray. I found it crazy that you can just cross to countries around Europe without going through border/immigration control. It was more of the stamping that I wanted on my passport.

The Generator Hostel was conveniently located in close proximity to the Train station Hamburg Hbf. I found the whole station commercialized, surprised to see lots of American food chains around. I crossed the street and checked in.

The whole façade and even internal corridors of the hostel were well designed and looking modern. Again, a little bit impersonal. The couches were mint green and a bar/café was just around the corner from the information desk. The girl receptionist was really friendly and gave enough information.

The room was just mid-sized enough for a 6-bed mixed dorm. Good thing the girl gave me the lower bunk bed. A guy from the other side of the room said hello and a couple on the other side were snuggled beside each other and I said hello as well. It was really quiet, nobody talking at all. Anyway, I quickly changed and got on the net to check what sites and stuff I can do for the following day.

The title Hamburg goes back to history, when it was once called Hammaburg, Burg meaning castle and Hamma with no roots at all, so I’d say unknown. Centuries ago, it was called Treva based on Ptolemy’s writings. I was amazed reading on the history and coming across Ptolemy’s name. Just shows how old the place was. In AD 808, Charlemagne ordered a castle to be built on a rocky terrain, one of which remains nor its exact location cannot be placed even to this day. Just the same as Brussels, it made me wonder about the extent of Emperor Charlemagne’s reign of power.

Hamburg ‘s official name is Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, which is connected to its membership with the medieval Hanseatic League, as a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. And it was interesting to learn that before 1871, Hamburg was a full state of its own. By 2012, it was ranked 17th in the world for livability. Tourism is very much one of its capital earning channels and a major transport hub in North Germany, also known to be one of the affluent cities in Europe.

It seems that Hamburg went through massive raids, Vikings, Poland and Denmark all went through the exercise of destroying the city. Also, the Great Fire of 1842 left the city barren and took 4 days to be extinguished. Going through Saint Nicholas cathedral has clearly shown the remnants of the fire.