Couple of Days In Bremen - Germany Travel Story
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Title: Couple of Days In Bremen
Website: http://www.facebook.com/Nathen_Amin
Bremen If I had to sum up this North-Western German city in one word it would have to be “efficient”. Yes, like all other major German destinations Bremen runs so smoothly you wouldn’t be surprised if you found out that every watch, clock or timer in the port city was running in sync. After leaving our crowded little isle from a Liverpool airport so busy I was sure I crushed a few ribs in the general panic that British airports seem to inflict on our restless natives (flying via Dublin, the Irish capital’s operation was no picnic either), it was amazingly refreshing to walk through customs and be greeted by…nothing. No queues, no screaming kids, no rowdy tourists, just my luggage waiting for me and a spacious gleaming airport at our mercy. For first time visitors to Germany this tends to be a wonderful insight into the general mindset of the country’s meticulous approach to effectiveness, stereotypes notwithstanding. I was off the plane, luggage in hand and out the door in the time it takes to order a hamburger (always with gherkins!) back in Blighty. Straight onto the futuristic Bremer Strabenbahn AG (BSAG) tram service, complete with electronic boards and doors, it was only a short-trip until we reached the city centre. It was a shock when we stepped off the tram and realised just how quiet the streets were.Accommodation In trying to keep with the spontaneous nature of the trip, we (11 Irish lads and I) hadn’t booked a hotel, so armed with some unhelpful Google print-outs and some helpful German assistance we turned up at the most random shaped hostel I have yet to see. The easiest way to describe the Jugendherberge budget hostel would be to liken it to a large yellow Lego Brick overlooking the sprawling River Weser, a wide passage of water resplendent with large ships and Freighters sitting atop her glistening surface. The hostel was clean and welcoming inside, a homely feel created by the happy staff, bright coloured walls and children running around enjoying the many facilities the place provides. The rooms were spacious with a generous sized shower and a breathtaking view over the river, suggesting this hostel being a hidden jewel in the hospitality department considering the value for money. There was also food put on in the large Breakfast/Dinner area which was quite good actually, consisting of complicated foods such as Stroganoff or even something as multicultural as…chips.Sightseeing With the country synonymous with its love and production of beer, the first stop for all you lager-louts out there would be the famous Beck’s Brewery, the home of that world-renowned lager. With entry for €7 and including a tour as well as a couple free pints of the smooth tasting brew, the museum/factory is a great tourist attraction much in the vein of the similar Guinness factory in Dublin. Another similar infamous factory residing in the city is the Mercedes-Benz building, a hit with petrol-heads and passer’s by alike, the large symbol proving a great photographic moment for tourists. For the more traditional sightseer, the Marktplatz (Market Square) in the centre of the city will provide you with the historic gothic buildings that have become a staple of international tourism, the large opulent Town Hall dominating the square. Modified to boast a restaurant (the Ratskeller), the wine list contains an extraordinary 600 local wines including the 12 oldest wines in the world safely stored should a billionaire ever pop in with a blank cheque and a sweet tooth. The Dom St Petri is also situated around the impressive square, the 1200-year-old cathedral looming over the area as the spiritual home of the locals. For €1 you can even climb the tower and get a view over the whole city. The Bremen locals understandably take great pride in the square and frown upon loud rowdiness, not becoming of the quiet efficient almost utopia-like existence they have created around their historic cultural centre, so be warned.NightlifeMidweek was not the ideal time to truly sample the nightlife of the city, however if the midweek afternoons were anything to go by the weekend hotspots promise to be something. Situated on the scenic embankment alongside the river Weser and ideally outside our Hostel, the Schlachte area of the city boasts outdoor seating for some 2000 people, spread amongst the innumerable wealth of bars, café’s and restaurants that line the waterway. The most popular of these would be the summertime (Apr-Sept, 11am-midnight) beer gardens, outdoor pub’s serving a wide array of local beer’s and pretzels to tourists and locals alike wishing to catch some rays beside the picturesque river, the idyllic hangout for groups of friends or a couple on a romantic getaway. With restaurants sampling the best of the world’s cuisine there is no excuse for going hungry, although for a bit of local authenticity I would recommend any form of locally caught fish for a pleasant fresh dish. Further in town there are plenty of late-night bars and restaurants situated around the Viertel area, with many different venues situated around a compact couple of streets. With something for everyone, rowdy bars for the lads, quiet reserved night-spots for couples, the area does indeed provide everything you need from a night out in a clean friendly and relaxed setting with reasonable prices (€3-4 a pint for example). One great find away from the tourist magnet that is the city centre is Euro Bar (1), a small unassuming bar on a side street away from the hubbub where there is an abundance of drinks for the ridiculous sums of just a couple of Euros, a bargain in any language. With the city centre very much alive on the midweek, one can only expect it to become larger than life on the weekend. One tip however, don’t get dragged by the local’s into a rock nightclub! It’s fun although the custom of everyone running into each other on the dance floor does lead to waking up and discovering bruises all over. Bremen does indeed have much to offer everyone, whilst appearing as the ideal place for a quiet romantic break with missus, this metropolitan city also offers enough in the way for it to be whatever the visitor wishes it to be...be it a dirty weekend with the missus or a colossal piss-up with the boys, Bremen doesn’t disappoint.
Website: http://www.facebook.com/Nathen_Amin
Bremen If I had to sum up this North-Western German city in one word it would have to be “efficient”. Yes, like all other major German destinations Bremen runs so smoothly you wouldn’t be surprised if you found out that every watch, clock or timer in the port city was running in sync. After leaving our crowded little isle from a Liverpool airport so busy I was sure I crushed a few ribs in the general panic that British airports seem to inflict on our restless natives (flying via Dublin, the Irish capital’s operation was no picnic either), it was amazingly refreshing to walk through customs and be greeted by…nothing. No queues, no screaming kids, no rowdy tourists, just my luggage waiting for me and a spacious gleaming airport at our mercy. For first time visitors to Germany this tends to be a wonderful insight into the general mindset of the country’s meticulous approach to effectiveness, stereotypes notwithstanding. I was off the plane, luggage in hand and out the door in the time it takes to order a hamburger (always with gherkins!) back in Blighty. Straight onto the futuristic Bremer Strabenbahn AG (BSAG) tram service, complete with electronic boards and doors, it was only a short-trip until we reached the city centre. It was a shock when we stepped off the tram and realised just how quiet the streets were.Accommodation In trying to keep with the spontaneous nature of the trip, we (11 Irish lads and I) hadn’t booked a hotel, so armed with some unhelpful Google print-outs and some helpful German assistance we turned up at the most random shaped hostel I have yet to see. The easiest way to describe the Jugendherberge budget hostel would be to liken it to a large yellow Lego Brick overlooking the sprawling River Weser, a wide passage of water resplendent with large ships and Freighters sitting atop her glistening surface. The hostel was clean and welcoming inside, a homely feel created by the happy staff, bright coloured walls and children running around enjoying the many facilities the place provides. The rooms were spacious with a generous sized shower and a breathtaking view over the river, suggesting this hostel being a hidden jewel in the hospitality department considering the value for money. There was also food put on in the large Breakfast/Dinner area which was quite good actually, consisting of complicated foods such as Stroganoff or even something as multicultural as…chips.Sightseeing With the country synonymous with its love and production of beer, the first stop for all you lager-louts out there would be the famous Beck’s Brewery, the home of that world-renowned lager. With entry for €7 and including a tour as well as a couple free pints of the smooth tasting brew, the museum/factory is a great tourist attraction much in the vein of the similar Guinness factory in Dublin. Another similar infamous factory residing in the city is the Mercedes-Benz building, a hit with petrol-heads and passer’s by alike, the large symbol proving a great photographic moment for tourists. For the more traditional sightseer, the Marktplatz (Market Square) in the centre of the city will provide you with the historic gothic buildings that have become a staple of international tourism, the large opulent Town Hall dominating the square. Modified to boast a restaurant (the Ratskeller), the wine list contains an extraordinary 600 local wines including the 12 oldest wines in the world safely stored should a billionaire ever pop in with a blank cheque and a sweet tooth. The Dom St Petri is also situated around the impressive square, the 1200-year-old cathedral looming over the area as the spiritual home of the locals. For €1 you can even climb the tower and get a view over the whole city. The Bremen locals understandably take great pride in the square and frown upon loud rowdiness, not becoming of the quiet efficient almost utopia-like existence they have created around their historic cultural centre, so be warned.NightlifeMidweek was not the ideal time to truly sample the nightlife of the city, however if the midweek afternoons were anything to go by the weekend hotspots promise to be something. Situated on the scenic embankment alongside the river Weser and ideally outside our Hostel, the Schlachte area of the city boasts outdoor seating for some 2000 people, spread amongst the innumerable wealth of bars, café’s and restaurants that line the waterway. The most popular of these would be the summertime (Apr-Sept, 11am-midnight) beer gardens, outdoor pub’s serving a wide array of local beer’s and pretzels to tourists and locals alike wishing to catch some rays beside the picturesque river, the idyllic hangout for groups of friends or a couple on a romantic getaway. With restaurants sampling the best of the world’s cuisine there is no excuse for going hungry, although for a bit of local authenticity I would recommend any form of locally caught fish for a pleasant fresh dish. Further in town there are plenty of late-night bars and restaurants situated around the Viertel area, with many different venues situated around a compact couple of streets. With something for everyone, rowdy bars for the lads, quiet reserved night-spots for couples, the area does indeed provide everything you need from a night out in a clean friendly and relaxed setting with reasonable prices (€3-4 a pint for example). One great find away from the tourist magnet that is the city centre is Euro Bar (1), a small unassuming bar on a side street away from the hubbub where there is an abundance of drinks for the ridiculous sums of just a couple of Euros, a bargain in any language. With the city centre very much alive on the midweek, one can only expect it to become larger than life on the weekend. One tip however, don’t get dragged by the local’s into a rock nightclub! It’s fun although the custom of everyone running into each other on the dance floor does lead to waking up and discovering bruises all over. Bremen does indeed have much to offer everyone, whilst appearing as the ideal place for a quiet romantic break with missus, this metropolitan city also offers enough in the way for it to be whatever the visitor wishes it to be...be it a dirty weekend with the missus or a colossal piss-up with the boys, Bremen doesn’t disappoint.
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