The Island of NEUWERK - where the way is the goal

"So, by which ferry did you get here?" asks the chubby little lady and her accent gives her away as Southern German. "Well, I came here walking", I beam at her, still thrilled by my hike from the mainland to the island of Neuwerk.

To Neuwerk - this way! You cannot blame people if they don't believe that you came to an island walking.

The lady looks over the rough sea where the huge waves are rolling towards the shores of Cuxhaven. She frowns and shakes her head and is, obviously, thinking I'm trying to tell her a cock and bull story.
Little does she know: Visiting the island of Neuwerk, the way is the goal; definitely.

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HAMBURG - revisited and re-edited

Hamburg revisited: Germany's second largest city prides itself to be the "most beautiful city in the world". While this, of course, is just a highly exaggerated catchphrase, it actually is alluring with views that make you yearn for undiscovered shores - Germans call it 'Fernweh' (loosely 'aching for distance') - lots of maritime charm and its historic openness to the world.

Along the river Elbe all the way to the Northern Sea...who wouldn't get the travel bug with this view?
(Photo: © Andreas Vallbracht / www.mediaserver.hamburg.de)

However, since this guide was published, it has become one of my blog's most popular posts. A valid reason to re-edit and update it!

HAMBURG - gateway to the world

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Coming to America: From Northern Germany to the "New World"

In the 19th and 20th century, millions of people left Europe via the North German ports of Hamburg and Bremen respectively Bremerhaven in search of a better life in the "New World", mostly the USA.

This sculpture called Die Auswanderer, emigrants, is standing on the shore of the river Weser and remembers the seven million passing through the port of Bremerhaven. Actually, this statue by Frank Varga was donated by the German-American Memorial Association.

As a counterpart to the arrival halls in Ellis Island, several museums in German cities remember the adventurous journeys of the emigrants in transit.

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CUXHAVEN - walking on water

"The sun reflects strongly off the puddles, so don't forget to put sun protection on your knee pits", orders Ute pointing at my bare legs. I already did, but under her strict eyes, I repeatedly do as I am told. I do everything Ute marshals: The next four hours, she will guide me together with about two dozens other hikers into the tideland off the shore in Cuxhaven. My life will depend on her knowledge and sense of orientation.

Crossing the mudflat from Cuxhaven to the Neuwerk island. About twelve kilometers laid ahead of us.

We will be sort of walking on water - so I better listen to my leader.

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Picture This: 7th Triennial of Photography in Hamburg

For the 7th time, a major exhibition of photography is being shown in Hamburg - and all the significant museums have chipped in with thoroughly conceptualized exhibitions, all wrapped around the central motto [BREAKING POINT. SEARCHING FOR CHANGE]

One of the containers from the section [ENTER] - presenting 15 artists with a strong social, political, and most of all ecological focus.

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Reality in Black and White

I'm very much into art. After having seen trizillions of beautiful, alluring, enchanting works of arts, I enjoy it most when an exhibition - or even an individual artist - surprise me.

Soft strokes become sharp splinters.
Robert Longo Untitled (Bullet Hole in Window, January 7, 2015)
(Courtesy Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac © Robert Longo/ VG Bild-Kunst Bonn, 2018)

Last weekend, I got surprised by Robert Longo - he baffled me with reality in black and white.

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HAMBURG - gateway to the world

(Updated January 2019)

Hamburg, Germany's second largest city, prides itself to be the "most beautiful city in the world". While this, of course, is just a highly exaggerated catchphrase, it actually is alluring with views that make you yearn for undiscovered shores - Germans call it 'Fernweh' (loosely 'aching for distance') - lots of maritime charm and its historic openness to the world.

Along the river Elbe all the way to the Northern Sea...who wouldn't get the travel bug with this view?
(Photo: © Andreas Vallbracht / www.mediaserver.hamburg.de)

Hence the other slogan - "gateway to the world" - takes it already much closer to its real assets.
Whereby the city owes this description rather to the fact that Hamburg is Europe's third largest industrial port and has connected it with the rest of the world over centuries.

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