Germany: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Salzburg (Oct/00)

    Bavarian Alps from Newschweinstein

This was my second trip to Germany this year, so there were less discoveries and surprises. For my first impressions on Germany, look also at the page for my  first visit, earlier this year.

This was a road show where I was talking about Linux and Networking. I spent 2 days in Berlin and 2 days in Hamburg (not a lot of time to go around) and the weekend in Bavaria.

Berlin. It is much larger than the typical European capital. Had a chance to visit the area around the Branderburg Gate (the area of the Berlin Wall that always appeared on TV when it went down) and stayed in a hotel in the eastern side of town. After 10 years of the fall of the wall, the two sides of the city are still different, despite all the construction going on (Berlin is preparing to be the German capital again).

Driving an Audi in the Autobahn. Germany is probably the only place in the world where you ask for the cheapest rental car and get an Audi turbo diesel. Got to drive the three hundred something miles between Berlin and Hamburg. Going at 200 km/h, that did not take long. It was a new experience, completely different from driving the Astra during my first visit.

Hamburg. I hear it is the largest port city in Germany. That probably means an Amsterdam-like sex market, but I did not really see much. Just walked around the city center and drove at random around the town before heading to the airport.

Salzburg. Spent one of the free weekend days visiting Salzburg in Austria with John & family. Did not make the "Sound of Music" tour, but visited an old salt mine (Salt-zburg...). Was in a group, so I spend much of the time waiting in front of souvenir shops and other tourist-traps. The alpine scenary on the way from Munich is amazing.

Biergartens. Spend most of my second free day exploring the biergartens of Munich area (last time, the biergartens were closed for winter). Even drinking alone is pleasant, specially in the less touristed places during the afternoon. With my very little exposure I have to agree with "Let's Go" that the Augustinerkeller (close to Haupfbanhof) is the finest biergarten in town. Different from the Hofbrauhaus, its attendence is mostly of local people. Beer (Helles  or Dunkles) is served in 1-litter mugs and is almost as good as in Praga.