Hamburg has the feel cosmopolitan Europe. Nice cars are everywhere; people have substantive conversations about import issues; housing is expensive; people are pleasant. It is reminds me of Seattle on the docks. It has a cold air that penatrates; and when it is sunny, the cold is colder. The transportation system is first class, with movement to anywhere in the city a few blocks walk to a subway station. Art is important. Politics are important. International relations are important. Hamburg has more shipping than any other European port, save Rotterdam. Chinese are liked, at a suspicious distance.
It is more liberal than other parts of Germany, more affluent, and the people take pride in their tough geographic location. Elections are taking place next Sunday (how innovative to have elections on a day that people have time) and all ballots will be had counted because of suspicion of electronic voting machines. This points to a patience that Germans have that would not be tolerable in the state. Races are called with 40% of the votes in. But it is confusing to understand from a two party system.
Today I go to a concentration camp, and have a farewell dinner with the Seitz people. Tomorrow I go to Rome. I will miss Hamburg.
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