Loved this article, Nolan. I've great memories from many a visit to Hamburg where the Radisson Blu Hamburg was the first hotel that, pre-Radisson, SAS International Hotels opened outside (barely) of Scandinavia. I watched the city grow, and change, since the early 1990s. I felt a special connection to the hotel because it was a Canadian Pacific hotel before we overtook the management.
It's true that port cities often have an interesting vibe and influence. Other European examples include, in my opinion, Riga, Gdansk, Rotterdam, and Antwerp. But Hamburg is larger and perhaps more defined.
Thanks, Paul! I was in the Tri-City (Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot) right before Hamburg, and you're right about the port influencing the culture and vibe there. Still, being in Hamburg after Tricity was a breath of fresh air.
Of course, Antwerp I know well because that's where most of my family is from, but I'll have to check out Riga.
This is one of my favorite yet.. I have not thought about the closeness to sea and progressiveness. I live in a landlocked section of Germany too but it's a pretty progressive state with the Green Party leading previously. It might be the nutrition from all the vegan food here ... :)
Thanks, Rachel! I'm glad the in-land-sausage-political-stance theory doesn't hold up everywhere, haha. Also, it's a relief to hear the progressive states are more spread out than I thought. The people I spoke to seemed worried about the right-wing populist ideologies spreading.
We were almost in Hamburg at the same time by coincidence, but only for a quick train stopover while traveling from Scandinavia to Antwerp. Your impression of the station area was quite accurate, though Stockholm deserved a more positive portrayal in your writing. It’s much less chaotic and dirty, and thanks to decades of social democratic governance, it appears more equal, though there is still diversity. That said, we were also happy to arrive in Hamburg, where the more anarchistic atmosphere appealed to us. We only visited the nearby Hanseatic buildings, which were very impressive and beautifully reconstructed after being reduced to rubble during World War II.
I also appreciated your distinction between progressive and conservative thinking. It's particularly interesting how far-right thinkers seem to rely more on the primitive parts of the brain, like the 'crocodile brain,' while you've described this dynamic in a more nuanced way. Progressive thinking, as you pointed out, requires more than just the instincts we've had for the last 500,000 years. Very true
Thank you, Frank! I should have gone to Stockholm before writing the comment. This is just what I heard. I would like to return to Hamburg one day, so let me know if you go again.
Loved this article, Nolan. I've great memories from many a visit to Hamburg where the Radisson Blu Hamburg was the first hotel that, pre-Radisson, SAS International Hotels opened outside (barely) of Scandinavia. I watched the city grow, and change, since the early 1990s. I felt a special connection to the hotel because it was a Canadian Pacific hotel before we overtook the management.
It's true that port cities often have an interesting vibe and influence. Other European examples include, in my opinion, Riga, Gdansk, Rotterdam, and Antwerp. But Hamburg is larger and perhaps more defined.
Thanks, Paul! I was in the Tri-City (Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot) right before Hamburg, and you're right about the port influencing the culture and vibe there. Still, being in Hamburg after Tricity was a breath of fresh air.
Of course, Antwerp I know well because that's where most of my family is from, but I'll have to check out Riga.
This is one of my favorite yet.. I have not thought about the closeness to sea and progressiveness. I live in a landlocked section of Germany too but it's a pretty progressive state with the Green Party leading previously. It might be the nutrition from all the vegan food here ... :)
Thanks, Rachel! I'm glad the in-land-sausage-political-stance theory doesn't hold up everywhere, haha. Also, it's a relief to hear the progressive states are more spread out than I thought. The people I spoke to seemed worried about the right-wing populist ideologies spreading.
In general we are also worried about the right-wing populist growing in the east ...
Great write up! But fatty sausages are sooooo good!
Haha, that they are.
We were almost in Hamburg at the same time by coincidence, but only for a quick train stopover while traveling from Scandinavia to Antwerp. Your impression of the station area was quite accurate, though Stockholm deserved a more positive portrayal in your writing. It’s much less chaotic and dirty, and thanks to decades of social democratic governance, it appears more equal, though there is still diversity. That said, we were also happy to arrive in Hamburg, where the more anarchistic atmosphere appealed to us. We only visited the nearby Hanseatic buildings, which were very impressive and beautifully reconstructed after being reduced to rubble during World War II.
I also appreciated your distinction between progressive and conservative thinking. It's particularly interesting how far-right thinkers seem to rely more on the primitive parts of the brain, like the 'crocodile brain,' while you've described this dynamic in a more nuanced way. Progressive thinking, as you pointed out, requires more than just the instincts we've had for the last 500,000 years. Very true
Thank you, Frank! I should have gone to Stockholm before writing the comment. This is just what I heard. I would like to return to Hamburg one day, so let me know if you go again.