European Travel Query...

[Count Zero]

Well, I mostly agree, Barcelona undoubtedly is magnificent, and I love Spain, and I'm not that big a fan of Germany in general, and my favourite city in Germany is Hamburg, not Berlin (sorry, CountZero ), but I just thought you were a little harsh.

No problem. I shall continue to look down on any other German city/town regardless (as is the custom here). My favourite German city is Leipzig, by the way.

 

[royalfan5]

Well, I mostly agree, Barcelona undoubtedly is magnificent, and I love Spain, and I'm not that big a fan of Germany in general, and my favourite city in Germany is Hamburg, not Berlin (sorry, CountZero ), but I just thought you were a little harsh.

No problem. I shall continue to look down on any other German city/town regardless (as is the custom here). My favourite German city is Leipzig, by the way.

Actually that is another place I would like to see too. It's starting to seem like I should go to Germany first. Plus, I can actually speak some German, which I think would enhance the experience.

 

[Count Zero]

The train connection between Berlin and Leipzig is pretty good. It only takes a bit more than an hour by ICE. So, theoretically, you could even go there as a long day trip.
If you're interested in classical music I'd recommend attending a performance of the Thomas choir in Thomas church (the choir J.S. Bach was in charge of and for which he wrote his oratorios and chorals). They perform regularly on Fridays there, I think.

Most Germans speak English but having some grasp of the language is always an advantage.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I would say go to Barcelona for culture and history, go to Berlin for modernity (and beer).

 

[Count Zero]

You kind of make it sound as if we had neither culture nor history. Should I be offended?

 

[Shaytan]

I would say go to Barcelona for culture and history, go to Berlin for modernity (and beer).

Good point, I think that Berlin is really one of the actual cultural capital.

No problem. I shall continue to look down on any other German city/town regardless (as is the custom here).

Petite joueuse
Why only on other german cities when you can look down on any other cities in the world ?

 

[Count Zero]

No problem. I shall continue to look down on any other German city/town regardless (as is the custom here).

Petite joueuse
Why only on other german cities when you can look down on any other cities in the world ?

Hehehe. Well, I think that would be way too pretentious. Can we hold our own against cities like New York, Paris or Rome or even Athens? I doubt it. It would also reek of jingoism too much for most people.

 

[Shaytan]

Hehehe. Well, I think that would be way too pretentious. Can we hold our own against cities like New York, Paris or Rome or even Athens?

For comtemporary culture, yeah, certainly.

I doubt it. It would also reek of jingoism too much for most people.

You don't have to look serious when you look down on evryone.
The art consists in saying it, not meaning it

 

[Alidar Jarok]

You kind of make it sound as if we had neither culture nor history. Should I be offended?

Actually, my point was more that Berlin is a very modern city. People go to Barcelona and the first thing they think of is medieval architecture. In a way, Berlin is locked into today, not the past. So its culture is modern culture more than traditional culture, if that makes any sense. It's the same as saying you don't go to New York City to see Colonial architecture. NYC has history and you can find some remnants of colonial culture, but it's never why you would go there.

The Berlin of old has been uprooted more than other locations by two modernizing forces of the 20th Century.