Get the most out of any leisure walk.
Consider every routine walk as a leisure one.
Any stroll around the city with company is, for obvious reasons, doomed to limit down possibilities.
In the case of observing (a.) what surrounds you and (b.) getting into the spirit of exploring a city in the proper way, there is a line to be drawn...
Bring no friends. Just do it alone.
This is the only way to make it possible for you to loose yourself in the city.
Being alone in the city (any city) can be liberating in certain ways. When it comes to the minor-little-things that shape up your everyday, you can do things in a way that you wouldn't ordinarily.
Such short "trips" can get you to know who you are, better.
As poetic as it might sound, the moments that you are wandering alone, can offer invaluable knowledge and revelations. If there should be any guide on how to get closer to the spirit of flaneur-ing (whatever this is) here's a personal proposal.
1. Stop by any spot that might draw your attention.
Make spontaneous decisions of having a detour through new streets. Any unknown small corner-street that you decide to cross has the potential to seem to you like the greatest promenade in your everyday life.
Any unfamiliar square has the potential to become your next favorite.
Pay a new visit to spots that show some deeper meaning or potential of finding worthy stuff.
2. Look up and observe the roofs or the balconies. Who knows: otherwise boring buildings can more worth noticing.
3. Feel limitless exploring anything unknown. Of course, there is no suggestion of trespassing or anything similar! Just feel unrestricted to change small things: start by trying new ways of reaching your workplace.
4. Have an open mind. Even the dirty posters on walls, or the fliers scattered around the streets can provide some interesting perspectives of the "ecosystem" you communicate.
Alternative events, new or old-fashioned or opinionated congregations: no matter if you join, those stuff do consist in the lively part and the character of a city.
5. Make notes of places that have attracted to you.
Google them.
Ask the neighbors about. If possible engage conversations.
Dig into the secrets that those spots carry throughout the years. You will be thrilled of how many and how much interesting stories are waiting for somebody to discover.
6. Carry a camera or at least a mobile phone with a camera. Or anything relevant that can benchmark or even stimulate thoughts and memories.
Photograph taken in Hafen City, on May 2010
7. Walk in slower tempo (or stop your bicycle) every time something seems appealing.
Do you think that there is an object/ building/ color/ a beautiful pair of legs/ feeling that is worthy staring at? Eh, do it!
7. Act a bit more "irrational". Start a stroll out of the blue, at any moment.
The best timing? Disrupt the chilling time at your home.
Early waking up? What a perfect opportunity to stare at the twilight.
Long distance commuting? Find the gaps to gaze the colors on the horizon.
Extreme weather circumstances? Watch it under a different point of view.
Photograph taken over the bridge of an U-Bahn station in western Hamburg, on March 2010
Here's the overall idea: get to start thinking of your city under the spectrum of a spectator. Something like a tourist -but not completely one.
Think of it as an experience, a kind of participant observation. All that ...small details that contribute to an smoother lifestyle as well as an interesting everyday approach to your interaction with the urban environment.
Photograph taken in Planten & Blumen river, on May 2010
Change your outlook. Alone in the city can be thought under an entirely different perspective and can help you experience your every simple stroll.
So, This is just a proposal: Be a flaneur. Be a lonely traveler in your own place.
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Jungferstieg gets its name from the time when families would go walking here on a Sunday with their unmarried daughters (Jungfer).
Located in one of the most typical walking spots of the city, just by the small Alster, this as-central-as-it-gets street of Hamburg combines the concept of a meeting-spot with a nice amount of other options, and -of course- this very interesting story of "family strolling".
Retro photograph of the Jungfernstieg U-Bahn station. Taken from here.
Probably the reference point in Sternschanze district: The Villa Kunterbunt or Rote Flora.
A dirty hole? An occupied house? A commune? An anti- establishment proposal?
Call it as you like, this multicolored building, this house of motley aesthetics and dissimilarities provides an extra depth to the meaning of this area.
Counter to German conformity. There is something special and interesting, something grotesque, around here.
Which makes the Rote Flora what it is in ones mind.
- Things that can be useful for somebody to know, before visiting Hamburg?
Scanning through notes, photographs, and draft referrals, it’s just a matter of minutes to start believing that you can become the …next big thing in Hamburg’s travel guides.
Some of the collected material is -indeed- special. At the same time the memories, stories and the "intrinsic messages" beyond some photographs are unique.
And here’s the catch: Unique under an entirely subjective perspective.
Like the photo above: Each one of us can connect or distinguish any different element, or feeling.
Therefore:
...plenty of walking, cycling or wandering around, hoping to see a part of the real Hamburg, behind the tourist facade.
...mostly no concrete purpose or destination. Another way to check plain aspects of your ever day, what you saw, what might worry you, what might influence you.
...looking for the idea or the motivation for making more stuff and actions by yourself
...sauntering around the canals, observing and analyzing the little things,
or just the things that appeal to you.
...or continue walking around a magnificent city like Hamburg.
The blog of the Flaneur in Hamburg, per se, is as personal and objective as the purpose of each one of the strolls a Proper Flaneur does...
The ...latent fascination of the district of Berliner Tor.
So, what’s so special in Berliner Tor?
The answer is simple: Nothing, if you are not seeking for the special.
At first sight, the area of Berliner Tor holds nothing in particular unique or mention-worthy. It is just another typical Northern European, open - not crowdie urban environment: big buildings and dull streets, as well as a transportation hub - trains and U-bahn/ S-Bahn station, other streets that lead to the Autobahns, some logistics operators based some kilometers away. Plus, on the southbound (you should) know there’s water, and the Elba river.
But, against the "public feeling", Berliner Tor in my mind is still a great spot in the city. This luck of any fascination and the unfashionable aura of the area actually acts like a factor in my unorthodox approach. It's a spot so ordinary, so frustratingly neutral that provides the perfect contrast to the surrounding neighborhoods. Just to mention a few:
This is the gate of/ to Berlin (the actual meaning of Berliner Tor).
It's the part of the old city of Hamburg towards Berlin (I guess this should be the etymology of the area’s name).
And Berlin is the capital city. Which is something of wide importance, when it comes to urban history. Set aside the Hanseatic pride and any alleged contra between Hamburg and Berlin: a capital is always a capital.
Anything that refers to its meaning gets some extra points.
It is just 5'-10' walking distance to reach the St.Georg neighborhood. So much to say (write) about the place, the lifestyle, the many attractive spots, the representation of liberal sexual preferences, anything!
The Asklepios Klinik (Hospital).
The full of rabbits parking and gardens.
The name.
The surrounding public sport facilities.
Some blocks away you can walk around a small area of a Turkishtown (sic). Completely different place, scents, languages, nearly a different city.
Walking about the same distance, and you can find yourself by the Alster. More posts are coming.
To the other direction, right by the Berliner Tor train station, in the heart of German uniformity and the rise of big buildings, you can find some more surprises. If you are lucky enough and the weather is not totally grey, those demanding constructions can be of some interest.
Like the IBM building and the series of elements discernible in the glass.
Or like many skyscraper-alike buildings in Hamburg, the surrounding tops reflect on the glass. Just add some imagination, and every morning gets special: watching the this "city-center-mirror" while walking.
This complex of buildings works also in another way: reassuring you that the really urban part of Hamburg comes next. After all, starting from this spot, it's just a straight line and 10’ walking to get yourself in the city center.
Beyond the train station some tributaries of the Elbe river verify how green this city is. The urban environment does not hinder the flora and the fauna from coexisting.
In general, a set of multidimensional surroundings in terms of social/economics/culture, located just over the next blocks. Something magnificent.
And, a somehow strategic position for a comfortable everyday life, and plenty of spots in walking distance. What a great base. Any time you can just stroll around. Each time finding something appealing. Something more magnificent.
