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Now that the World Cup has ended and all the football fans are gradually trickling away from their temporary surrogate homes across Germany, the country can begin to get back to normality, and the usual business of tourism can take hold once again.

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany with a population of about 1.7 million people, and given its industrial past, is a lively and surprisingly green harbour city. Much of the city is occupied by parks, protected countryside, lakes or tree-lined canals, giving this huge city a refreshing rural feel. The western part of Hamburg is particularly well renowned for its many beautiful parks, beautiful promenades along the river Elbe, and the surrounding fashionable suburbs.

With many operators offering flights to Hamburg taking just two hours from most of the UK airports, it is easy to travel to this exciting city. Once there traveling around is also simple. The Airport is only 5 miles to the north of the city, with taxi and bus services in to town readily available, or car rental through Avis, Budget, easyCar, Europcar, Hertz, National and Six, at the airport. You can even rent a limousine if you really want to.

The centre of the city is filled with an abundance of new and old arcades linked together creating a great shopping experience especially for those looking for the latest in designer wear, with some of the best shops located in Rathaus Square, along with the impressively grand city hall which stands supported by dozens of pillars. For music lovers there is always the acclaimed State Opera or the river-side Hafentheater, which is home to contemporary musicals. For dance music fans there are many clubs around the city, and it remains host to the 5 day Full Moon Fever Festival in July.

If a bit of quiet peaceful scenery is needed, then there is always the option of a trip to the farming areas of Altes Land, where unspoilt countryside and quaintly decorated farmers houses can be found.

As well as culture, Hamburg is a city for fun high on the list of most visitors’ things to do is to make time to enjoy some of the fantastic beer halls. It is also worthwhile finding Hamburg’s 300 year old Altona fish market located south of the Reeperbahn every Sunday morning, which now sells fruit, sausages and livestock and clothes, along with the odd fish or two. A trip along the many canals and waterways is also worth a go, as it is not called the “Venice of the North” for nothing.

For those whose idea of a great holiday is lively nightlife, then there is always the historic and infamous, Reeperbahn, where the Beatle used to regularly play. This area runs 600m along the entire length of the red-light district of St. Pauli between Millerntor and Nobistor. While still being fairly racey at night, things have changed in recent years, so that today the previous forms of entertainment have been replaced by copious trendy bars, clubs, restaurants, theatres and even the odd museum. Although the atmosphere has now become safe and fairly unthreatening, with the police station located in the centre of the area, a broad minded attitude may still be required for some areas.

Culture, history, shopping, nightlife, parks, scenery, whatever you want Hamburg can provide it. Hamburg is a great city for any tourist to visit all year round.

Submitted by:
Michael Hanna

About Michael
Michael is a keen writer, and internet marketer living in Scotland:

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Foreigners and locals return time and again to this wonderland of colour. The miracle of a parched landscape slowly evolving through the seasons into a huge carpet of wild flowers is breathtaking. The best time to view this unique floral display is from mid-August to October.

To do Namaqualand properly, one would take a leisurely drive through the fields of flowers, stopping off at the nature reserves and charming towns along the way. Bear in mind that accommodation in the region is often booked out a year in advance as more foreigners hear of these wildflowers, which are unparalleled anywhere.

To view all the different species of flowers in the region, get The Botanical Society of South Africa guides to Nieuwoudtville SA Wild Flower Guide and Namaqualand SA Wild Flower Guide 1. There’s also Freeman Patterson’s Garden of the Gods and Fynbos by Richard Cowling.

Towns Along The Way

Kamieskroon
The locals in this area are as impressive as their colourful surroundings. They are helpful and offer advice on where the best flowers are. The reasonably priced Kamieskroon Hotel, the town B&B’s and the neighbouring farms all offer splendid accommodation. Contact the Namaqualand Tourism Centre for your pick of places to stay. Roads leading out from Kamieskroon go up into the hills to the town of Leliefontein where you will find an enchanting old mission station. It’s worth travelling further afield to the rugged west coast of stormy seas and rocky outcrops at Hondeklip Bay and Groenriviermond.

The 50 000 hectare Namaqua National Park is a botanical and ecological conservancy whose friendly conservationists will gladly answer questions on the flora and fauna of the area. The reserve stretches roughly from the town of Garies northwards to the towns of Springbok and Steinkopf. The areas most visited are around the towns of Springbok and Nababeep. The Spektakel (spectacle) ridge is a must see with its profusion of flowers. The further north you travel from Kamieskroon to Springbok, the more spectacular the display of species in a good season.

Nieuwoudtville
The town of Nieuwoudtville is a geological treasure situated on the Bokkeveld escarpment. Within the surrounds of just 20 kilometres the plant life changes from fynbos, to renosterveld, to karoo. It has the richest bulb (geophyte) variety in the world. Species include the famous spring daisies, the forget-me-not family, pelargonium (with its bizarre shapes), heliophila (sun lover), vygies (little figs), and the iris and rose family.

The town has its own wild flower reserve; there is also nearby Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve, a giant plain of wilderness rock formation and rock art. You can view a 90-metre high waterfall in an ancient Gondwanaland geological fault. Visiting the nearby ’secret’ forest with its kokerbome - strangely shaped trees with weird arms coming out of their trunk - makes you feel like you’re inside ‘Lord of the Rings’ territory. The private farms in the area are open to the public and often have the most spectacular array of flowers. There are a couple of farms that manage to combine commercial farming with the cultivation of floral wealth.

Tips on planning your Flower Escapade
Flowers are best viewed from 11:00 to 15:00 on a sunny day

A cool box is essential for informal, off-road picnics

Don’t forget comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and insect repellent

Most of the flowers are so tiny that you won’t be able to see and appreciate them from a moving vehicle. It’s perfectly safe to get out the car and view close-up

Take your flower guides, so you are up-to-date with the names of flowers you are viewing

Self-drive holidays are so popular because driving in South Africa is easy, safe and exposes you to some of the greatest attractions that you would never see on a package tour. iDrive, Southern Africa car hire, has developed a range of self-drive, travel products from our many years of travel experience in South Africa and its neighbouring countries.

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Okay so it’s all about crime, bad guys, bad cops, guns, drugs and prostitution. But Miami and Southern Florida tourist authorities are hoping for a positive impact upon the release of the film, which is set to be one of the highest grossing releases of the year.

The Michael Mann film, which follows the eventful escapades of two Miami police officers, showcases Miami with a lavishly shot production featuring the city in what the tourism authorities are hoping will prove to be a 115 minute promo video for Miami.

Miami, and Southern Florida generally, are long established tourist hotspots with Miami itself regarded as one of the most fashionable and exciting cities in the USA. The film plays on this, featuring well known locations in the city to a point where the city itself becomes a central character in the film. Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove and Miami Beach are all heavily featured in the film and it is no wonder that the Miami city fathers believe that the film itself could be a lucrative money spinner for the economy.

But the anticipated tourism bounce is hoped to reach beyond Miami city limits. Southern Florida boast a number of top drawer tourist attractions including the keys and the Florida Everglades. Tourist chiefs are hoping that the Miami Vice factor will encourage higher numbers of tourists to venture further south, away from the lures of Orlando. In particular, tourism boards are promoting Southern Florida as an ideal fly drive location featuring a city break in Miami, adventure with the Everglades and relaxation, sun, sand and sea with the Florida keys. Indeed, they may have a point, flights to Miami from Europe and internally from the States are frequent and car hire in Miami is abundant, with most of the major car rental firms having a presence in the city.

A fly drive holiday to Miami and Southern Florida would have lots to offer. With a strong Cuban population, Miami is steeped in Latin American influence and this is reflected in the culture of the city, from the architecture right through to the food and music. The Everglades offer the opportunity for adventure with airboat tours traversing the waterways and the infamous Florida alligators in full view. The Keys offer sun-kissed beaches and teaming nightlife offering as much or as little excitement as you like. Just be sure to look out for the white suits, red Ferrari and Phil Collins soundtrack!

Andrew Regan is an online journalist who enjoys socialising at his local Edinburgh rugby club.

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