FRANZISKA OUT AND ABOUT

The Hamburg district St. Pauli (formerly known as “Hamburger Berg” until the years 30 of the 18 th  century and later renamed after its central church) is a vibrant district in Hamburg, with a history shaped by sailors, workers, and outsiders who helped forge its famously rebellious spirit. Once known primarily for its harbor life and the nightlife of the “Reeperbahn,” (the lifeline through St. Pauli), it evolved into a symbol of counterculture, especially during the late 20th century when activists, artists, and squatters resisted gentrification and stood for social justice. Interesting, but barely useful to know: The name "Reeperbahn" comes from Low German and refers to a ropewalk. In the 17th and 18th centuries, ropemakers "Reepschläger" produced ropes and cables "Reepe" for shipping there. These craftsmen needed long, straight stretches of land, which is why they moved outside the former city gates of Hamburg, into what is now the St. Pauli district. T...

Anybody who has visited this blog more than once, will have gathered that Franzi loves arts, for the most part in the form of musicals, classical concerts, operas, ballet, or museums. Anybody who has followed Franzi’s five weekend trips crossdressed, will know that a visit to one of the top local museums at the given location is a must. And the pick for this trip and day was “Hamburger Kunsthalle.” “Hamburger Kunsthalle” is one of the largest art museums in the country. It was initiated by Hamburg citizens, who founded a Society for the Arts in 1817. It consists of three connected buildings, dating from as early as 1869, being located close to the old city center between Hamburg central station and “Binnenalster.” The name “Kunsthalle” indicates the museum's history as an 'art hall' when it was founded in 1850. Today, it houses one of the few art collections in Germany that covers seven centuries of European art, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Outside Hamburger Ku...