Along with many children with parents in the forces I spent the first 16 years of my life living in Germany and guess what I dont speak German (well I can order chips and a pint) shock horror I know.
I'm now 23 so it's been at least 5 years since I left but today I was surfing the web and I could'nt find a word in English about it, so I've decided to spread the word. Forgive me, its been a while so I will not go into major detail but try to give a feel for the place.
Well last I heard it was a Twin Town with Liverpool so that gives you an idea of how big the place is, and for all you football fans out there every year the team used to come over and play a friendly with Borussia Munchengladbach.
Borussia Munchengladbach is the only football game I have ever been to (yes, I think I have a British Passport) and the only reason I mention it is to let you know what a game out there was like. Oh! and to mention that I met the team and my goodness (ladies might apriciate this) what legs. Anyway I stood behind the goal and there were bottle and goodness knows what being chucked at the goal keeper (I think I was in the wronge place) and you could see undercover police looking after the crowds. very interesting hence I've never gone to another game.
However, I'm not painting the picture I want to of gladbach (as us forces brats most favoribly term it). Next to the massive stadium is a place called the Bunter Gartens (flower gardens), a place I used to love wondering through in the summers, full of flowers, parks and pick-nic areas.
If you follow this park you will adventually hit town, the town centre starts with the Alter Mart (old market) a big cobbled square with a big old church. On a saturday this becomes a market selling mostly fruit and veg but in the winter you will find some wonderful christams stalls.
This area is wonderful in the summer, on a sunday everyone brings their bikes to show off and they will usually sit in the square having a cool beer. And most saturday nights you will find the same less the bikes, because this is the start of the street of a 1000 pubs. Stop, Stop, don't go yet, thats what its called but I've tried them all and I am sure there are not a 1000 (even if I did loose count after the 7th) but boy what an atmosphere in the summer everyone comes out into the street and drinks and the bars stay open until your finished.
If good old fashioned pubs arn't your thing then don't despair just yet, if you don't turn off to the pub street you will find yourself on the main high street and it will take you all day to walk down it but I feel sure you will find somthing of interest, even if its just one of the amazing cake shops which I used to love to sit in all day.
Carrying down the street will dring you to the bus and train station, I found that you need German for the event of boarding transport so have somthing pigion ready, most people speak English but they choose not to until you try and who can blame them.
The transport is great but as a tourist you will probably like the trains, I used to love to buy a ticket anywhere and just go out for the day because I find where ever you go in germany it seems to be clean, has some wonderful old buildings to take a peep at and some great country side.
If you are a skateboarder or have family in your party that are, you may want to head straight through the train station and when you come out look for a warehouse with spray paint. When I was there it was the biggest indoor skateboarding place in europe but who knows, either way I used to love to go and see what these loonies could do.
I would say that for someone who doesnt have friends here you will probably only want to visit for a day or two from one of the bigger cities but I think I would be safe to say that there is something for everyone.
I myself would love to hear some comments on what has changed, rumor has it that there is now an airport and maybe a new stadium soon.
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Sep 25th, 2001
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