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Published: February 4th 2011
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***www.thetattooedtraveler.com***
So, your first question may be: Why go to Düsseldorf? And that may be followed with: Why in February? The answer, my friends, is simple: Money. I have a friend who lives there, so I had a free place to stay and airfare is cheaper in February because who in their right mind would vacation in Germany in the middle of winter?
All that being said, Düsseldorf was hopping! It was Carnival, which precedes Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season, so it was just one big party! The city of Cologne, 30 minutes away and Düsseldorf’s big rival, also does Carnival— it’s a point of contention as to who does it better. Since I didn’t visit Cologne, I have no basis to judge, but I can say that Düsseldorf gets pretty crazy with the costumes and all-day drunkenness. In fact, it was a bit too crazy for me. I know, I know… I must be getting old! This thing would have been right up my alley 10 years ago, but 23 and 33 seem worlds apart. The crowds of drunken people packed so tight in the streets, let alone in the bars, made getting a drink
a chore. I don’t like to work for my beer. I want the next one set down on the table as I am finishing off the last, damnit! Watching drunks puke all over the streets is not my thing either (and it was only mid-afternoon). Though the experience was worthwhile, it’s one I do not need to repeat!
Luckily, amidst the madness, we planned to get out of town for a few days to visit Berlin and Munich. In the mean time, we made due. We got some authentic German food, drank Altbier, and tried to avoid the Altstadt (Old City) section where Carnival takes place. Altibier is a nice, amber-colored beer with a light, crisp taste. The beers here come in 0.33 liters (about 11 oz.), which seemed kind of small compared to what I was expecting, but most places are good about having your next beer to you quickly, so I let it slide.
When we got back to Düsseldorf, things had quieted down considerably! The Altstadt had become quite pleasant to walk through without drunkards stumbling and bumping you— looking like they’re gonna spew vomit all over you, Linda Blair style. There’s quite
a variety of food in the Altstadt: Spanish food, pizza, and Turkish Döner— shaved meat wrapped in flatbread, topped with various salad-type veggies and your choice of sauces. Of course, German food can be found and the bratwurst and pork shank are quite tasty, but I said it once and I’ll say it again: watch out for the sauerkraut! We ate at the Schlüssel Brewpub; they brew their version of Altbier right on the premises. Good beer, good food, and located right in the Altstadt.
Düsseldorf has some pretty interesting things to see. The Der Neue Zollhof buildings, designed by Frank Gehry, are architecturally unique and pretty cool to check out. They’re located in the Media Harbor section of the city near the large TV tower (you can’t miss it).
Königsallee (King's Avenue) is the major shopping area, and has all the high-priced brands. It’s a gorgeous street from the architecture to the tree-lined canal crossed by beautiful bridges. In the warm months, it is the place to see and be seen in Düsseldorf. People watching here can be quite interesting with a lot of Middle-Eastern money settling in at the cafés and frequenting the shops.
Seriously, the money here is obscene. If you are young and good-looking you should see about coming here and getting yourself a cougar, sugar-momma! Unfortunately, February is not cougar-season, so I was out of luck!!
There’s also an outdoor market where locals shop for food. Like most European marketplaces, the food is grown or raised locally and is as fresh as you can get. Marketplaces are great for breakfast or a lunch/snack while sightseeing. Any town you go to, you are sure to find local delicacies here. The farmers who produce this food are not large and corporate, so the food is usually produced without hormones, pesticides, etc. And because it is not shipped long distances, the carbon footprint is minimal; it is the way food should be!
My last night, my friend took me for Persian food. I had been looking forward to this since I arrived! To start, she ordered Dugh, a mixture of yogurt, water, and some dried mint. I am not a fan of plain yogurt, the bitter taste does nothing for me, but I wanted to try it because it’s a traditional Persian drink. My first taste was not pleasant, but
I gave it a few more sips as dinner progressed. I got about a quarter of the way through the glass, but that was it, I just couldn’t acquire a taste for it. As for the food… it was phenomenal!! I had grilled lamb and tomato with saffron rice. Traditionally, one begins by adding butter to the rice, then chopping up pieces of lamb and tomato and mixing it all together. This was such a simple dish, but SO good (as most simple dishes are)!!
Düsseldorf is often overlooked because of its larger neighbor, Cologne, but it’s certainly a worthwhile place to visit. It may not be a destination in and of itself, but a good place to check out if you are nearby. And Altbier is pretty damn good, too!!
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