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Visa problems back then
Town hall and square
Group photo while at Joseppi's place
by nightLost passport and wallet info
Losing my wallet and U.S. passport! The ultimate nightmare but do not despair:
There are NO longer any emergency passport services for U.S. citizens in Hamburg.
It is helpful to have a copy of one's passport AND essential to file a report with the local Police station (the local police as very cordial and usually have decent English skills). Very important to have a copy of this police report along with the xerox copy of one's lost/stolen passport. Hang onto even when leaving the country. ****The police will give you the number of the lost property division so you can call them in the days and weeks after just in-case someone is kind enough to return your lost/stolen goods.****
The easiest, best way is to travel to Berlin and to be at the U.S. Consulate by 8:30 am sharp! (NO appointment is necessary) Monday thru Friday (EXCEPT on national holidays). The consulate is way off the tourist map and is completely different location than the U.S. Embassy. See my Berlin "tips" on a nearby hotel next door.
For about 90 Euros they will process an emergency passport. They even have a photo machine to take the pictures although it is safest to have these photos with you already since the machine might not function (it seemed to work only in the "German" language mode and not th"English" one!). By Noon I had my new passport which is only good for a year.
They also do passport services in Frankfurt BUT much more complicated because one needs to make an appointment as opposed to just walking into the agency.
The Deutche Post Bank offices serve as the local Western Union agents all across Germany. Money wired from America can be picked-up in any DPB location BUT you must have the money sent to the EXACT name on your passport. Even one letter off will cause a problem. You will need to fill-out a "Geldempfang" form ("to receive money") and look for the "Western Union" sign above a particular teller's window since not all clerks offer this service.
