Hotel Schmidt

Ruhrpott melting pot: International Worker Culture

by Kathrin_E

The booming industry of the Ruhr district needed manpower from the beginning. In the late 19th century immigrants came from Poland, Silesia, rural Prussia and other regions in the East to work here. During the "economic miracle" after the War again more workers were needed. The so-called "guest workers" were invited first from Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Greece) and then from Turkey. Many families in the Ruhrpott have some kind of migration background (latest pc term for immigrants and their descendants) - the population is international and multi-culture but at the same time the region is a melting pot. Those who speak the purest Ruhrpott dialect may well be dark-haired, dark-eyed people with a mediterranean or middle-eastern appearance who were born here and spent their entire lives here.

Lots of symptoms of that cultural mix can be spotted. Like this sign that advertises the latest invention of a kebap stall in Essen: the Pomm-Döner. It involves döner (Turkish), French Fries (Belgian/generally Western European) and Tzatziki (Greek), all served together in one bag.

Extrablatt & Bar Celona

by Bagillbaer about Café Extrablatt, Bar Celona

I really like the style of these cafés. They're quite big, but there's so much decoration and partitions formed of columns, stairs and balconies that the atmosphere is somewhat snugly.
Café Bar Celona has a meditarrenaen style, Café Extrablatt is rather gaudy and flashy. I like Calamaris and all the potatoe stuff, especially the thick, spicy splits, the Cajuns. The Veggie Wrap in Café Bar Celona is muy yummy too. So are the Jalapeno Poppers. I guess, it's all good. Just haven't had the time to try it all so far. ;)
Then again, I spent a total of four hours eating in Café Extrablatt recently... the breakfast buffet... it's gorgeous! You pay around eight euros and then it's all you can eat and as much orange juice as you can possibly drink (other beverages must be payed). The buffet's on on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, starts at 10 a.m. and stops at 2 p.m. - you can probably still continue eating (unless it's a special holiday), only you have to pay more for it then. The food palette goes from cereals with milk over bread with all kinds of toppings, salads, desserts (*yummy* mousse au chocolat!), on to English breakfast with the traditional ham and eggs, baked beans and scramble egg (also *very* yummy!). It's a great occasion to sit and watch people too ;) Quite the meeting point on lazy mornings...

Visit the Kardinal-Hengsbach-Platz

by BillNJ

In the Essen pedestrian zone, there is a square named after Cardinal Franz Hengsbach who became the Bishop of Essen in 1957 and attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965.

In 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed him the title of Cardinal Priest. Hengsbach lost the right to participate in any future papal conclave upon reaching the age of eighty on September 10, 1990, and, after a period thirty-three years, resigned as Bishop of Essen on February 21, 1991. He died shortly thereafter, and his remains were buried in the crypt of the Cathedral of Essen.

Zollverein: Coking Plant

by Kathrin_E

The coal from the shafts of Zollverein was transformed into coke, as was needed in the steel mills, on the spot. The coking plant is next to the mines. It is probably the most impressive building complex on site due to its sheer size and the complicated maze of steel structures, ovens, chimneys, tubes and tanks.

From Shaft XII the coking plant can be reached in a short walk - follow the signs to "Kokerei".

Visiting the coking plant is highly recommended to anyone who has a camera. The complex is full of pictures worth taking.

Recent development lead to lots of changes within the former factory complex. A cafe has been established in the head building. The ferris wheel is currently out of operation. Behind it, there is a swimming pool among the steel giants. An event agency has moved into one of the side buildings. For the summer an open-air cinema has been established. And so on...
You can walk the alleys on your own and for free. Guided tours take you inside the coking plant buildings if you want deeper insight. Thes start at the information desk next to the cafe.

Krupp's Town

by hartti

"Heart of Steel Industry"

Essen has suffered from the most hard bombings during the war, because there was big steel factories, Krupp's. But of course enemies did not want to destroy all, because they wanted to have something for themselves. Still there are steel industry museums. But usually the houses are not older than 55 years.