Bremen Local Customs

In many parts of the city you will find complete streets or at least still parts of it lined with typical Bremen houses. It's a special style well know among architects in Germany. I do not know too many details about them from the technical side, but could tell immediately if this is a typical old Bremish house or not. And they are beautiful!!! I wish I had one of those, but unfortunately, they are all very expensive by now or need essential renovation: The houses are from the second half of the 19th century. Such a large and intact structure of such houses from that period in Europe only can be found still in London and Bonn.

If you have the chance and like great football and good atmosphere - visit a game of one of Europes finest football teams in their newly renovated Weserstadion (directly at the riverfront close to the city center). If everything goes well, in May 2004 Werder Bremen will be the newly crowned German Champion. So cross your thumbs or better come here and cheer with us!

Christian churches - be they Protestant, Orthodox, or Catholic - are a vital part of Europeýs cultural, artistic, architectural, and religious heritage, and as such you are likely (and I really recommend doing this:)) ) to visit many of them. However, most of them are even today not only major tourist attractions, but also religious sites where people come to pray. This is something to be respected, and here are several pieces of advice I would like to give that might help avoid ill-feeling:

- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and most part of the legs (women in Orthodox churches might be requested to put on something to cover the head);

- Do not speak loudly - all the descriptions are better either read in silence or given outside;

- Try not to walk too much during the service;

- Avoid using flash in your camera near people you see praying;

- Respect notes that forbid entrance to some parts of the church that are designated as ýfor prayer onlyý.

Following these simple guidelines helped me when I visited, I guess, more than 1000 churches up to date:)))

The old seamen's neighborhood is now a colourful collection of all kind of little shops in narrow alleys. The neighborhood is near the old harbour and is called 'Schnoor' (which comes from the Dutch word 'snoer' ... rope used in shipping).

Check the streets of Schwachhausen (a bit posh), Viertel/Ostertor, Steintor (posh, funky and dodgy at the same time - great!), Barkhof, Fesenfeld, also Neustadt, Findorff