I've met an Goth girl from Seattle at the WGT festival in Leipzig and we talked for quite a while. So maybe her words are interesting for you,
btw, she was jewish and she thought before coming to Germany that all Germans would "eat her alive".
First of all she was astonished that everybody here was quite helpful in comparision to other european countries she has visited. She mentioned that many people took care of her, taking time so that she got good descriptions and hints.
She also noted that most Germans are tall in comparision and many guys were appealing to her. She said that people were very tactful to her.
Surprising for her were the multicultural picture of the cities, as she thought that the USA would be multicultural. But she recognised that Germany is a melting pot, with many people from eastern Europe, Turkey and beyond.
She liked the well used public bus system in Leipzig.
Public transportation has a more signifanct role here.
And she was really fascinated by the old buildings in Leipzig.
But maybe she was not long enough here to see the down sides
What bluediva writes about differences in style between different county areas are quite simliar here. Also the country is much smaller, so the changes are more rapid if you measure in kilometers. Drive 200 km and you're in a different geographical terrain, a different general attitute in the clubs, a different structure social and economical. As marks you could say Berlin, Hamburg, Ruhrpott (Dortmund, Bochum, Köln...) Leipzig and Munich. That would give you geographical centres that differ in many points. Germany has only 360.000 square kilometers, with 80 Million people. It's not crowded here, but you won't find a big piece of wilderness here.
So what are we like?
Peaceful is really a good description.
Rick description hits the mark in most points.
Certainly things differ from class to class, either social or educational.
In the last years the rift between the poor and the middle class increases. Education is a big issue nowadays here, as social security and health care.
Many people are loosing in the growing preassure of the Globalisation.
We're one of the last world wide refugee areas for Heavy Metal
Metal is quite more common here than in other european contries.
Why is Hamburg such a beautiful city?
In the middle lies a big lake, the Alster, which gives Hamburg an unique city image. Our city centre is build arround this lake. To the south of the centre lies our beloved river Elbe. It's easy to go to the river, relax there and watch the activities in our international port on the other riverside.
Green, is a fitting description, we have many parks in town and nearly no streets not flanked by trees. Air pollution is not an big issue, air is quite good. Weather is a bit rainy, if you like weather in London, you will like it here.
Surprising for you would maybe that we have nealry no skyscrapers. Buildings with more than ten floors are really rare.
Half a dozen of big old churches standing in the centre and many smaller are in the suburbs. A few old court buildings are one of those buildings that survived the bombing attacks of the Worldwar.
Famous and quite nice is the "Reeperbahn", here you find many clubs, casinos, bars and hookers. For the alternative music taste, four clubs qualify, the Grünspan, Kaiserkeller, B-Side and Headbangers Ballroom.
Playing Heavy Metal, Independant and Gothic on different days.
And there is not such a thing as seperation between Gothics, Metall, Independant and Punk.
It's an old trading town, and this reflects in many buildings and attitudes.
