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The world is full of historical buildings for every occasion; for every war fought, every religion established and any influential figures in history. Speicherstadt is the warehouse and storage equivalent in the historical building registry, if ever one existed. Far from being mysterious like Area 51 or ugly like an airport, Speicherstadt is a collection of warehouses built between 1883 and 1927. It features varied foundation structures since it was built over the course of 44 years and yet the aesthetic architecture remains mostly uniform; all are Neo-Gothic re-brick structures with alcoves  and little steeple towers with terra cotta ornaments. Officially the oldest warehouse structure in the world, the Speicherstadt is surprisingly not a famous historical building although its importance in history cannot be overstated. Speicherstadt translates directly as City of Warehouses.

How Speicherstadt Shaped Hamburg

Hamburg, the city in which Speicherstadt is located, was known as a sovereign independent city state but from 1815 was a member of the German Confederation. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 took place to deal with issues arising from the recent Napoleonic Wars and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and mainly dealt with redrawing Europe’s political map. How this relates to Speicherstadt is how the warehouse also operated as a port; a customs free zone. As a customs free zone, Hamburg pushed some trade boundaries unlike any other state historical building had before. Eventually when the German Empire was established in 1871, Hamburg was considered for annexation but because of its customs free zone avoided becoming part of the empire. However during treaties written in 1888, Hamburg officially became part of the German Empire and was converted into a free port although in Germany’s custom zone.

Set-backs and Recognition

Housing twenty thousand people, a district of Speicherstadt was demolished in 1883 causing those thousands to seek relocation. Then between 1885 and 1888 the first part of the Speicherstadt was finally established and managed by the elusive Freihafen-Lagerhaus-Gesellschaft company. When WWII was in full swing, a large portion of the Speicherstadt was destroyed and had to be rebuilt. Finally in 1991 recognition of Speicherstadt came when Hamburg listed it as a heritage site and the historical building preservation began in earnest. Since 2008 the Speicherstadt is situated within the HafenCity quarter which happens to be an area the Hamburg government is granting historical building restoration grants to in order to revitalise the area.

Speicherstadt Today

Today the Speicherstadt is one of Hamburg’s top tourist destinations although still fully functional in its original use. One-third of the world’s carpet business is run out of Speicherstadt as well as having warehouses filled to the brim of cocoa, coffee, tea, spices, maritime equipment and electronic goods. Well past its centennial year and still going strong, the Speicherstadt is one beautiful historical building that doesn’t let its age obsolete it from its original purpose and that is rare.

Eugene Calvini sources out solutions for the warehouse workplace; from office partioning to safety barrier installation Eugene knows enough to write an interesting perspective on issues.

Taking a trip abroad is an event of a lifetime, and you’ll want to remember it forever. It’s a great idea to be thinking about preserving the memories of your vacation before you depart. If you’re intent on capturing the moments, you’ll come home with higher-quality photos, videos and souvenirs. All of these elements will combine to give you an amazing and unique collection of memories from your vacation abroad. You’ll never have the same experience twice, so make it a point to savor every moment. One of the most important things you’ll bring along on your trip is your camera. You’ll share your photos with everyone back home, and they’ll be fond reminders of your trip for the future. To make sure you get the best photos of your trip abroad, here are some tips.

The Camera
The camera you use to take your photos is extremely important. You want a device that is capable of taking high-quality photos in a variety of settings that you’ll encounter during your trip, such as in natural lighting, artificial lighting, and at nighttime. If you don’t have a very good digital camera, now is the perfect time to invest in one. You don’t need an extremely expensive camera. There are lots of good cameras available for a reasonable price. Do some comparison shopping and take some test shots while at the store. Make sure you choose a camera that is durable, and consider purchasing a warranty.

Accessories
You also might want a few different accessories for your trip. For instance, you will want to have a sturdy camera bag that will protect your equipment while on-the-go. You also want a bag that is easy to transport throughout your trip, so choose something that is light and has a strap you can sling over your shoulder. It also might be a good idea to purchase a tripod. This will help you steady your shots and allow you to set them up exactly, especially if you’re setting a timer so everyone can be in the picture. Also make sure you have an extra memory card and batteries, if they’re required.

Taking Photos
Before you go, practice taking photos with your camera. Become acquainted with the various settings you might use. If you don’t know much about photography, it might be a good idea to learn a little. The more you know about taking photos, the better yours will be. For example, learn about essential photography tips, such as the rule of thirds. Also learn about tips for taking photographs in different lighting and taking photos of a variety of things, such as landscapes or moving objects. Think about the scenery you’re likely to encounter during your trip to learn the most appropriate techniques.

Preservation
When you get home, make copies of all your photographs and store them in a separate location just in case the original files become lost. Email them to all your friends and family so they can have a copy of their own. Then, consider creating photo albums or scrapbooks dedicated to your vacation. There are many websites online that can help you create attractive layouts if you want help with design. Or, print out the photos and arrange them yourself. Creating photo albums is a great way to remember your trip.

Terry Ford loves to travel and aspires to capture every moment with her camera.  She always double-checks her writing with a grammar checker.

German cuisine varies greatly from region to region. There are a number of national dishes, but even these will differ in preparation depending on where you are in the country. In south-western regions there is a heavy influence from French cuisine. Wine features strongly and is even put in the sauerkraut! In Bavaria and Franconia there are many Austrian influences, while in Rhineland there are many flavours from Belgium and The Netherlands. However, wherever you choose to visit, there is sure to be something new and exciting for you to try.

Generally speaking, German cuisine contains a fair amount of meat. Sliced meat and even meat pastes are often eaten for breakfast. Potatoes also play a large part, often being made into potato dumplings.

Bread also makes up a significant part of German cuisine but it is very different to the bread served in other parts of Europe. There is a huge range of types of bread, with around 600 different kinds of loaf and over 1000 different forms of roll. Bread tends to be quite dense in texture and is very rarely served as an accompaniment for a meal. Generally, it is a snack or for breakfast.

Below, TravelSupermarket.com takes a closer look at 10 traditional dishes that anyone planning a 2012 holiday to Germany should be sure to try:

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is probably the most well known of German foods. The word literally translates as sour cabbage and it should not be confused with pickled cabbage. Sauerkraut is not pickled, it is fermented and there are number of slight regional variations, sometimes including the addition of wine or juniper berries. Pointed cabbage varieties are widely considered to be the best.

Gaisburger Marsch

Gaisburger Marsch is a stew traditionally found in Swabia (an area of Germany that spans Baden Württemburg and Bavaria). Beef is cooked in a strong broth with potatoes and a kind of German pasta called spätzle. It is topped with battered fried onions just before serving.

Zwiebelkuchen

Zwiebelkuchen is a kind of savoury onion cake that is popular throughout the wine-producing regions of Germany. It consists of steamed onions, bacon, cream and caraway seeds on a crust of yeast dough, although there are variations of this dish in both France and Switzerland.

Bratwurst

You can’t get much more German than a German sausage and these are eaten throughout the country. A bratwurst, made of veal, pork or beef, is usually grilled or fried but in some areas may be cooked in beer.

The first recorded evidence of bratwurst sausages in Germany goes back to 1313 and there are now over 40 different varieties across the country. They are traditionally eaten with white bread rolls and hot German mustard or sometimes with sauerkraut or potato salad.

Currywurst

If you want to experience some German fast food, then look no further that the currywurst. Originating in Berlin in the 1950s, this is a large sausage that is heavily spiced with curried ketchup and served with fries. There is some debate among currywurst connoisseurs as to whether the sausage should be a botwurst (boiled sausage) or a bratwurst (grilled sausage).

Hering in Sahnesoße

Fish is not as commonly eaten as meat in German cuisine, although it is eaten throughout the country. North-western Germany is close to both the North and Baltic Seas and dishes such as hering in sahnesoße are popular.

This is a dish made from herring which has been cooked with cream, onions and apples and is often served with pellkartoffeln, a dish of boiled or steamed potatoes served in a creamy sauce.

Spanferkel

If you are lucky enough to be invited to a large party, you may find yourself being offered spanferkel, which is a suckling pig, grilled whole and served when there is a large party or gathering. This is particularly popular in Bavarian regions during Oktoberfest, a 16-day festival held in Munich running from the end of September to the first weekend in October. It is the world’s largest fair and Germany’s most famous event and is attended by around five million people annually.

Rouladen

Rouladen is a meat dish enjoyed across Germany. It is basically a roll of bacon, onions and sometimes pickled gherkins which are wrapped in thinly sliced beef and roasted. The whole thing is held together either by thread or with wooden sticks and is roasted in beer or red wine. In some areas, the beef is replaced by venison or pork. This is quite a rich evening meal and is served with potatoes and spätzle and red cabbage.

Prinzregententorte

If you have a sweet tooth and have a particular taste for chocolate, then you will appreciate prinzregententorte. This is a Bavarian sponge comprising at least six layers sandwiched together with chocolate butter cream before the top of the cake is covered in dark chocolate. The cake is named for Prince Regent Luitpold, who was Prince Regent in Bavaria in 1886. It is very popular in Bavaria, where it is available in cake shops all year round.

Stollen

Stollen and other Christmas cakes feature largely in German cuisine. Stollen is traditionally from Dresden and is a bread-like cake which is spiced with cardamom and cinnamon and crammed full of dried fruit, citrus peel and nuts. Baumkuchen is another type of German Christmas cake. Cooked in layers, the name literally translates as tree or log cake due to its appearance.

German cuisine varies so greatly that there is a vast array of traditional dishes to choose from. Whatever you eat, don’t forget to try out the amazing selection of German beers and wines that perfectly complement this exciting cuisine.

Not to be harsh, but when people say “I’m too old to learn a language” they’re taking the easy way out. The human mind never stops learning, and changing, at any age. It’s not true that only a child can learn a language well. The truth is that learning a language well requires us to be children again, and many adults are not willing to do that. When you go to a foreign country, in many ways you find yourself thrust back into the role of a child. You can’t understand a movie, follow a complicated conversation, read a novel…even going to a restaurant can be impossibly difficult.

Learn a language as a child learns it. By this I mean children’s books, and children’s television. You can sit there and listen to adults speaking at top velocity and not learn one single word. But a television show aimed at toddlers is about the right speed for people coming to a language for the first time. It goes slow and concentrates on the sounds and it repeats itself often. Children’s books are my number-one resource when I study a new language, and why not? That’s how I learned English!

If you’re reading this, you probably know English pretty well. It’s a bit of a relief to learn that you’ve already mastered one of the hardest languages there is. English may not be the most difficult to pronounce (I believe that honor may belong to the Scandanavians), but it’s got one of the biggest vocabularies, big enough to contain entire languages, and an astoundingly flexible system of grammar. Instead of trying to replace English, learn phrases and words and add them to English. Until you’ve truly absorbed the grammar and the style of the language, it helps to think of yourself as speaking “bigger English.”

No matter what, don’t be in a hurry! Think of all the years you put into learning English — if you want to speak another language that well, you’re going to have to put in those years again. There is no quick road to fluency. When you think about it, the fact that we can communicate such complex thoughts in English is amazing. It’s not easy to learn to do it all again. But it’s worth it to reach fluency and find a new world open before you. It’s like they say; learn a new language, gain a new soul.

Chris writes for TruPhone who offers international sim cards for your cell phone when you travel. 

No matter how well you budget your vacation, staying in a hotel can take a big chunk out of your savings. If you’re planning a vacation this season, you may think that you have little choice when it comes to accommodations. Luckily, you’re wrong! Check out these top five ways to save money on lodging.

Timeshares

Renting a timeshare can be a fantastic way to save. Not only are they less costly in themselves, but by renting a timeshare, you’ll have access to your own kitchen which means you won’t have to eat all of your meals in a restaurant. If your timeshare includes access to a laundry room, you can also pack lighter, saving money on checked luggage!

Home Exchange

You obviously have to take care when taking part in a home exchange, but this can be a fantastic way to gain access to free accommodations. There are many sites that allow registered users to both search and post homes for exchange. Be sure that you lay out your criteria very clearly. You don’t want people bringing along cats, for instance, if you are allergic. Contact the family that will be staying in your home prior to your vacation to make arrangements and be certain that you are absolutely comfortable with them staying in your home. They’ll be checking you out just as carefully!

Hostels

Hostels are not often thought of once you graduate college. What a mistake! Hostels offer great convenience and many are family-friendly; they aren’t designated for kids backpacking across Europe. In fact, at some hostels, private rooms are available with their own bathrooms. If you find a great hostel, you’ll find very few differences between it and a hotel.

Volunteer

Okay. Chances are that you’re taking a vacation to relax and not work. We understand that. However, alternative holidays are becoming more and more popular. One of the most popular types of ‘volunteer’ vacation involves staying on a farm as guests and feeding animals or helping care for gardens. Yes, you’ll be working, but you’ll still have enough free time to explore the city! And if you think about it, what better way is there to get to know a new locale than to stay and socialize with the people that live there?

Travel Sites

If you are flexible with your destination, time of travel or even type of accommodation, travel sites can offer you steep last minute discounts. When hotels have low bookings or cancellations, they will offer discounts simply to fill the rooms. Sign up for any alerts that you can and search travel sites often. Remember, too, that your days of arrival and departure may make a difference in your rate. Prices for rooms are often cheaper when you arrive and leave midweek rather than on the weekend.

Ned Stolmeyer is a travel enthusiast and shares his experiences with many popular travel sites. As a frequent traveler and a father of two, traveling with ease is of the utmost importance. He has found his membership in timeshare resorts to save him time and money on his many trips worldwide.

The holidays are such a busy time, and there are so many gifts to buy. You’ve probably already discovered that doing your shopping online at home will save you tons of time and money versus trying to beat the crowds and catch the sales at the mall. And if you’re on the go so much that you barely have time to sit down at the computer, your smartphone will be an invaluable lifeline for completely your holiday shopping on time. Even if you do continue some brick-and-mortar shopping, your smartphone is a great companion for helping you out in the store.  Here are five apps you can download that will make your holiday shopping a breeze.

Free Christmas List

This app allows you to keep track of everyone you need to buy a gift for. For each person you enter, you can enter what gifts they want, and what you plan to buy or already have for each of them. You can help keep your spending fair and on budget by also keeping track of how much you’ve spent per person.

TGI Black Friday

If you love Black Friday sales, but don’t love the time it takes to compare so many ads and plan your day, this is the app for you. You can easily check out all the advertisements for retailers in your area and create a shopping list. This app will help you find the best prices and make the most of the sales.

ShopSavvy

When you’re out shopping at the mall, ShopSavvy is an essential app to have with you. Before you make a purchase, scan the barcode of the product you’re considering with your phone, and ShopSavvy will instantly comparison shop for you. It will tell you where to get the item for the lowest price, so you can ensure that you’re really getting the best deal possible. You can also read reviews written by others who have bought the product to help you come to a decision.

Gift List

This is another app that will help you manage and organize your shopping list for everyone you need to buy for, with an emphasis on helping you set and stay within your budget.

The Coupon Sherpa

This app will help you find coupons for anything you want to buy, and it combines all the major places you can find coupons in one convenient place.

Gift Ideas

This app is a great tool for you to use when you just don’t know what to get for someone, which can happen a lot. Use Gift Ideas to give you some inspiration. You can search for gifts by age range, relation to you, and even by personality. It finds gifts for all occasions, which will come in handy all year round.

Lemon

With all the holiday shopping you do, you’re bound to have tons of receipts to keep track of, and Lemon will help you do just that. Take a picture of your receipt, and Lemon will store it for you. If you lose one, you can reprint it. You will even get an @Lemon email address that you can give when you’re asked for it at checkouts, and Lemon will prioritize the emails and forward you only the ones with important sale info. Lemon will even graph your spending for you.

Terry Ford works for Grammarly grammar checker, as the holidays approach we have prepared a collection of excellent articles to make the season fun and succesful.

Learning a foreign language takes some dedication and time. These are ten tips to accelerate your learning.

Take a Class

This seems obvious, but having an instructor and other students to interact with will guide your learning. Face to face, interaction and practice with others students will help you receive immediate feedback. Assignments and quizzes will help keep you on track. Classes are usually available through a college or local extension center.

Interact With Native Speakers

If you are able to interact with native speakers, you will accelerate your ability to pronounce new words. The more you speak a new language, the quicker you will understand and remember vocabulary and grammar.

Movies

Watch your favorite movies by switching the language or subtitles to the language that you are learning. This is a favorite technique used in Europe for learning English.

Use Vocabulary At Home

Write words on pieces on pieces of tape and label objects in your home. You will see the words attached to the objects frequently. This will help you learn everyday words around your home.

Vocabulary Lists

Create a list of related words written out on flash cards. Write the word on one side, and the translation on the other. It is easier to memorize a set of related words or phrases. For example, you could write a list of words that have a calendar theme. Write out days of the week, months, seasons and weather words. Bundle your words together, and carry them around with you. Whenever you have a minute or two, study those words. This is especially useful in squeezing in productive time when waiting in lines or other moments that are usually wasted.

Audio Books

Purchase an audio language program so that you can listen to native speakers. This will increase your pronunciation. By listening to the same conversations and vocabulary repetitively, you will learn oral language skills. Understanding spoken language is a different skill than reading written vocabulary. Be sure to mix both written and oral language skills.

Books

Read children’s books that are written in the language you are learning. These books have plenty of clues to help you translate, such as pictures and context clues. The language is usually written using straightforward grammar and vocabulary. You can also find identical books written in both English and in your new language. By comparing both books, you can learn specific phrases and grammar.

Immersion

Travel to the country where the language is spoken. Take an immersion class in that country. Go on excursions such as a shopping trip. Speak only in the language that you are learning. This is the surest way to learn and retain a new language.

Computer Help

Switch the language on your computer. Search the internet and read articles in the language you are learning. Frequent language learning web sites. You can also find forums and interactive sites where you can practice your language skills.

Practice and Goals

Make an effort to devote time every day to speaking, listening and reading the language. Create specific, measurable vocabulary goals every day. Challenge yourself to spend a certain amount of time every day speaking and listening in your chosen language.

This article was written by Kathleen Hubert. She also teaches people that are learning Italian or want to learn German online.

Having travelled my way around the globe several times, it became a good question between myself and various travel companions – what exactly is the best way to travel. There were some remarkable experiences and some amusing tales so read on and think about your favourite journey.

Sam had decided to go on an adventure in Thailand during his gap year. It was back in the day when exotic travel from the UK was all about hitting the island of Mallorca, so Thailand was a brave choice. The plane took off, carrying Sam and his slightly hung-over travel mate Giles, finally touching down in Pakistan. There were approximately six hours to kill so the boys jumped into a taxi and headed to the local beach.

On the beach stood two beautiful Indian elephants, each waiting for a single tourist to arrive (Karachi never was the tourist resort that it wanted to be). The boys handed over a couple of US dollars and mounted the elephants. They wandered along the deserted beach on the back of those elephants as though they had done it all of their lives. This was the highlight of their trip and they never forgot the strange juxtaposition between leaving London hours earlier before roaming the beach on the back of an elephant.

Driving around India had a certain appeal to Jools. She hated flying and crowded trains so it seemed a sensible solution to find some cheap car hire in Mumbai and hit the road. She negotiated well and found herself being chauffeur driven in a 1960’s classic car. The driver became a good friend and, although he would not let Jools pay for a bed in the local guest houses for him as he preferred to sleep in the car. She tootled around Southern India with Sanjiit and had a ball.

It’s no use waiting for a bus when there simply isn’t a bus. Many years ago, when travelling between the borders of Tanzania and Zimbabwe, there were a few miles between getting off one bus and catching the next. The area was a no man’s land and local buses were not allowed on it. Rumour has it that an alternative mode of transport would arrive. The sun was beating down on me and my backpack was covered in dust. Alone and slightly apprehensive, I scoured the scene for a glimpse of a car. Nothing. Then, a faint tinkle. The big smiling face and from seemingly out of nowhere, five young men on bicycles arrived. My backpack was swiftly put on the back of a cyclist and I was asked to climb aboard. Those cyclists knew how to pedal and within five minutes I was at the local bus stop. Now, that is how to travel.

Citations:

• Written by Elizabeth James, who writes for carrentals.co.uk