{hannover history}

i blah blah blah so much about my apartment that i should stop for a moment to tell you about hannover, the city where i'll be hanging out for 5 months each year. of course, once i arrive on august 7th i promise to frequently share photos of life there but for now you may want to read an article about hannover that i wrote for a canadian women's online magazine called filly back in 2006 -- you can read the article here. it was my first published article ever. i wanted my first article to be about something extremely important to me, so i pitched hannover to the editor and she actually accepted my pitch despite how it wasn't about paris, prague, or amsterdam. you know, the usual suspects that you hear about constantly when european travel is mentioned. here are a few excerpts that paint a better picture of this city's past...

"Both a major city and provincial town, Hannover, the capital of Lower Saxony, is located in northern Germany 78 miles south of Hamburg and 153 miles west of Berlin. Founded during the early part of the middle ages, Hannover, meaning "High Banks", was once a small rural settlement along the river Leine at the crossing of two important trading routes. Today, it's a flourishing vibrant city with over 500,000 inhabitants. Blending historic beauty with contemporary architecture, the ambiance is undeniably modern and hip."

"After exploring the gardens, make it a point to visit the town hall, completed in 1913 by Wilhelm II. Modeled after a baroque castle with a mixture of Jugendstil and historicism, its architecture dazzles the eyes and reveals a large dome containing the only curved elevator in the world. Then, visit the Altes Rathaus (old town hall), in Alstadt (old town). You'll spot the stunning Marktkirche, a Gothic cathedral built in the 14th century. Alstadt's medieval, half timbered homes are a glimpse of the past, with one home dating back to 1566. Wandering this charming district, you'll find pubs, bistros, art galleries, antique dealers, and specialty shops."

- Holly Becker, "Hannover: Relish Life In The Heart of Europe", philly.ca