Essen, Germany
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
So Essen it was and Essen it is.
We once upon a time had over 610.000 habitants, but the number has dropped to somewhat 570.000 in the last years... we're dying out.
Citywalk
Dropping from the main station (featuring McDonalds on the north and alot of drug dealers on the south side) to the north, you can yust walk over the street, turn right, walk alongside the Moevenpick hotel and drop into the newly opened tourist information center, or just walk straight away through the city center, you'll find GALERIA KAUFHOF [this is a kind of all-purpose four-story supermarket] on the left, the LICHTBURG premiere cinema in theatre-style to the right, the huge (two stories and a cellar :) BAEDEKER bookshop to the left, then a little park with added church to the right, some flour-selling guys in between, then some other shops. Finally you're ready for what Essen marketing group calls "City Center", our 'Mall'; like it or leave it. Here the second McDonalds is found ^_^
Now, time has come for a moment of silence. Leave the CC2 to the city side, cross the place, walk right to the next, then look to the right. Now get out your towel, put it on the ground, and sit down in your preferred praying seat. Hold down your tears. You are facing MARKS AND SPENCERS... they CLOSED !!! ... Hold them. Be brave. WEEEP...
Geography
My lovely homecity is located in the west of Germany, in NRW, and one of the biggest cities of the ruhr valley. This implies that E. is situated to the Ruhr, which is mainly seen as the Baldeney artificial lake when you actually get there.
Ah yes, Duesseldorf is located to the west.
History
Essen was founded by a herd of nuns in 850.
The first Krupp factory opened 1811, the first coal pit 1840 - we had 22 of them at the top - but the last one closed in 1986. So came the heavy industry and the people. We sucked in several nearby villages from 1813 to 1975.
I'll be adding further travelling information and so on soon, as well as propper GuideML, and am happy for feedback as well as info's to add, as is your like.
Yeah, first entry up and running!
