April 2023
This trip took place as part of a Benelux euro-tour for my birthday, during which I visited:
Sinsheim - Karlsruhe - Ausfahrt - Luxembourg - Namur - Liège - Brussels - Dunkirk - Antwerp - Leidschendam - The Hague
A normal person shouldn't know about the city of Karlsruhe. I ended up there for two reasons. First, needed to find something cheap near Luxembourg for overnight stay, to then go there for one day.
Second, in FIFA 2001 there was a weak Karlsruhe team, against which I always played to make it easier.
And third, in this area of Germany all other options were so expensive that the stars finally aligned here.
Nothing good was expected, we checked into "apartments". Regular apartment, in two rooms us, in the third some student who lives there permanently.
From cringe: at the entrance to the building some black guy was hanging around, messing with bicycles. Asked us in broken English, like if you're on Booking, keys are in the box. And I'm like - yeah, but we don't know the codes. Will call the owner now. Turn away and step away from the black guy, call. Turned out he is the owner.
Communication didn't work out - he was sure I'm an idiot, since he sent me all the info in advance. Turned out he did, but not to me. So he's to blame for the moment of racism himself.
I checked out the city just one evening, only good impressions
Radical sign change
Trams exist
Remains of history exist
Everything looks European
Everything's super, anyway. Dinner with beer - 15 euros
In the city you can both walk and ride a bike
Street sign
From bad - city is expensive. One room on Booking cost 60 euros. Students and old officials live in the city, according to Wikipedia.
In the whole city only one fucked up road crossing - not a bad result. If you pay attention: there's a path, holes in the fence. But crossing such a road from the other side - quite an adventure. You don't see what's around the corner on the left. Strong flow on the right. I.e. crossing in the direction as in the photo - fine, back - total clusterfuck. And the city hints: cross at your own risk, I won't be responsible for your death and won't put a crosswalk here, Russian tourist.
In the park trees grow that are stuck literally everywhere in this area of Europe
Evening Karlsruhe
Renovation - usually by adding on, looks like we'll never have it like this
Conclusion about Karlsruhe - here you can calmly sit in retirement and die, quietly, cleanly and students at hand
