Hildesheim has a population of 100,000. It is in the north Germany, 2 hours away from Berlin, and 30 minutes from Hanover.
I did not expect it to be any different from other German cities I saw. But I was in for a surprise. The hotel I stayed at is a 4-star one, with an impressive front yard, solid stone walls, and flying flags. It feels like a royal palace on the first look. Yet, I was taken back when the hotel staff told me the Internet account I paid can only run 13 hours until 9am the next morning. Shouldn’t Internet access to 24 hours? I was told that Vodafone, the only wireless provider for this hotel, charges another 39.99 Euros for daytime Internet access. I cannot believe my ears. In an age when we live and breathe on the Internet, how can such a backward scheme still exist?
From the streets, Hildesheim is a peaceful and charming town. Outside its train station is a plaza, where people sit outside cafés, or sit under a few big trees chatting. Many restaurants and stores are open around this plaza. Big city buses pass by frequently, unloading rushing passengers who walk fast into the train station. Just 1 block away from the plaza, you fill find a pedestrian street lined with stores of daily staff. There is a drug store (like Walgreen in US) selling everyday items, there is a Turkish grocery store, stacked with fresh vegetable and fruits. There is a leather-bag store, and a small electronic store. Most customers are local residents, which you can tell by their leisurely walk and greetings with the store clerk.
There are quite a few Internet café on the street. In the US you don’t see such things as most people have Internet access at home. I have seen such café in China, but I am surprised to see them in Germany. Does it indicate the lack of Internet access in German households? (Note: Just found this out on the Intenet, Germany has 60% Internet penetration rate, quite high in the Europe. Relatively, US holds about 70%)
But people are peaceful and happy here. The streets are quiet and safe. People are dressed well and fed well. Germany has an excellent social safety net, which means its people are safe from illness or old age. They need not to steal or rob to get money, and this makes the streets very safe.
