eine Obdachloserin in Bremen

First day in the Old Town of Bremen. I rolled into the airport mid-afternoon and was on the tram across the street 5 minutes after my suitcase popped onto the lone luggage conveyor. We're talking 15 minutes on smooth rails through downtown to the Hauptbahnhof (central station) where all the trams meet.

Culture shock #1: Something is missing from this picture - can you see what isn't here in the heart of Bremen?

There are no cars to dodge at the airport - the road in front is for the tramway. There is no traffic downtown - many roads are pedestrian, bike and/or transit only. There are no cars to dodge at the main train station - only a few cabs and more trams.

And the bikes, everywhere the bikes. I can't focus the camera without one in the viewfinder.

I found the youth hostel easily - snuggled off the main routes but only 2 blocks from the main station, this is quiet, modern and clean. And luckily they could direct me to a nearby shop that sells camera batteries late on a Sunday evening - in English.

Wilkommen bei Bremen! It's going to be a challenge to learn German if everyone keeps switching to English!
First priority - finding a place to live. Otherwise I will be joining the Obdachloserin on a park bench.

The snail has arrived.