There is an unfortunate tendency to group German cities into a homogenous whole that is wholly unwarranted. Having just returned from a Berlin jaunt followed by a Frankfurt foray the case could hardly be clearer. On the one hand there's Berlin, centre of Teutonic counter-culture, with its seemingly endless supply of retail novelty and innovation. And then there's Frankfurt the mittel-Europ home of bland.
Bankers may like it, but it's got almost nothing for the visitor other than, perhaps, a startlingly large (and vulgar) sculpture of the Euro in a very unsettling yellow - slap-bang in the centre of the city. In fact, even those living in the city will admit, in their weaker moments, that this is the epicentre of boredom. There's the Kaufhof, tick. There's the H&M, tick. And oh yes, there's the boarded-up Hollister waiting to open. Excuse me while I head off for an overpriced coffee and cake - little reason to do much else.
Berlin is so utterly different, with something worth considering at every turn. I've attached a couple of pics, but even a really extensive gallery really wouldn't do the place justice. Time perhaps for a reassessment of German cities and their retail. Many of them are like Frankfurt, but not all. Think Bremen, Hamburg, Munich and perhaps Köln if you're stuck for ideas. Failing that, just go to Berlin.
And the pics are of the Nike SB pop-up store (it'll be gone by Nov 10) and the Michalsky Gallery, if you're flash and made of cash.
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