It's
easy to see why the youthful Beatles fell in love with the Free
and Hanseatic State of Hamburg. Germany's second largest city
boasts a magnificent harbour right in its city centre and has
more in common with canal cities like Amsterdam or Venice; locals
will proudly point out that their city has more bridges than
Venice.
But, unlike
its maritime counterparts, Hamburg remains a hard-working port
that is among Europe's busiest. Add to this the independence
of a city that has been invaded only once in its history, by
the world-conquering Napoleon no less, and you'll be inspired
to serenade the city as the Fab Four did with 'Sie Liebt Dich'
('She Loves You').