City Hall with Lake Maschsee in the City Center, Hannover.

Germany: a great country brimming with great cities.

Picturesque Munich comes even more alive during Oktoberfest, while the rich bloodlines of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche pulse through the veins of legendary Stuttgart. And, of course, historic Berlin dazzles as the "Manhattan" of its mother country. And in addition to these powerhouse metropoli, the centrally located city of Hannover stands out with a unique combination of vibrant public gardens, to-die-for shopping centers and world-class convention facilities, all flavored by a hip, university-town attitude.

Now, to the German neophyte (such as I was at the commencement of my visit), Hannover is a terrific place to land. With a population of more than half a million, the centrally located city hosted the 2000 World Exposition, and plays host to several other conventions of worldwide significance, including the Marksmen's fair, the industrial Hannover Fair and CeBIT, the world's largest computer fair.

Perhaps more important to the souvenir hunter, however, is Hannover's bragging rights to the largest all-pedestrian shopping area in Germany, with hundreds of shops, cafes and department stores along the famous Georgestrasse and surrounding walkstreets in historic Old Town. Not a bad place to base oneself (we could recommend Hotel Kaiserhoff, directly across from the Central rail station - www.centralhotel.de).

Venturing about Hannover will find you many a treasure, including a variety of art and historical museums as well as some truly splendid public recreational areas. Bring comfy shoes, though, so you can take a guided tour along a 4.2-km painted stripe called "The Red Thread," which winds along the pavement around the downtown area, taking you to 36 points of interest. It's a great activity for your first morning in Hannover.

Now, the only way to make a beautiful afternoon in Hannover even more beautiful is to spend it savoring the sights and smells of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen. (CONTINUE...)