The Ratswaage is not so far from the Train Station. I actually walked pulling my luggage in tow, and felt that I had made the healthy choice for a change. (Who am I kidding? Some of the taxi drivers are not so interested in picking-up such a brief fare. So, after my casual rejection at this notion of traveling by cab a few short blocks, I had little choice but to walk...)

The walk was interesting enough, with a well-spoken gentleman from Magdeburg explaining the history of the area and the differences in architecture that we were seeing along the way to the hotel. Some of the buildings were a bit Stalinesque, and I learned that the price of downtown apartments had risen quite a bit due to the German unification over a decade ago. Having arrived straightway from Berlin, I noticed immediately the less crowded streets, and the feeling that I was quite safe in visiting Magdeburg, and in walking about by day. My host mentioned that the unemployment rate was not low, and that many younger persons had left Magdeburg for the cities farther to the west around 15 years previously, searching for bright futures and to explore a world which they had been cut-off from for so many years.

In front of the hotel is a monument to science, in praise of the noteworthy discovery of the vacumn. This vacumn concept was proven by Otto Von Guericke, and was demonstrated by several teams of horses being unable to pull two hemispheres apart, after having firstly removed from them all air. Well. I think that the monument is quite interesting and impressive, and I enjoyed seeing it everyday as I walked into and out of the Hotel Ratswaage. There are also other notable historical statues and buildings nearby the hotel, and all are within comfortable walking distance of one's room. I enjoyed walking along the river, and visiting a cathedral. The University of Magdeburg is not far by foot, nor is the Opera/Concert House where I saw the ballet - Don Quixote. It was outstanding and beautifully performed.

The swimming pool on the ground level is inside the hotel of course, and it is comfortably heated. There is a sauna, and one should be prepared to accept nude or merely towel-clad persons emerging from said sauna - enough said. Apparently swimsuits are optional. The tradition of FKK is alive and well in Eastern Germany and it provides one with a cultural experience, even if this is not one's own personal tradition.

The room itself was pretty, with several large windows to let in the air and light. I believe there was a burgundy floral pattern to the drapes and bedcoverings. The furnitue included a cherry toned desk which I used daily, and a very nice plush cushiony chair with side table and standing reading lamp. As I enjoy hearing the German language and taking-in some of the popular culture through the mass media, I watched a few television programs and the set was a nice quality larger screen color television. Hey! The remote worked and didn't need new batteries.

The front-desk workers were not each and every one, fluent in English. This was different than the case when I stayed in Berlin, and so I looked at this as an opportunity to use a bit of the German language. This would then be my advice to anyone staying in the former Eastern part of Germany. Try to learn at least a bit of travel German before departure, and don't always rely on others to speak English everywhere you go. In this part of Germany, schools were of course teaching Russian language along with German, far more often than they were teaching English language. I didn't in any way see this lack of English by some staff members as a negative, or as a lack of hospitality. This hotel is located in Germany after-all. When I asked for an extra pillow it was graciously provided to me. Amazing how that works. Speak in German and you will get whatever it is that you need.

The lobby opens to a seating area to the right as you enter and there is one computer available to guests for a fee, with Internet access. To the left is a restaurant, where I enjoyed a plentiful breakfast buffet daily. I also remained at the hotel one evening for dinner and was not disappointed by my meal. Try a lemonade beer sometime. If you've never had one, you'll probably be pleasantly surprized.

I found an Internet cafe down the street which was clean and fun. If you need it, turn to your left after leaving the hotel on the main street which the hotel is facing, and walk about 7 blocks. It will be in a galleria on the right. I just asked people to point it out, when I knew I was getting close to where I had seen it on the map. They were happy to direct me. The tourism office in Magdeburg is also happy to provide maps of the city to travelers. They will mark the locations of such things as museums and Internet cafes for you, in relation to the hotel if you simply ask for them to do so.

All-in-all, The Hotel Ratswaage exceeded my expectations. It is really not so expensive, and the location is excellent. There are services such as hairstyling to pamper, and other amenity which I did not have the time to enjoy. I would have stayed longer if I had been able to do it! I was able to partake of some of the first white Asparagus (spargel) of the season in a restaurant about four blocks from the hotel, and it is not to be missed!

The streets nearby the hotel are spotlessly clean, with many small shops to appeal to those who still appreciate simple charm. The people of Magdeburg were friendly and the university people whom I met were especially kind and wonderful. I met some students from the US who were studying there, and they loved it!

Definitely give this hotel a try, and also - give Magdeburg a visit.