7/8 Hamburg

Tuesday 7^th Hamburg

We were awake and had our things together (except my Bahamas cap?) before the train rolled into Hamburg at 8am. We got (mis)directions from the Information desk but eventually located the road to our hotel. Pretty easy really. We suffered the same fate in Paris where the kind and lovely lady at the desk sent us off on the wrong train line.

In no time, we passed a sex shop. And then another. It seems to be a favourite pastime of the good burghers of Hamburg to pop down to the local porn cubicles to watch videos. And there were Lebanese shops and food markets everywhere. Numerous swarthy men shaving meat off those upright roasters with small electric hedge trimmers.

We were relieved to find that our hotel, sandwiched between 2 porn emporia, was not of the short stay variety – was rather nice actually. We dropped the bags and went wandering until 2pm when the room would be free.

J had an ambitious plan that took in most of Hamburg. I was force-marched through the large parks and gardens past some very attractive lakes that occupy the central city. We then swung round and headed for the waterfront. Hamburg is up the river Elb but the land is very flat and low lying in Northern Europe and the rivers and canals are navigable for some considerable distance inland. Hamburg is still a major shipbuilding centre and the river was lined with dry docks.

They have a really nice green belt with plenty of lakes, water features and gardens and lawns.  Also an enormous outdoor skate rink.  In summer for roller blades, in winter for ice skating.  Cool.

Bismarck.  This time looking very medieval.

Largest non nuclear submarine

I could write an interesting book on toilets around the world.  Not sure why they fascinate.  This one is in Reeperbahn and the 2 little boys are peeing in potties.  I would have liked to have seen it at night as it would look a little like a casino with the pee lights tracking their way into the potty.

I really like old architecture, shapes and added detail, real craftmanship.  I also like modern design that is outside the norm.  This tower bent and buckled in all directions depending on where you viewed it from.  Interesting.

I noticed that there was a Reeperbahn just next to the waterfront and wondered if it was the same place which, with the Amsterdam red light district, had been the centre of such scandal in the 70s. Yes it was. Much more glamorous these days – quite a tourist centre in fact. Several places claiming to have been where the Beatles played in the early 60s, strip clubs and casinos. Liberally dotted with more Lebanese shops selling kebabs and baklavas.

We have not had great difficulty resisting the temptations of the French, Spanish and Italian bakeries but there is something compelling about the ones in Germany. You need only to glance into one to be powerfully struck by the presentation of the food. And you know that it will be fresh and delicious. Our first surrender (before we even got out of the rail station) was to a pair of the crusty rolls stuffed with pickled herring (Rollmops) and raw onion that we had enjoyed in Kiel. Delicious, although not recommended as a prelude to a first date. We later capitulated to Lebanese bread with spinach and cheese and a coffee from maccas. And baklavas.

Hamburg was heavily bombed in WWII.  This church tower was left and now has an elevator in the tower which whisks you up for city views.  Remants of some church walls are amongst the trees at the base.

Sculpture made of books. Quite eyecatching.

Just one of the many churches.

These(above & below) are a series of characters along this building.  The one above has a dog sitting behind his legs.  They are close to life size.

Wooohooo.  These 2 are in front of the library.

We didn’t make it back to the hotel (Hamburg) until after 3.  Our room is on the top floor and is what can only be described as an attic room.  A good size and fresh and clean.  J’s side of the bed has the slanty ceiling and the only window which pretty much faces the sky.