Wednesday, January 5, 2011

FROM THE BANK - Day 5

Euro Trip 2010/2011 - Day 5 - Hamburg

Wednesday December 22nd 2010




My main plan for the day was meeting my friend Anemone at the train station then she would tour around with me. Unfortunately she lives in Oldenburg and her ride here, to Hamburg, pulled out at the last minute.
Rathaus (Town Hall)
And Christmas Market in front.
Pretty much the tour metting place.


Rathaus

I went through all of the pamphlets the hostel had and was quickly able to plan out a day for myself.

I started out with the Free Tour, which was highly recommended by David and Michael when I was in Amsterdam.

At the meeting spot I found much more than just our guide, Peggy. After three hours of learning as much about Hamburg as could and all freezing in the ever present slush and wind, I found some friends. As corny as it is, I’d say it’s true.


Altstadt (old town, pretty much
downtown)

A quick spiel on Hamburg: Hamburg is the richest city in Germany. Way back in the day, so far back it was centuries ago, Hamburg was set up to make money. Having the #2 port in Europe (second to Rotterdam) and being tax free for, I think about, 400 years (I’m not 100% sure on the 400 part, but I’m pretty close) this immense wealth is believable. Not wanting to tarnish their reputation and slow business, when cholera arrived, the city said nothing. Soon enough it ravaged the town, killing thousands and thousands of people. Unfortunately for Hamburg, the spalls of bad times did not stop there. A huge fire destroyed 45 percent of the city, killing even more people and leaving tons homeless. Sorry for not being able to put some real numbers in there, but after hearing so many in one day, you would probably end up misinformed. Continuing on, then of course the bombing by the Allies during the Second World War destroyed the city even more. Although they would target certain buildings, like the St. Nikolai Church (it was pretty much destroyed, except for the tower), many residential areas around those landmarks perished as well and were claimed as revenge for the Holocaust.

more Altstadt,
and it is about 11am,
and very overcast..

St. Peter's Church
Some time in history when the British arrived, they brought Hamburg something they were much in need of: entertainment. Now a days, Hamburg is much more than old buildings (some whole, some not quite so whole) and number crunchers sitting in buildings by the thousands (we have machines for that now). Hamburg now has an extensive array of culture from the arts to nightlife to even a Red Light District of their own (if I understood Peggy correctly).


Impressive organ in St. Peter's
Chruch. So impressive that
Bach was to play it,
but apparently he had to
pay the church to play it,
instead of the other way around.
needless to say, it is known as
 the Organ Bach Did Not Play


 
By the end of the tour we all were nice and chilly and needed some warming up, so we headed to the winter market for a nice cup of gluweine (hot and spiced red wine) which we were so lucky to enjoy indoors. All enjoying the other’s company and the wide array of English’s that we spoke (Canadian, American, Australian, New Zealand and two kinds of actual English) we made plans for the evening.

I split off in hopes of making my way to the Beatles Museum or the Miniature Wonderland. I had to stop by the hostel and assemble myself, as well as get myself some direction. I found that the Miniature Wonderland was going to close too soon, but I still had hopes of making it to the Beatles-Mania Museum.


Chilehaus
Office building designed to look
like a boat.
Ya see it?

If you are wondering why on Earth there is a Beatles museum (by the way I am talking about the band, not the insect) in Hamburg, I will tell you. Way back before they made it big, like real big, the Beatles played a lot of shows in Hamburg. Sadly after one too many incidents involving setting hotel rooms on fire, they were banned from the city. However, Hamburg is very proud of how they were the start of the Beatles.


St. Nikolai

It was just my luck that my S-Bahn did not stop at the station I needed and thus I did not make the final ticket sale time. I can honestly say that I didn’t even go and try and sweet talk my way in. I kind of feel like I should have. I really wanted to see the museum that looks like a Yellow Submarine. But I was afraid of being late for our supper. 
Really old Hamburg





Hamburg has three kinds of public transport: the bus, the S-Bahn and the U-Bahn. Apparently the S-Bahn and U-Bahn are different because the U-Bahn is underground. Who ever told me this has no idea what they are talking about. They both go above and underground. Either way you’ll get there, so I really don’t think it matters.
  
Tilting Hamburg


 

We all met at one of the hostels in the lobby then set out wandering until we found something. It wasn’t that we all disagreed, just nobody really cared what we ate. You gotta love indecision, or not. We ended up going for Chinese food. Nobody could read the menu, which was in Chinese (of some sort) and German. We just went by the pictures and hoped for the best. Each ordering a dish we made a delicious smorgasbord that oddly had three curry dishes. Delicious.

We wandered from place to place along the Reeperbahn until we were too tired and cold to walk anymore. It was an excellent time, probably the best I’ve had on this trip.



Hamburg the harbour city


4 comments:

  1. man, your parents should make it!
    i will gladly help.
    it is sooooooo gooooooood.
    mmmmmhmmmmm

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think we have stuff to make it, so I would gladly accept your help :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. i know you have the stuff.
    ive seen your basement :P

    ReplyDelete