Post #123 8 March 2017

Gentlefolk,

This post describes our visit to Hamburg, Germany, 14 -17 August 2016.

The main reason for visiting Hamburg was to see Mechthild (Matilda) Hirthe who taught German at our university. We became good friends and we wanted to see her again.

Matilda was an interesting person. She was born in East Prussia just after the War and the family fled to southern Germany where she grew up.  She went to Hamburg to study, worked as a teacher, married and had a family.  In her late 40s she got an urge to travel. Her husband wanted to stay put, so they divorced and Matilda got a teaching job in Seoul, South Korea. She spent ten years there, learnt the language and customs. Then she moved to China and worked in different places; we met in Qingdao when she worked at our university (that was to be her last job - she has now officially retired).

Matilda was full of energy and fun. She loved music and dancing and on many Friday and Saturday nights she could be found in Knuckles Bar (about 2 km from the campus), having a beer and dancing along to the Filipino band.

She was my age (70) and, despite needing a walking stick, still very active. The day after we left Hamburg she was off to Turkey for a month, not to sit in some seaside resort but travelling around the country. What a girl!

Here are photos of some of the things we did during our visit to Hamburg.

The ICE fast train from Berlin to Hamburg took just 2 hours, Hamburg is known for its harbour and trade, and we were surprised to learn that it is actually situated about 100 km from the North Sea, up the big Elbe River,

We stayed at the Meininger Hotel at Hamburg-Altona, about 10 km from the city center, because Matilda lived in that area.  Good train and bus services. 

On our first afternoon Matilda showed us around the old warehouse area along the river. True to its reputation, the weather in Hamburg was variable, and quite cool for mid-summer.

We had coffee & cake in this cafe, situated in a refurbished warehouse,

Inside the cafe, Matilda and Vera deciding what to order.  The coffee was excellent, and the cakes delicious, No wonder this place is so popular with the locals. We returned a couple of times,

Later the sun came out and it was more pleasant. It was Sunday afternoon and we came across a dance club holding a dance in  a public square - of course we had to stop and join in!

Matilda insisted taht we visit "Miniatur Wunderland" and we were so glad we did.  It was probably the world's biggest display of miniature railway - truly amazing. 

Miniature trains were running in all directions,

There were also scenes of towns and villages, even an airport with planes taking off and landing,

The main control room was full of computers.

Hamburg is a "water city" and of course we did a ferry tour along the Elbe River.

A view of the impressive new Arts Center on the banks of the river.

Hamburg has a huge port and trades with the world. This Chinese container ship was just leaving, helped along the way by tug boats.

I turned 70 on 15 August 2016; we celebrated with dinner on a converted "Feuer Schiff" which had served like a mobile lighthouse, helping ships navigate the mouth of the Elbe River. We drank local "red beer".

A view of the dining area on the converted "Feuer Schiff".  Below, the engine room is now used as a music venue.  After dinner we went downstairs and enjoyed a couple of hours of jazz. Very crowded, but great fun. A memorable night,

Herrings are a popular local dish in Hamburg - delicious!

1907-11 a tunnel was built under the Elbe River, to facilitate the movement of workers from one side to the other. 

We walked the tunnel - it is also accessible by bikes and cars.

Famous St Michael's Church. A lift goes to the viewing platform above the clock. Great views of the city (see below).

The alter of the magnificent St Michael's Church (known locally as St Michel). 

View from St Michael's looking up the river.

View from St Michael's looking down the river.

Some of the lovely old houses near St Michael's Church - most of the city was destroyed during the War, and some has been rebuilt in the old style.

Hamburg has two attractive lakes adjacent to the City Center, the Binnen Alster and the Ausser Alster. Sailing is popular on the Ausser Alster (photo above).

We were lucky on two counts: having a local guide and with the weather - it was cool and windy, but the rain stayed away.

Of course we had to see the infamous Reeperbahn Red Light district of Hamburg.  Matilda took us there one night. Lots of "working girls" and strip clubs, but they could see that we weren't buying so left us alone.  We had a look at the bar where the Beatles performed back in the mid-60s.

On 18 August we  said goodbye to Matilda (she was off to Turkey the following day), and caught the train to Montabaur near Bonn to see other old friends.  The next post will cover that visit.

...

Best wishes, stay well and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
Canberra, Australia
Wednesday 8 March 2017

(We arrived back in Canberra yesterday after our 3 week trip up north. Great news this morning - Caroline and Andrew have a baby girl.  We'll go visit them in Hong Kong shortly to see our new grand daughter - can't wait!)