On, on to Hamburg!

After walking up Copenhagen Station platform several times, we finally boarded our train to Hamburg- first class- hard leather but very comfortable seats and only 23DKK for the upgrade (only a couple of dollars). A couple of hours down the track, the biggest surprise was awaiting us. The WHOLE train drove onto a FERRY with trucks and cars as well and sailed across the sea between Denmark and Germany where we landed at Puttgarten. There were shops which used to be duty-free shops and are now just shops with very cheap prices! A CARTON of Rekorderlig Cider for 13.42 euro! I was soooo tempted but was reminded how would we keep it cold without a fridge.  The voyage was 45 minutes! I met a Dutchman who has just bought a house in Sweden. It's very easy to migrate within with European Community apparently. He spoke 8 languages and has travelled to many places and loves Sweden the best! 


Finally arrived at Hamburg Hbf and wombled our way to the Hotel Terminus. Climbed the stairs only to be told we had to go 50 metres down the road to the Hotel Lumen which was in fact, 3 star, so we had been upgraded! Unloaded all our bags and headed off for a peaceful row on the lake. Wombled miles ( well it seemed like it) to find the place where you rent the row-boats only to be told we could only have paddle boats! I had already told Stacey I wouldn't/couldn't row and the same thing applied to the paddling. I was happy enough to sit in the back and let Elizabeth and Stacey pedal. Well not for long- my knees seized up and my body froze- and my stomach was screaming "Feed me!" But I knew I couldn't pedal; my knees could not take that sort of abuse. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, as they say. Finally found a little eating/drinking place ( not quite a bar or a cafe) but managed to have a Corona and share a slice of quiche with Stacey, while Elizabeth and Lorelle opted for cafe latte. And now for the trip back against the wind! I really didn't think we were going to make it and kept uttering encouraging words to Stacey and Elizabeth who I think were beyond hearing. "You're doing well, Kiryn and Lorelle are still following the same distance behind." And they didn't have an extra 100kgs to carry! ( I think I must be at least 100kgs now! Been eating and drinking far too much!( after finishing off another bottle of champagne!) The waves were breaking over us, we seemed to be gaining ground very slowly, and Stacey and Elizabeth were both struggling to keep going. We were also racing the clock as were were supposed to be back by 6pm when he closed up shop. Quite astonishingly, we made it back to port one minute late- while everyone legs were jelly and they were hot from pedalling, my legs were completely stiff and I was frozen to the bone! I don't think I have ever been quite this cold! Although I am sure I will be colder by the end of this trip.

Beginning of the trip

Lorelle and Kiryn make it look easy

We're going under that bridge

Stacey still on the outward trip

Elizabeth still happy...too rough on the way back to take photos!

I started walking, well, wombling, back to our hotel when Stacey suggested she will go back to the hotel to pick up Keeley and the rest of us walk to the restaurant that her friend has recommended. "It's not far!" I am never believing that again! Anything more than a block is too far! And I lost count of the blocks, but eventually, amazingly Kiryn found it! And it was AMAZING! It was called the Groninger Brauhaus- I think. It was a boutique brewery and a restaurant combined in a stone cellar! Missy and Martin met us outside ( they heard the English and thought we must be Stacey's family) and ushered us in just as Stacey arrived ( by taxi!)


We let Missy order for us and she did very well! She ordered the biggest platter I have ever seen filled with sliced roast pork, sausages, whole pork roasts with crackling, mashed potatoes and cabbage soaked in something delicious. Martin ordered a keg of beer! I kid you not! I think it was 10 litres and we pretty much drank the lot even though all of us except Stacey are not normally beer drinkers. The beer was completely different to Australian beer and really hit the spot after our long walk. We managed to stay awake until after 9 ( quite an achievement!) and then caught a cab home, leaving Stacey to party on with her friends.


I was dog tired but managed to stay awake for a few minutes before falling into s dreamless sleep and slept till after 7 am. Woke up to an amazing breakfast of yoghurt and fruit salad, followed by scrambled eggs, cheese, sausage, on rye toast and juice and coffee. Elizabeth, Stacey, Keeley and I all decided we needed clean clothes so set out to find the laundry. Left and left again-not! We eventually found it, left and straight- but had had enough walking by this, we decided to cab it to Miniatur Wunderland, which was the only reason I wanted to visit Hamburg! Am I glad we did! It was raining and definitely too far to walk! 

Pics from Miniatur Wunderland- much better in real life.

Las Vegas by day

Hamburg Storehouses

Las Vegas at night

We didn't have to line up but there was a crowd inside marvelling at the attention to detail the creators had put into the construction. Very hard to describe, not exactly a model train set, in fact, in some dioramas there was so much going on, I didn't even notice a train! The Swiss Alps, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hamburg city and airport, Scandinavian villages, a mine, a cave, a fairground, all fascinated me. Loved the way day turned into night and day again! Can highly recommend it to anyone visiting Hamburg! I could have stayed all day but alas, my feet were on fire and we wanted to catch the 12 noon harbour cruise which was the only one in English. Racing against the clock, we cabbed it to the jetty,and ran-yes ran-slipping and sliding on the wet deck, and jumped onto the boat as it was pulling out from the wharf! Flopped down into a chair completely out of breath, but great to know I can still run if pushed. Made me decide I am going back to gym as soon as I get home. I am soooo unfit.


We cruised the harbour marvelling at the size and number of ships at anchor, but soon suffered from information overload. All so big, hard to take it all in, but Hamburg has been a main trading port for hundreds of years, and now is the second largest port in Europe- Rotterdam takes the honours. It was pouring rain so didn't attempt to take any photos but Stacey took some good ones which I will borrow when she uploads them. I think it may also be the second largest shipbuilder; St Nazaire is the largest. I think Nantes might have been up there in the 1800s as well.


Cabbed it back to our hotel dropping off Stacey and Keeley near the Rathaus. I wanted to see it too but my feet were protesting too much. Bloody feet! After a couple of hours rest, we gathered enough energy to pick up our clean laundry, and collapse back on the bed. Hunger overtook tiredness, and we had to get up to search for food. Very fortunately as it was still pouring rain, we found a little kebab shop a few doors down, and ordered by the pictures. We both had a feed for less than 4 euro and ordered another one for Keeley who was too tired to venture out. On our way back, Elizabeth spied an ice-cream shop and bought double cones for all of us- 1.80 euro each- so we are now all replete and ready for bed! Till tomorrow.....