Hamburg is such a beautiful city. It surprised us because we were expecting a prosperous port city. The affluence of the city is reflected in the architecture, in the lifestyle, and in the cost of living.
Directly opposite the Le Royal Meridien Hotel at An der Alster (where we stayed) is the Ausenalster. Walking along the banks of the lake, soaking in the warmth of the evening sun, listening to the water lapping the shore, and watching joggers and cyclists flying past helped us unwind for the weekend.
There are a lot of pavement cafes in Hamburg, particularly in the area near Ausenalster. In the morning, people gather for coffee and a chat, in the evening, a younger crowd take up the seats for a drink and a chat. I observed that people were still talking to each other rather than sitting together but checking mobile phones separately.
This is a relaxed hotel, without the stuffiness of a grand entrance or statement flower arrangement in the foyer. We could not get a room with a lake view but were given a suite which was roomy enough; it had all the mod cons except enough power sockets. From the 9th floor Le Ciel restaurant where we took our breakfast, there is a fabulous view of the lake - that really lifted the spirit!
We were on our way to Miniatur Wunderland, and after getting off the U3 at Baumwall, we walked along the Binnenhafen to the soothing sound of water on a hot summer day (about 25C). It was a weekday, and it was rather quiet in the area; no hustle or bustle so making the walk very pleasant indeed.
This is a cute three-wheeled cycle, powered by human. This one is attractively painted in green to convey the eco-friendly nature of the transport. It's actually a clever design, providing some shelter to the driver and the passengers at the same allowing for advertisement to generate some revenue.
Among the German cities that I had visited, there are comparatively speaking a lot more Smart cars in Hamburg. Then along came this boxy ugly American car with Babylon emblazoned on the body. Admittedly it turned some heads, but what was the fuss all about?
We stuck pretty much to the U3 line (the yellow line), but the public transport system in Hamburg - the HVV - is extensive, with integrated S-bahn, U-bahn and Regional Rail. Once, we got off at the Jungfernstieg underground and when I saw the circles on the tiles, I just like it. It's a simple colour scheme, but the clean lines and the choice of colours make the design attractive.
We stopped by for lunch at the Sea Food Bar at the Alsterhaus department store. The lobster salad was superb and the service attentive. Whereas a lot of locals prefer to sit outside enjoying the sun, the heat effectively drove me indoors. This is what I would describe an upmarket department store, selling simple day-to-day hats with a price tag of €300.
All over Europe in major cities, there are bound to be artists dressed as mute and silent figures, even in the searing heat, to attract donation. Hamburg is no exception. This team of 8 sat there and every time someone threw a coin or two, the whole lot would rattle their can to say thank you. Rather fetching.
The Binnenalster is a beautiful spot. Here you can feed the swans and the ducks, watch activities on the lake, sit under the trees and while away a couple of hours. It was here that I saw four Japanese girls holding their embroidered umbrellas to protect them from the sun.
I was struck by the number of streams, rivers and canals in Hamburg. Statistically speaking, it has more bridges than Amsterdam, Venice and London put together. These waterways, natural or man-made, and most of them clean, add a touch of class to the city.
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| Dusk at Ausenalter, Hamburg |
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| Pavement cafe culture, Hamburg |
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| Le Royal Meridien, Hamburg |
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| Boats along Binnenhafen |
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| Tourist capsule transport, Town Square, Hamburg |
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| Some American boxy car |
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| Jungfernstieg underground station, Hamburg |
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| Sea Food Bar, Alsterhaus department store |
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| Pavement human statues, Hamburg |
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| Binnenalster, Hamburg |
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| Canal linking Binnenhafen to the Jungfernstieg area |
