Hamburg over New Year's weekend

Sometimes it is great to just "go for it"! Shoko, our friend from German lessons a few years ago, now lives in Hamburg, Germany. She asked if I would come visit over New Year's weekend. I waffled and thought about it until all the cheap plane tickets were gone, and then said, "Yes! I want to get a complete change of scenery after the end-of-the-year work deadlines." Right decision!

Hamburg is up in the north of Germany, known for business and shopping. Shoko loves it there. She's been studying German and piano.

I caught her unawares, practicing Chopin

She played for me, and she is amazing.

On New Year's Eve, Shoko had gotten us tickets to see and hear Beethoven's Ninth at the beautiful Brahms Hall. The organ behind the stage was something to see!

I made a short video of the performance, with sound. I hope it plays when you click here.

In the evening, we had dinner by the Elbe River. At midnight, all the boats that were cruising up and down blew their horns, and a gazillion fireworks went up from all over. There were so many people sending up fireworks at the river's edge that the smoke was like fog. Wait! The fog fell just at midnight! I don't know whether the smoke precipitated it or what, but it was pea soup by the time we were heading home.

Fireworks burst behind a transfer of a bag of fireworks to a new owner.

Remnants of the celebrations, the next day.

Lots of expensive fireworks. Watch your step!

On New Year's Day, we took a walking tour. The nice thing about a walking tour on New Year's Day, is that it is a VERY small tour group! We started at the Rathaus - City Hall. The Police Band and the mayor were there, with some folks in costume.

In the 1890s, this was a windowless slum. Cholera wiped out Hamburg - because they let such places exist.

Who built this building? A shipping magnate, of course!

A reminder of war - a ruined church and a lone boy.

Hamburg has lots of interesting history - especially if you're from Bergen. Hanseatic League? It's still alive here. Hansa beer? The word "Hansa" is common.

The tour ended with a pirate story (beheaded pirate saves his men by running headless past them, until the executioner tripped him!) Then Shoko and I went to Miniatur Wunderland, an absolutely amazing model railway. We started in America, progressed through Hamburg to the rest of Germany, up to Scandinavia, over to the Alps, watched a huge complicated airport run, and all the time, firemen were racing to burning buildings, night and day were cycling, and, and, and! Here's a link to their site, and a few of my pictures.

Here's the Sounder train, but how did it get to the American Southwest from Seattle?

Shuttle takes off - no worries about that tornado!

How many alarms WAS this fire? So many trucks.

The big game is on

Surprises are everywhere

Monday, my last day there, Shoko and I went boot shopping. It's a great place to shop. I found lots of choices of boots in my size, and so did she. My feet are too big in Norway, and Shoko normally buys in the children's section. Success!