Today was another beautiful sunny warm day perfect for more walking. We had a later start this morning thanks to my needing to fight with our hotel internet connect to finish my posting from yesterday. When we first arrived at the airport in Frankfurt I got a local SIM card for my cell phone. This has been very very handy to help get directions to places and get other information. I have the Google Translate app which has been very handy to help me translate words I don’t know when my walking dictionary, aka Mum, gives out. I’m actually surprised how much my German is actually still there. It got a good workout visiting our friends last week and helped it surface a lot faster. I can still participate in conversations and make myself understood. Not bad for living near Stuttgart for three months when I was 16 then not using it since (I’m not going to admit how many years have passed since then!).
Our first stop this morning was the Rathaus which is both city hall and state (Land) legislature as Hamburg has been a self-governing city since about 1100. Unfortunately we weren’t able to take a tour or see much as they were in session. They actually have both Land and Federal elections coming up in September for which there is political advertising all over the place. Every tree seems to have a sign tied to it. It’s fun trying to make out the slogans – almost impossible with so much slang and double entendre. They even have a Pirate party!
The Rathaus
The inside of the Rathaus
Our goal for today was to complete the 8+ km loop around both the Binnenalster and the Außeralster (which translate as inner alster and outer alster). These are two small lakes which lie entirely within the centre of the city and were the original source of drinking water. They are very lovely and on a weekend afternoon the Außeralster (the bigger of the two) is full of small sailing boats.
The Binnenalster with it’s big fountain.
The Außeralster with sailing boats
Locks on the bridge at the end of the Außeralster. Couples enscribe their names on the lock and put it here.
As we trudged along we saw so many people enjoying the water and the area around it. Many many runners (some serious folks who lapped us a couple of times!), cyclists and obvious first time canoers on the water. Of course the houses around the lake are very fancy and beyond unaffordable. Think Rosedale with a waterfront view.
Needless to say our feet and legs have taken yet another serious beating tonight and so we will try and give them a break this evening. Our first effort in this direction was choosing a restaurant just outside our hotel and enjoying more local food.
Labskaus – traditional Hamburger dish of minced salted beef mixed with minced salted fish and pickled beets topped with fried egg (Mum had this!)
Schnitzel with mushroom sauce (salad not shown!)
Tonight we are going to relax and let our feet have a break so they are ready to go for tomorrow when they are up for more walking!