Day 3: Cologne to Hamburg

Wednesday, July 14 : Köln to Hamburg

Got an early start for a long drive north to Hamburg. Weather again cool and gray. Along the road we saw lots of windmills (huge modern generators with 3-bladed propellers), barley fields, and industry. Heavy industry around Hanover such as Ford, Bayer, Continental. Five hour drive then dropped in the altstadte (old city center, literally "old city") for free afternoon. Ate a quick lunch at the nearby market, then called Andy's friend Jörg (pronounced "yerg"), who had been an exchange student at Hoover High, and arranged to meet him later in the afternoon at the train station. Walked through City Hall, along the river, and bought Katie an appropriate shirt. The street art exhibit, patterned after Chicago's cows, consisted of decorated fiberglass statues of a boy shouldering a yoke with two water pails. Hans Hummel, apparently, from some legend. We met Jörg, who suggested we take a river tour. Hamburg has more bridges than any other city in the world, and their mass transit system includes river boats. We bought a day-pass for 5 (which would never be checked!), took a train to the pier then a boat up the river and back again. In the rain. Saw shipping yards, dry dock, rich homes. Took train back to the main station then rode to the roof of the nearby sporting goods store, which features a track for testing in-line skates plus a nice view of the city. By this time our tour group had already gone to the hotel. Andy had told Jörg in advance where we were staying, and he had printed transit schedules we could follow to get to the hotel on our own! We rode the train to a bus station but missed the bus by a couple minutes. Said farewell to Jörg, then hopped in a taxi for the trip to the hotel. Another boring American buffet for dinner. Good Rhine wine however.

Back to Index