Friday in Hamburg - 27th August 2004

Last night more Minden Roses arrived, and the expanded group were taken on a tour of Hamburg by Miriam. We went into the city by train.

And set out in the rain

Plenty of decorated seats of you don't mind a wet behind!

A second breakfast - the mandatory fischbrochen beside the harbour.

Next, a visit to the old Elbtunnel - designed to take horses and carts under the river. It's a tight squeeze for cars!

The tunnel is entered via a lift - can you imagine wood panelling like this in the 21st century?

And then back into the rain to climb to one of Hamburg's many churches: St Michael's

We climbed the tower - and got a grey view of the many spires across the city

Back in the church, there was a warm welcome

And the interior was far more ornate than we would expect of a "protestant" church

... including this impressive window

A short walk then to a historic alleyway, which includes a "shopkeepers' widow's house"

... with a restaurant at the end for "cafe und kuchen" (or apple strudel and hot chocolate in Rosie's case)

Back on the road - and over the bridges. Hamburg has more bridges than Venice, Amsterdam and Stockholm combined, and they each have a lot of bridges.

Sylvia needed some tuition in texting to find out if her son had got his new job!

Into the Rathaus courtyard - who needs a fountain when it's raining?

Then a quick shopping expedition with a good view back to the Rathaus and the market boats on the river.

And so, back to the train. For some, it's all too much!!

This evening the others arrived and we all met up again at Miriam's - sorry, no decent pictures!