I love Hamburg! |
Friday: We had a picnic feast on the train, checked in to our hotel just before midnight, and then took a walk around the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, it started to pour rain, so we went back to the hotel for the night.
The Harbour |
Along the Reeperbahn (Cord-makers´Street |
Europe´s Second-largest Harbou |
For dinner, we went to Jimmy Elsass, an out-of-the-way restaurant well worth the trip. It had just the kind of candle-lit, intimate, bohemian atmosphere that I love. Our tarte flambée was scrumptious and gave us a boost of energy to head back to the Reeperbahn.
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
If you want to see all the tackiness of Las Vegas signage and all the open lewdness of Amsterdam at the same time, go to the Reeperbahn. Hoards of people from all walks of life (tourists, young and old, rich and not as rich, men, women, friends) were walking around, partaking in a variety of activities (there is more to the area than "exotic" clubs... you can also find karaoke bars, dance clubs, pubs, musical theatres, live music and a church). We snapped some pics and headed back to the hotel. We had an early start planned for Sunday...
The Reeperbahn by Night. Notice the crowds... |
Next, we went on a search for the Chilehaus, a building in the expressionist style I wanted to see. We had lunch at a French creperie alongside a canal, complete with French art on the walls, a French cook and French waiters.
The Chilehaus |
Yummy! |
Our last stop was at the Hamburger Kunsthalle, a gem of an art museum. We didn't have much time left, and the numberless rooms made finding some of what I wanted to see difficult, so we dedicated our time to seeing the Old Masters, 19th Century and Modern Classics wings, leaving the Contemporary Art Hall for another time. Highlights were a study sculpture for one of the Burgers of Calais figures by Rodin (the Burghers of Calais might be my favourite sculpture), Degas' At the Dressing Table and one of Munch's Girls on a Pier.
We picked up dinner in the enormous food court at the train station (everything about Hamburg is enormous, it seems), and hopped on the train back to Wiesbaden. Phew! A worthwhile whirlwind trip.
Bye, Hamburg! |
Love your writen commentary, you make the reader feel like they're walking those coble streets next to you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
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