BALTIC BLOG 05
Tuesday June 19, 2012
Today we got to do a couple of things we haven’t done up until now on this trip. We got to speed along Germany’s fast, free-flowing Autobahn … we got to eat lunch in a basement … and we got to stroll the worn cobbled streets of a 700-year-old medieval town.
Our tour started when we went ashore in the university-centre-cum-naval-base of Kiel, at the northern end of the world’s busiest artificial waterway (the famous Kiel Canal – or, as it’s known in German, the Nordostee-Kanal). The town serves as gateway to Hamburg on the Elbe River –Germany’s greenest city and one of Europe’s biggest ports. And a short drive gave us close-up views of St Michael’s baroque church, the St. Pauli District, the Speicherstadt warehouse quarter, Alster Lake, and more.
Then, following an oversized underground German lunch in the basement of Hamburg’s City Hall, we drove to picture-perfect Luneburg (made famous in the Middle Ages by its salt industry) – where we wandered the fairytale alleyways, ogled the ancient stately homes with their ornate facades, and soaked up the ambience. This place is one of North Germany’s best-kept secrets, and we all want to come back, stay an extra day, and hitch a ride on a horse-&-carriage …
TOMORROW:
We’ve got a busy day and a string of appointments in one of Europe’s most fascinating, ever-changing capitals – Berlin. (By the way, I’m still not quite sure what “Free and Hanseatic” refers to. Might have to wait until we come back to this part of the world – or until I get time to Google it?)
Yours bloggedly – JOHN
P.S. If you want to leave a message for someone in our group, just click on the little speech bubble at the top of this page, and add your ‘COMMENTS’! Make sure you say who it’s for and who it’s from – and keep it brief.
To the Covacichs, sounds like the most amazing cruise so far! Keep having fun and think of us from time to time. Hope the camera is working over time and the wallet is holding up to the challenge. Love you lots, Tracey, Steve and James xxx
Ma and Pa Osbaldiston
Where are you in the photos? Are you there? Ha ha
How did you enjoy speeding along the motorway in Germany at 150mile per hour. It is amazing they have no speed limit. Imagine what it would be like in NZ if we had that? Feeling back to normal. Working hard getting ready for financial year. New role going good as using my brain again.
Manu (pet) lives to see another day. Vet gave her a steriod injection she bounced back to eating non stop again…but it is just a wating game until the tumour gets too large.
No netball this weekend – finally get to watch and All Black game. Getting fitter as played half game GD and then swapped with the other defence girl.
Going on a boat cruise up the Swan river to vineyard for lunch (new work teams day out)
I remember going to some of the places in the photos – especially that big piazza with all the colourful buildings.
Love from Erin
Joan
Very envious of what you are seeing. Keep that camera going with photos. Want to see them on your return. Did you say you were staying a few days and not just overnight!!!
Love Bev and Clare