HAMBURG is always worth a visit by Klaus Metzger (funny books to read TXT) 📕

My first trip to Hamburg was held under very dramatic circumstances. As a little baby at the age of 3 months, I was in February 1945 with my mother alone on the adventurous flight from Gdansk - just before the city was captured by the Russians. With the warship TANGA (originally we were to be brought out with the Wilhelm Gustloff - but my mother got no more room on the ill-fated ship) we came up to Swinoujscie (in my travelogue " Świnoujście " I have reported) .

From Świnoujście my mother took me to the train in February 1945 further into the destroyed Hamburg (see the relevant section from the above travelogue).

The further course of the escape is quickly told ! After we left, my father was assigned to guard a submarine bunker in Hamburg. My mother got on the train a young woman from Hamburg- Barmbek know , had the accommodation for us. Alone my mother was looking for her husband in Hamburg. On the third day they found him . You could spend two days together again. Then my mother traveled with me to continue my father's parents , who lived in Brühl near Mannheim. My father came on 2 May 1945 near Lüneburg in English captivity. The transit camp was located on the river Elbe and on the other side he could see Russian soldiers who patrolled there. In early September 1945, he was released from captivity . He had acquired a black beard. When I saw him for the first time , should I be running away crying.

Our family (Bernd , Mother, Klaus , Father - from left) 1948

 

Many years later (in August 1964) I was back in Hamburg, to which, however, I had no recollection . This time I was almost 20 years old and alone on his way to Stralsund in the former GDR . I drove from Mannheim to Hamburg Train Station and got on the train to Stralsund to (in my travelogue " Stralsund " I have reported).

With the train I went via Hamburg to Stralsund. The trip went without special occurrences. Even the book " Hundejahre " by Gunter Grass I could smuggle my aunt Margot in the GDR. With the well-known author and Nobel Prize winner Günter Grass, there are interesting points of contact, which I mentioned elsewhere (see travelogue "Hannover") have written.
 

In addition, I want to share yet that I am on the way back (after 14 days) - the impressive neon signs have remained in my memory as succinct contrast to the visited Stralsund (in the GDR) - on arrival in Hamburg by night .

Professionally, I spent with my family in the years 1977 to 1980 a very nice time in the near Copenhagen (Denmark). As part of my work for Niro Atomizer A / S (an engineering firm for evaporation and Spray Dryers) I went often with my own car to customer visits to southern Germany . For this purpose, I used mostly the car train from Hamburg to Karlsruhe (in both directions). In my trip report "France" I reported it .

Travelling by car train was very pleasant. I have often used this way during my time in Denmark in both directions. On Saturday evening , the 24th June 1978 , the car train went from around 23 clock in Karlsruhe- Durlach and was on Sunday morning at 7 clock in Hamburg. So I had traveled a distance of 650 kilometers, " in his sleep " . The remaining 350 km home ( Alleroed is located north of Copenhagen) then I noticed relatively easy - especially as I again had breaks of one hour on the ferry from Puttgarten by Rodby.

The author ( 50) in the train to Hamburg
 

On Sunday, the 21th May 1995, I had to know the first opportunity with friends to visit Hamburg. Massimo (a young Argentine who lived in Germany), Angela, Heide and I took the very reasonable Railway Group ticket  (15, - DM Maximum of 5 people) from Hildesheim to Hamburg (Hauptbahnhof). We started at 8 clock 49 and were about 12 clock 30 on the target. With the S -Bahn (line 1) we arrived at the jetties on the northern Elbe. On foot we went to the fish market , but which was already closed.

 

 The fishmonger

 

The weather cleared up and it was very nice. In a cafe bar near we had lunch. There was chili con carne. Then we walked towards St. Pauli. With Massimo I ventured into the " infamous " Herbert Street , where we saw some pretty attractive girls. It then remained well. Then our walk went on to St. Michaelis Church. Angela and I made ​​ourselves the trouble and climbed the steeple. We were rewarded with a beautiful view of the harbor area and the city.

 

 The harbor area

Then we took the S -Bahn to the Town Hall Square. Massimo and I were able to inspire downright us here for the wonderful Hamburg. To 18 clock we took the train back home. An interesting day for visiting the port city of Hamburg came to an end.
 

A year later, my life changed abruptly (and in very good way), because on 20 February 1996 I met my future wife, Jutta (since December 1989, I was by my first wife Ulla divorced) know. In my travelogue " Bornholm " I have described the " magical " events of that time .

Now I had the financial support of my wife needed. But she refused with the remark on their back problems. I found myself with the situation (career destroyed, lost house, divorce) from and learned to live by " an apple and an egg ." And then came very unexpectedly in 1996, the turning point. On 20 February spoke to me against 15 clock in the Hildesheim Schuhstrasse an attractive, younger lady at "Hello Klaus , how's the Iris ? " (Iris was my girlfriend at the time, of which I had separated me for some time). I replied: " The 'm fine - we broke up ! "

JUTTA was 12 years younger than me (then 52) and had been in love a long time in me (of which I knew nothing). As a graduate social worker, she was now the ideal partner, me financially to help and bring order back into my life: I started to work again (but only " day laborer jobs" in temporary employment agencies) . And in 1999, I asked her advice on my pension and was successful at the age of 55 years.

 

 

 JUTTA 1996 ( year of meeting )

Exactly on the same day of our getting to know we have two years later on 20 February 1998 in a civil ceremony in Hildesheim and on 5 June 1999 in the Protestant Church in Lechstadt  (near Hildesheim) married we married the christian way.

With Jutta's special financial administration and organizational planning began our extensive travels, which we have told in interesting travel reports. Particular highlights were always our birthdays and wedding anniversaries, we have emphasized and celebrated . My 60th Birthday was spent in Dresden. And my 62 Birthday (13 November 2006) we celebrated in a particularly festive atmosphere in the class Steigenberger Hotel Hamburg. In October 2006, I had started to write reviews ( " Steigenberger Hotel ").

 

 The author at the desk at the Steigenberger Hotel
 

The journey on Sunday, 12 November 2006 , with the car of Hildesheim was easy and we found very quickly the entrance to the underground car park of the hotel. From the joy out that everything went so well, we had champagne come to our room a bottle. After this match we settled for the visit of the musical " The Lion King" . By taxi, we received about 18 clock drive to the jetties, because from there brought us a barge on the opposite side to the "Theatre on the harbor " where the interesting event took place.

 

In the jetties we still had a little time to look around. So we discovered the old Elbe tunnel and walked dry-shod to Steinwerder to admire from there the night Hamburg.

 

 
JUTTA waiting for the musical "The Lion King"

 

After the heady musical " The Lion King" we let our impressions in-house Bistro am Fleet of the Steigenberger Hotels with a tasty serving of smoked salmon and a matching white wine again reminisce. And we were sure: at our next visit to Hamburg, we will stay at the Steigenberger Hotel. The next opportunity was almost four and a half years later in connection with the visit of the musical " Sister Act " (see below).
 

On Monday, the 13th November 2006, then was my actual birthday. I was now 62 years old. At our breakfast table me a special birthday dish was served with a cupcake and a candle by friendly staff. About this very personal gesture, I was pleased sincere.
 

After these beautiful events and the excellent breakfast we checked out at 10 30 clock . Jutta had the blue umbrella so well-liked in the room with the Steigenberger emblem that they bought it for 15 euros. Since we wanted (but with very stormy weather) take a harbor cruise, we were able to leave our car until we left still in the parking garage. This time we walked from the hotel to the jetties. Now we can also see how cheap and central , the Steigenberger Hotel was. About the harbor cruise I have also written a travel tip (" harbor cruise ").

 

 
Harbour Cruise