A Day out from Hamburg: Wedel and the Blankenese
Hamburg is a port city. The boats come into Hamburg from the North Sea and continue down the Elbe towards Hamburg.
When they pass by the small town of Wedel the famous welcoming ceremony occurs. Up runs the flag of the nation to which the ship is registered and the national anthem is played by a computerized tape. The ship is also welcomed to Hamburg in the native language. The ceremony is repeated in reverse when the ship leaves Hamburg.
There is a restaurant right at the Welcome Point. AlteCocker had a nice lunch there and watched the ships go by.
Wedel and the Welcome Point are easily accessible by the S-bahn. You do have to walk down to the Welcome Point from the S-bahn station (which is the last one on the line). While AlteCocker had the use of a car in Hamburg as part of her home exchange, she prefers to use public transport in large European cities. Look, she is a bit timid about parking when she doesn't know what she is doing--not to mention getting lost or damaging the car. The car is generally saved for long trips.
Returning from Wedel, AlteCocker took a bus to the town of Blankenese, a small town overlooking the Elbe and built on a steep hillside. There are thousands of steps that residents have to climb up and down everyday to go anywhere. There are also lots of arty type tourist shops where--if you are so inclined--you can spend your euros. Fortunately, they were all closed for the extended European lunch break when AlteCocker passed by.
AlteCockerclimbed down only by the direct route (she is not totally stupid and not as fit as the people who have to deal with the steps every day) and then took a hydrofoil from the dock in Blankenese back to Landungsbrucken--the main port area in Hamburg.
If you are in Hamburg for any length of time this is a pleasant day out. AlteCocker does not speak much German, so if she could do this, so could you.
When things get really confused, just jump up and down and shout and someone will come to your rescue. Ok, don't hit AlteCocker. She is just making a joke. Many people in Germany do speak English--especially teenagers--and you always find someone to help you before you have to get hysterical.
AlteCocker recommends that you buy a day ticket for the Hamburg transit system to avoid having exact change available--especially if you do not speak German.
When they pass by the small town of Wedel the famous welcoming ceremony occurs. Up runs the flag of the nation to which the ship is registered and the national anthem is played by a computerized tape. The ship is also welcomed to Hamburg in the native language. The ceremony is repeated in reverse when the ship leaves Hamburg.
There is a restaurant right at the Welcome Point. AlteCocker had a nice lunch there and watched the ships go by.
Wedel and the Welcome Point are easily accessible by the S-bahn. You do have to walk down to the Welcome Point from the S-bahn station (which is the last one on the line). While AlteCocker had the use of a car in Hamburg as part of her home exchange, she prefers to use public transport in large European cities. Look, she is a bit timid about parking when she doesn't know what she is doing--not to mention getting lost or damaging the car. The car is generally saved for long trips.
Returning from Wedel, AlteCocker took a bus to the town of Blankenese, a small town overlooking the Elbe and built on a steep hillside. There are thousands of steps that residents have to climb up and down everyday to go anywhere. There are also lots of arty type tourist shops where--if you are so inclined--you can spend your euros. Fortunately, they were all closed for the extended European lunch break when AlteCocker passed by.
AlteCockerclimbed down only by the direct route (she is not totally stupid and not as fit as the people who have to deal with the steps every day) and then took a hydrofoil from the dock in Blankenese back to Landungsbrucken--the main port area in Hamburg.
If you are in Hamburg for any length of time this is a pleasant day out. AlteCocker does not speak much German, so if she could do this, so could you.
When things get really confused, just jump up and down and shout and someone will come to your rescue. Ok, don't hit AlteCocker. She is just making a joke. Many people in Germany do speak English--especially teenagers--and you always find someone to help you before you have to get hysterical.
AlteCocker recommends that you buy a day ticket for the Hamburg transit system to avoid having exact change available--especially if you do not speak German.