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rt one minute late — while everyone’s legs were jelly and they were hot from pedalling, my legs were completely stiff and I was frozen to the bone! I don’t think I have ever been quite this cold!</p><p id="c4ec">We walked straight to the Groninger Brauhaus for dinner. Read about that here.</p><div id="15b3" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/food-glorious-food-9d50214292bd"> <div> <div> <h2>Food, Glorious Food</h2> <div><h3>Eat like a local</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*yX7woye96OYZ1CXb)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="3476">I was beyond excited the following morning and after a hearty breakfast — we are in Germany — caught a taxi to the Miniatur Wunderland — the reason for our visit to Hamburg. I was so glad we did — it was raining and definitely too far to walk!</p><figure id="ff20"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*yXiqSavty2cFmsqs"><figcaption>Hamburg Rathaus ( I love that word) — Town Hall Photo by Keeley Schroder</figcaption></figure><h2 id="e7a1">Miniatur Wunderland</h2><p id="f7ce">We didn’t have to line up but there was a crowd inside marvelling at the attention to detail the creators had put into the construction. Very hard to describe, not exactly a model train set, in fact, in some dioramas there was so much going on, I didn’t even notice a train! The Swiss Alps, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hamburg city and airport, Scandinavian villages, a mine, a cave, and a fairground, all fascinated me. Loved the way day turned into night and day again!</p><figure id="3f2a"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*IkhV-HZEnO_jatzP"><figcaption>One of hundreds of photos from Miniatur Wunderland Photo by Keeley Schroder</figcaption></figure><p id="6d68">Can highly recommend it to anyone visiting Hamburg! I could have stayed all day but alas, my feet were on fire and we wanted to catch the 12-noon harbour cruise which was the only one in English. Racing against the clock, we cabbed it to the jetty, and ran — yes ran — slipping and sliding on the wet deck, and jumped onto the boat as it was pulling out from the wharf!</p><figure id="086b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*-gPG5cXFh7hHKXhM"><figcaption>Photo by Keeley Schroder</figcaption></figure><h2 id="ede1">Harbour cruise</h2><p id="9130">We cruised the harbour marvelling at the size and number of ships at anchor but soon suffered from information overload. All so big, hard to take it all in, but Hamburg has been a main trading port for hundreds of years, and now is the second largest port in Europe — Rotterdam takes the hono

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urs. It was pouring rain so didn’t attempt to take any photos but Stacey took some good ones which I will borrow when she uploads them. I think it may also be the second largest shipbuilder; St Nazaire is the largest.</p><figure id="aa19"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*9G2k5zfrC4v6VYJB"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jonastebbe?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Jonas Tebbe</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="8c65">We caught a cab back to our hotel dropping off Stacey and Keeley at the Rathaus. I wanted to see it too but my feet were protesting too much. Bloody feet! After a couple of hours of rest, hunger overtook tiredness, and we had to get up to search for food. Very fortunately, as it was still pouring rain, we found a little kebab shop a few doors down and ordered by the pictures. I had a kebab for less than 2 euro. On the way back, Keeley spied an ice cream shop and bought double cones for everyone — 1.80 euro each — bargain.</p><p id="52b8">We only stayed in Hamburg for two days, but what a fabulous two days they were!</p><p id="340a">Thanks to <a href="undefined">Sam Millichap</a> for the A-Z idea of our favourite places. Here’s her latest.</p><div id="b47b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/p-is-for-podgorica-capital-city-of-montenegro-55ba5c2a09be"> <div> <div> <h2>P is for Podgorica, capital city of Montenegro</h2> <div><h3>A country so small that you can drive across it in a day</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*sNzzMcc7Yw0tQGyQteYKzA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="9ecb">And also thanks to <a href="undefined">Anne Bonfert</a> for picking up the idea and running with it.</p><div id="6fc9" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-only-water-to-be-found-for-miles-epupa-falls-b467c9b794c9"> <div> <div> <h2>The Only Water to be Found for Miles — Epupa Falls</h2> <div><h3>The A to Z of my favorite travel destinations</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*SgzI00e8qYaPu3VFhC-Lsw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="07ed" type="7">Anyone can take part in this prompt. There are no rules — apart from choosing just one of your favourite destinations for each letter of the alphabet. Come join in the fun!</p></article></body>

TRAVEL ALPHABET

The A-Z of My Favourite Travel Destinations — Hamburg

Home of Miniatur Wunderland

Why did we go to Hamburg and not Berlin? Just one reason — Miniatur Wunderland. I had seen it on a YouTube clip and just had to see it for myself! I was fascinated. My family were not so enamoured, but I persisted until they agreed.

First thing we decided to do was go for a peaceful row on the lake. Don’t ask me why! Walked miles (well it seemed like it) to find the place where you rent the row-boats only to be told we could only have paddle boats!

And we’re off! Paddleboating Photo by author

I had already told Stacey I wouldn’t/couldn’t row and the same thing applied to the paddling. I was happy enough to sit in the back and let others pedal. Well not for long — my knees seized up and my body froze — and my stomach was screaming “Feed me!” But I knew I couldn’t pedal; my knees could not take that sort of abuse. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, as they say.

Finally found a little eating/drinking place (not quite a bar nor a cafe) but managed to have a Corona and share a slice of quiche with Stacey. Then had to go pedal back to the pier against the wind! I honestly didn’t think we would make it. The waves were breaking over us, and we seemed to be gaining ground very slowly. We were also racing the clock as were supposed to be back by 6 pm when he closed up shop. Quite astonishingly, we made it back to port one minute late — while everyone’s legs were jelly and they were hot from pedalling, my legs were completely stiff and I was frozen to the bone! I don’t think I have ever been quite this cold!

We walked straight to the Groninger Brauhaus for dinner. Read about that here.

Food, Glorious Food

Eat like a local

medium.com

I was beyond excited the following morning and after a hearty breakfast — we are in Germany — caught a taxi to the Miniatur Wunderland — the reason for our visit to Hamburg. I was so glad we did — it was raining and definitely too far to walk!

Hamburg Rathaus ( I love that word) — Town Hall Photo by Keeley Schroder

Miniatur Wunderland

We didn’t have to line up but there was a crowd inside marvelling at the attention to detail the creators had put into the construction. Very hard to describe, not exactly a model train set, in fact, in some dioramas there was so much going on, I didn’t even notice a train! The Swiss Alps, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hamburg city and airport, Scandinavian villages, a mine, a cave, and a fairground, all fascinated me. Loved the way day turned into night and day again!

Can highly recommend it to anyone visiting Hamburg! I could have stayed all day but alas, my feet were on fire and we wanted to catch the 12-noon harbour cruise which was the only one in English. Racing against the clock, we cabbed it to the jetty, and ran — yes ran — slipping and sliding on the wet deck, and jumped onto the boat as it was pulling out from the wharf!

Harbour cruise

We cruised the harbour marvelling at the size and number of ships at anchor but soon suffered from information overload. All so big, hard to take it all in, but Hamburg has been a main trading port for hundreds of years, and now is the second largest port in Europe — Rotterdam takes the honours. It was pouring rain so didn’t attempt to take any photos but Stacey took some good ones which I will borrow when she uploads them. I think it may also be the second largest shipbuilder; St Nazaire is the largest.

We caught a cab back to our hotel dropping off Stacey and Keeley at the Rathaus. I wanted to see it too but my feet were protesting too much. Bloody feet! After a couple of hours of rest, hunger overtook tiredness, and we had to get up to search for food. Very fortunately, as it was still pouring rain, we found a little kebab shop a few doors down and ordered by the pictures. I had a kebab for less than 2 euro. On the way back, Keeley spied an ice cream shop and bought double cones for everyone — 1.80 euro each — bargain.

We only stayed in Hamburg for two days, but what a fabulous two days they were!

Thanks to Sam Millichap for the A-Z idea of our favourite places. Here’s her latest.

P is for Podgorica, capital city of Montenegro

A country so small that you can drive across it in a day

medium.com

And also thanks to Anne Bonfert for picking up the idea and running with it.

The Only Water to be Found for Miles — Epupa Falls

The A to Z of my favorite travel destinations

medium.com

Anyone can take part in this prompt. There are no rules — apart from choosing just one of your favourite destinations for each letter of the alphabet. Come join in the fun!