Tired girls... And that was only the first three days!!

Whew. Am I ever tired (even more tired than u are from reading my mass
of blog entries!). Three FULL days in Germany! Lots of traveling, lots
of touring. Lots to absorb. Lots to look forward to.

Big shout out to Bev who got me all hooked up with sending blog
entries via email to my site with pictures. :) and, so glad I found a
few hours tonight with a wireless connection to catch up with my trip
(while Jana is still with me to feed me the names and places).

For the next two days, Jana and I will be relaxing and taking in the
Baltic sea, and some sights along the northern coast (including the
marzipan museum, who knew?!)... Then she heads back home, and I am
going to stay on for a few more days to venture into some watersports.
Her brother Daniel (yes, exhausted new dad) is a kitesurf instructor
uphere... So I am hoping to do a few days of lessons.

Until next time... Guten nacht.

Baby Anna Mia

After breakfast (a little more time had slipped by than we planned!),
we hoofed back to claudia's to grab our luggage, and took the train
out to the hamburg airport to pick up our rental car.

Opting to have Jana drive, we hooked the "handy" GPS nav system up,
and after some futzing, we were off to find the hospital south of
hamburg.

Jana became an auntie for the first time yesterday!!! 2 weeks past
due, they induced her brothers girlfriend... And after 5 days of labor
(OUCH!) and total exhaustion, a healthy lithle anna mia was born
yesterday evening. :)

After a round-about drive (didn't realize until later the GPS was set
to avoid all highways!), we finally made it to visit the happy family
around 4pm.

We spent the afternoon visiting, and oogling over the beautiful little
girl. After a take-out dinner of steak and champagne (yes, in the
hospital room)... We left the EXHAUSTED new parents, and hit the road.

After doing circles in the southern suburb of haburg (bad GPS,
bad!)... We finally found the highway, and were on our way to the
Baltic sea.

Frühstücke zu zweit

"Breakfast for two"

Woke up to a bright and sunny morning... And we wandered out to find
some breakfast. All shops are shut down on Sunday, and the streets are
empty at 10:30am. Seems 11am is the early breakfast shift on Sunday
(and I thought SF was a late brunch town!).

We found a street cafe, and ordered up a traditional german breakfast.
I was in heaven!!! Coffee, juice, fresh bread, croissants, cheese,
cold cuts, fruit, honey, butter, n a hard boiled egg. It was all my
teenage memory of my time in Germany recalled... And I loved every bite.

Toes in the sand sipping Mojotos

...a little rejuvenated to sit for a bit, we relaxed over a refreshing
mojito. Reminisced about our trip to Mexico (spring break 2008,
baby!), and some politics. Interesting to compare and contrast a
political system that is so partisan that little gets done with one
where the two major parties work in conjunction to pass every
political agenda regardless of the efficacy.

Back on our feet, we continued our walk back along "reeperstrasse"...
Better known as the red light district. Happening place on a Saturday
night! Street were packed, and the "working girls" were out in
abundance! Poked through a couple souvenir stores (no Melani, not the
sex fetish ones! *wink,wink*)... And kept walking.

Back to claudia's neighborhood, little pit stop for a cup of tea, and
some apple strudle... Just about midnught, and we crawled home to bed.

And that was only the end if DAY TWO! Woah.

Still walking....

As the sun continued to set, we continued walking along the Elbe river
to "Hafen city"... A business district experiencing an amazing amount
of growth and renovation. Business seems to be boominig in hamburg!
The old brick warehouses are being turned into professional offices.

With jetlag creeping in a bit, we wandered back along the river, and
found a little gem of a bar called "strand Pauli". Entirely outside
the grounds were all sand with beach chairs and tiki torches. Perfect
stop for a rest and cocktail....

And we walked.......

Off the train, we walked to jana's friend claudia's apartment in the
"Karoviertel" district. Funky little area, similar to a mini-Haight.
Blocks away was the "marktsraase" neighborhood. More Cafes, unique
boutiques (I got totally sucked in and did a little shopping... Owen
you better pick a destination night, cuz I got a fun black dress!!),
graffiti, tattoos, show posters, and shops with black and red hipster
gear.

From there we continued to "schanze". A little hipper. Clubs, record
shops, restaurants. Got a bite to ear at one of Jana's fav spots, bok
(aisian fusion food, yum!), and were walking again. Down to the
waterfront as the sun was setting. Old merchant ship called the
"rickmer rickmers" shown in photo.

Coming into hamburg on the train...

Jana giddy with excitement to be "home"... Crossing the Kennedy
bridge, with downtown to our left, and the alster lake (where she grew
up) out the window.

I am surprised at the beauty of hamburg with rivers and lakes all
around. Not sure what I pictured, but didn't have a city sculpted by
water in mind.

What was your little hamburg fact again Jana?

"hamburg has more bridges than Venice or Amsterdam"

Did you know that? I had no idea.

Train from Nuremberg to Hamburg

Jana and I jumped on the high-speed train to travel to her northern Germany home town of Hamburg. For four hours, we continued our gab-fest while traveling through the lush green countryside.

It was fun to travel by train with no stress or worries. Reminded me of traveling from Boston to Albany, NY with mom and brother when I was a kid to visit my grandparents. An exciting treat!

Good morning Nuremberg!

Slept like a rock, n woke up to a beautiful morning. Jana and Noah have an amazing (and huge!) apartment on the top floor of a lovely building. All white marble floors, a ton of light, and 2 quaint balconies overlooking a green and floral courtyard.

After a little breakfast, I repacked my luggage, and we were off to the train station.....

Girls night out, part 1

From the biergarden, I was still awake enough that Jana and I walked to her freinds house just south of old town. Little birthday gathering for her friend lela. Met a small n lovely group of people... Mostly friends through addidas (where Noah works). International bunch, from
Croatia, turkey, Germany, US, etc. Lots of wine and conversation (in English). Got pretty silly, and before we left, the girls made a pact for a "ladies night out" when I get back to Nuremberg next Friday. Oh boy!

Didn't get back to Jana's place until after midnight, and I finally
COLLAPSED! Boy was I beat, but what a fantastic 1st day of
vacation..... :)

Wish y'all were here with me!

This is what this trip is all about! Good beer, good friends, n new
places to explore.

After wandering around for a bit, Jana sat down, and commenced our
catching up marathon over a few beers. So nice.
After packing all night, and flying for a whole day with very little
sleep, I was a bit loopy, but surprisingly in pretty good shape.
Delightful to have time to relax! Long overdue...

Jana in old town Nuremberg

After some champagne n a shower after arriving Friday afternoon, Jana n I set out to explore her town. Only a five minute walk from her house, and we were in old town. We walked n talked... And she promptly lead me to a biergarten!

Old town Nuremberg

Wurst n radish salad at the biergarten

First biergarten munchies... Sehr gut

Celebrating my arrival in Nuremberg

Arrived safe and sound in Nuremberg Friday afternoon, n was lovingly welcomed by Jana and Noah. Noah was a little scared of opening champagne with a bottle opener!