Introduction

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.

With friends in HAMBURG

 

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.

"The Lion King" celebrates birthday with us

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

The musical nuns (Sister Act) inspire us to the wedding day

Now (2006) we know the interesting part of Hamburg can be a little closer and it should be up to the weekend of 19 on the 20th Last February 2011 until we visited the beautiful Hamburg. This time the occasion was our 13th Wedding anniversary (February 20, 1998 we got married in a civil ceremony in Hildesheim).

We started on Saturday 19th February 2011, with our Opel Combo Tour at 11 clock and were 13 clock 30 in Hamburg before the Steigenberger Hotel (this time we had it once looking). To our surprise, the parking garage of the hotel was busy. I waited in the parking zone and Jutta inquired at the Steigenberger hotel after parking. She came back with a hotel servant in livery, who invited our suitcase on the luggage cart. He took us to our room and then drove my car into the garage (which I found befitting correctly).

Since we had not taken any lunch, we went to the already known Bistro am Fleet , where we ate an excellent salad and enjoyed the conclusion of a delicious cake. To 18 clock we settled for the visit of the new musical " Sister Act ", which took place in the Operetta House in St. Pauli. This time we saved us a taxi and drove the three stops from Rödingsmarkt to St. Pauli (fare € 1,30 pp) with the subway. The event (shortly after the premiere) was very well attended and we had very nice seats in row 20 (position 17 and 18).

 


Ready for the musical " Sister Act " in St. Pauli

 

With the same enthusiasm with which we had experienced in November 2006, the musical "The Lion King" in Hamburg, we now enjoyed the famous musical " Sister Act " . This time we wanted to then not go to sleep immediately and we chose the smoking area at the piano bar at the Steigenberger Hotel for a  "nightcap" . We stayed up to 1 clock 30 and talked exquisite. At the cloakroom at the piano I took our coats (it was the last one) on the way up. In the room, I realized that it was not at my coat . I immediately went to inform the hotel reception to the staff about the confusion. Since morning at 9 clock the misunderstanding was not clear, I had already written off my coat (I left my business card but as a precaution). At 10 clock rang in the room my cell phone: a "small" lady had made my coat at the front desk and apologized for their mistake.
 

During our early piece, the friendly ceremony that I already at my 62 repeated Birthday (2006) had met at the Steigenberger Hotel: this time there was again a decorated plate - now with the inscription " To the Wedding " . The table was very lovingly decorated with red hearts. Jutta liked it all so well that they for their 55th Birthday a double room for the weekend of 7 to 9 October has reserved at the Steigenberger Hotel 2011. Then we will also take a personal guided tour and a tour with the St. Pauli night watchman. We are looking forward to it.

A great frame for the anniversary

 

 

The birthday plate at the Steigenberger Hotel

Over the years a very close relationship with Hamburg has arisen and I have reported in detail in the previous chapters. We live in Hildesheim, accessed via the motorway, this interesting port city in less than two hours. Together we love to celebrate special birthdays and wedding anniversaries at the Steigenberger Hotel and then visit a selected theater show .

 

This time we celebrated the 55th Birthday (I am 12 years older), my second wife, Jutta Hartmann Metzger. We arrived early Friday afternoon of 7 October 2011 in Hamburg and studied - as usual - once the entrance to the parking garage of the Steigenberger Hotel. But this time we were very quickly found, as we saw a sign at the hotel entrance. The reserved room 201 is not yet available. That's why we went to the Bistro am Fleet ( BAF) to get something to eat lunch and then to drink coffee. This is also a tradition, because in this way we coordinate on "Hamburg" one.

 

 The new Ohnsorg Theater
 

To 19 clock 30 we took a taxi to the new Ohnsorg theater near the main train station. There was the song " En Sommernachtsdroom " (after Shakespeare) on Platt. After a short familiarization time I could understand the text to some extent. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I (1977-1980) learned in Denmark fluent Danish. In the subsequent time in Holland (1980 to 1984) then came even to Dutch. However, this is already some time ago. Also JUTTA had no difficulty in understanding the text and we have delicious amused.

 

 

City tour (red)

 

The following Saturday morning , 8 October 2011 , a city tour was provided. We solved two days cards (a total of 30 euros) so that we could hop on and off any road. The red double-decker bus was almost fully occupied at 10 clock at the Steigenberger hotel and we were only at the bottom of a place. In the St. Michaelis church, we could not get out, unfortunately, because the parking lot was crowded with buses.

 

 City tour

 

So we decided, after the city tour on foot to visit the church (it was indeed not too far from the Steigenberger Hotel). The bus drove through St. Pauli and a companion explained to us in great detail (in German and English) on local conditions on. This has us very well fallen. In the St. Pauli Landing Bridges (No. 1 in the plan) many passengers left the bus and we could change up. Jutta occupied the rear seat and I came to. What I did not know: in the right corner of the closed sliding roof of the bus was leaking and it had rained in, so that the seat was wet in the corner. Although I was warned by Danes something incomprehensible in English. But that was too late, because I now had a wet " pants ". During the day this started drying out .

 

 

 Hotel am Hafen

 The tour continued to HafenCity and we saw the expensive construction of the new Elbe Philharmonic Hall.

 

 
Elbe Philharmonic Hall (from the tower of St. Michaelis)

Then we arrived at the main train station (No. 6 in the diagram). There was a long pause and I took the opportunity for multiple photos. And I also realized how close the Ohnsorg theater was at the station.

 

 Central Station

 

At the Kunsthalle past (where we were on Sunday morning, the "Max Liebermann - painting exhibition visit)  we went through the Lombard bridge that separates the internal from the outer Alster lake .

 

 Inner Alster
 

About 13 clock we came to the town hall market. There we left the bus, because we wanted to look around at the town hall and take a little break tasting .

 

 town hall

 

For Jutta were particularly interesting the Alster arcades. I found the swans in Alsterfleet at the exit to the Inner Alster interesting. In the Alsterarkaden we saw how close the Steigenberger Hotel was removed. Therefore, we went on Alsterfleet along to the hotel and from there to St. Michaelis Church.

 

 

The Steigenberger Hotel in the background

 

The climb to the observation Plattformes the tower was indeed tedious, but it was worth it. JUTTA waited in the church for me. There we discovered interesting commemorative plaques.

 

 The Port of Hamburg

 

 
The Town Hall

 

 Fallen in China and Africa

 

From the tower we discovered the entrance to the below lying Krameramtsstuben. These are small apartments for widows, who in the 17th centuries were built.

 

 Krameramtsstuben

 

After these interesting attractions Hamburg's we were against 16 clock again in our hotel. We rested a bit and visited about 18 clock the opposite restaurant "Ständige Vertretung ". JUTTA quickly recognized the negative atmosphere in this place and wanted to leave immediately. I asked her to stay after all. But then confirm once again their sense: the food was bad and the service rude and overwhelmed. The rest of the evening spent at the piano bar at the Steigenberger Hotel and forgot very quickly the negative experiences with the restaurant - yet because of the special kindness of the operator.

 

 Max Liebermann

 

 The parrot man

 

After the excellent (and highly recommended) breakfast at our hotel we went on Sunday morning, the 9th October 2011, on the Inner Alster over and above the dam to Ballin Kunsthalle. There we expected a cultural highlight: the Max Liebermann painting exhibition " pioneer of modernism ". It gave us great pleasure to follow the development of this famous painter in the various exhibition rooms (this also helped us a player with headphones). After two hours we picked up our car with the luggage from the parking garage of the Steigenberger Hotels and drove in nice weather and very laid back to Hildesheim. And again we had spent a wonderful weekend in Hamburg.

Beautiful as it gets: "The Phantom of the Opera"

 

 

 

View of the Inner Alster Lake

 

As I have mentioned in several travel reports, we maintain wedding anniversaries and birthdays selected in a special place to celebrate with a cultural event. This time (on the weekend of 22 to 24 February 2014) we had another Hamburg chosen because we wanted to visit the exquisite musical highlight "The Phantom of the Opera".
 

We were on the weather conditions in February somewhat uncertain (a year ago in Amsterdam, we had ice and snow experienced). That's why we wanted to go to Hamburg originally by train from Hildesheim. About the complicated online order has JUTTA, the internet is very experienced so annoyed that we first decided on the Fernbus (meinfernbus.de). About this elegant and inexpensive way (44, - Euro for round trip for 2 people) to travel, we were very pleased and will use this experience more in the future .

 

 

A Fernbus at the bus station

 

After a little over two hours, we arrived on Saturday afternoon on time at the bus station in Hamburg. Since I knew the approximate path of the reserved Steigenberger Hotel, we walked over the Mönckebergstreet Town Hall Square. From there we could see the flag on the hotel very good. On Alsterfleet along we reached this after a total of 15 minutes.

 

 The Steigenberger Hotel at Alsterfleet

 

As a regular customer had a very nicely located room for us in the fourth Floor (429) reserved. From there, there was dinner for us at the lighted buildings a very impressive view. In the room we found a bottle of champagne in the Steigenberger champagne cooler and a subsequent Greeting card for our 16th Wedding day. About this friendly gesture, we were very pleased.

 

 View from hotel room

 

Before we were able to indulge in the pleasure of welcoming sparkling wine, I was still allowed to fulfill a special task: JUTTA had found on the Internet that Ballindamm befände a REWE store (on the Inner Alster). There I went with my backpack to buy stuff for your daily needs. I was very surprised to find this store in the basement of the EUROPA PASSAGE (at Jungfernstieg).

 

Now we can enjoy the first evening and attune us to the exciting cultural event "The Phantom of the Opera" on Sunday night. Breakfast on Sunday morning was very opulent again. But since we left only against 10 clock our room, all seats were taken in the breakfast room and we found a quiet place in a separate room.

 

Because JUTTA interested in you again for the exact way to the bus station, we walked around in the sunshine on Sunday morning about the Mönckebergstreet to the bus station. On the way back we were interested in the main train station, which was the left hand side opposite the bus station. It 's get very nice pictures of the bustle in the station.

 

 On the Central Station

 

After we had informed us in front of our hotel on the price of a taxi to the theater " Neue Flora " (approx. 13, - € ), we decided in the evening with the bus line 3 and get off at " Holsten Road" to drive. The ticket cost only 2, - € p. P. and we could hop on and off directly in front of the theater. The musical " The Phantom of the Opera " began at 19 clock and was a unique pleasure!

 

This musical fits very nicely into the series of cultural highlights, which we have already experienced in Hamburg: " The Lion King " (2006) , " Sister Act " (February 2011) and "En Sommernachtsdroom - After Shakespeare" (October 2011) . Each experience was unforgettable memories in us! And this time it was the special conditions (bus rides , REWE - shopping , etc.) which animated us on Monday morning to an extensive shopping tour in the demanding KARSTADT department store at the Mönckebergstreet .
 

About 13 clock 30 we checked out of the hotel and made ​​our way back on foot to the bus station. The time until the departure of our long-distance bus by 16 clock 15, we were able to bridge relaxed in the terminal area. The ride home was almost on schedule and around 19 clock we were back home in Hildesheim.

 

Perspectives

In this book I wrote about our wonderful experiences in HAMBURG. Our journey, we have optimized in many ways. In order to become less dependent on weather conditions, we decided for the first time for the remote bus. As a further gain we saw the economy of parking charges at the hotel (26, - Euros for 24h) and the taxi costs. And then we have found a way to provide us also near the hotel with the daily needs. In our numerous trips abroad that was always tradition.

 

Therefore, we will continue to celebrate special events in our exciting life in Hamburg and stay at the Steigenberger Hotel. We love these contrasts! In early May 2014, we take the bus to Lake Garda for a week and want cures there. We are excited about what we are offered there. Worse than in Swinoujscie / Poland, it should not be.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 07.03.2014

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