Wunderbar deutsch!

Trip Start Aug 02, 2007

Trip End Jan 06, 2009

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Flag of Germany Hamburg, Germany
Saturday, September 6, 2008

My second lecture series was in Hamburg, about a 4 hour train ride (5 counting delays...) from Hofheim. And we rode the fast train. I'm told over 300km/hr at times. :) At any rate, my lecture this time rocked! I had complete mastry of my German (or when I didn't at least it was funny, and they laughed...not at me...with me...) Since the lectures are the same week to week (we do this three times, next up is Munich), I skipped out for the morning to explore Hamburg. On reccomendation from one of the profs also giving a lecture I went on a boat tour through Hamburg. It was fabulous!!

I had no idea the city was so water-based. It's like an industrial Venice! The city itself is very sprawling and industrial, not quite as quaint and old-town like as Cologne or W�rzburg. But, back to the boat trip. First, we weaved our way through the narrow canals between all the warehouses in the city (used to store all the sea-faring merchanidise), finally emerging out into the shipping yards. I can't remember the stats exactly, but it was something like 80km squared area of sea docks and ships. Impressive!!! Our little tourist boat wound among the massive sea bound ships being loaded with railroad cars, or being worked on in the 'dry docks'(trockendock).

I did wander just a bit through the city, but didn't find the fabulous shopping I was told was there. I did have to get back to the hotel to give my lecture! Speaking of...our hotel was a health and wellness hotel. Which I didn't think much of. However, my room was fabulous! Huge suite-style room, and the bathroom! Almost bigger than the bedroom, with a separate shower, toilet, sauna, and then in the middle a giant jacuzzi! It was fabulous.

So, the day was good, with lots of people commenting on my lecture, and complimenting me on my German. It still makes me laugh how astounded some people are that I just learned it on the fly. Most people say, 'wow, that's brave.' I think it's mostly an optomistic stupididty, but it's worked great so far!! :)