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Trip to Hamburg
When: 2nd-5th September 2005
How: Flying Swiss
A trip to Hamburg had been my birthday present to JJ - our first trip to Hamburg.
We stayed in the SIDE Hotel,
a new modern hotel opposite to the Opera. I had once seen a picture of
it in a SPA guide, and liked the interior - not the usual velvety
business traveller stuff, but cool design. We had a Deluxe room, which
also differed from standard hotel rooms: The bathroom had now wall, but
just a milkglass screen, the TV was hidden in a wooden box in the
middle lof the room - and I didn't find any velvet wherever I looked!
SIDE hosts the fusion bar&restaurant, where we had our first
dinner. Food is as the name says: fusion, with a bit of everything
stirred in , and nicely presented. I remember eating very well and very
much, whereas JJ complained that his fish with five spices was more
like five spices with fish. But this was the only flaw in an otherwise
superb dinner. However: no nightlife after this...

Our room in the SIDE - the brown box hosts the TV which
raises on pressing a button.
The SIDE lobby seen from 8th (or 7th?) floor
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The first full day we spent with walking around, shopping, eating a
bite here and there, more walking around, more shopping (I remember Manufactum in
Chilehaus, just because there is no Manufactum shop in Switzerland),
and then a boat cruise on the Binnenalster (a lake/river/basin
downtown). The funny thing about the cruise is the captain commenting
which celbrity owns which villa where - gossip is alway fun. Anyway, it
was a very relaxing change after all this shopping.
We both liked Hamburg very much - it is easy-going, cosy and a little
bit mediterranean (at least if the weather is okay). It felt like an
"everyday city" to live in, not just a tourist city to visit.
Our dinner was at Indo Chine (no webpage, Neumühlen 11, 22763 Hamburg,
Telephone: 040/39807880). This is a very laid-back in-spot just at the
shores of the Elbe river, in a new quarter. So inside it is buddha
statues, steamed rice and a huge menu all across Asia, and outside you
see oceanliners and cargo ships passing, and on the far side scurry
ghostly cargo lifters, remotely controlled. We caught the last table
somewhat in the middle of the room - so better book early. Food was
good.
The way back leads through the red-light district. Don't tell anyone, but we've been too tired. Next time... |
Boat cruise on Binnenalster |
On the second day, we first went to the Isemarkt. This is a colourful
food market held on Tuesdays and Fridays under a metro railway bridge.
Bad luck that we didn't stay for a week and had our own kitchen...
Around noon we went to the harbour to board a cruise of the
Speicherstadt (warehouse district with waterways instead of streets),
the new-developping Hafencity, and the harbour. We do not have
something like this in Switzerland - sorry I had to include four pics.
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Hamburg old harbour |
Speicherstadt - warehouse district |
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A Chinese container ship being unloaded - all automatically |
...and this is how unloading worked previously |
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