![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgc_wATObOlzmZdvtFTtNmrxRf4RnZ3HaIkaC0dQTDKFK1PgZyfbtHt20NzvU6P-0zWsdAxZyKiuvK-e8cyx54WMEnUf0ETJlKzhcXTcxwCS6PUB2E4slI2qhDEmI8A4oT9damiUbMfWtb0gxTUSvzclgSaazA-ToqTgYtcJB5g_BMyrBxG5qs8ZvRRKoc\/s2815\/Rathaus.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nLast week\u2019s short trip to Hamburg,<\/b> represented my fourth visit Located on the Elbe River<\/b> in northern Germany<\/span>,<\/b> Going back to those aforementioned previous visits to My second visit took place sometime during the early 1980\u2019s<\/b>, The company was based in Hamburg,<\/b> so with remarkable speed Ray In June 2022, I<\/b> visited Hamburg <\/b>for the third time, in the That 2022 <\/b>visit took place midweek, There was no possibility of sitting outside last week, as On the coach ride into the city, that morning, I\u2019d noticed Instead, we made our way to Groninger<\/a> Feeling a little dejected, the pair of us walked back towards Speersort<\/b> was a large and cavernous place, of fairly recent It didn\u2019t take us long to get served, and whilst at it, we ordered
\nto the city. Like the previous three trips, it was relatively short although
\non this occasion I feel that I learned more about Germany’s<\/b> second largest city
\nthan I did on the other three trips combined. That’s not to say this fleeting visit
\nwas anyway comprehensive in nature, and certainly not all-encompassing, but it
\ndid give me much more of a feel for the city. So, what about Hamburg<\/b> itself?<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nthe Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg<\/b>, is one of the most populous city in
\nGermany,<\/b> second only to Berlin<\/b> in importance. Its <\/span>port and
\ncommercial centre is the largest in the Federal Republic,<\/b> and one of the
\nbusiest in Europe.<\/b> <\/span>Shipping and trade have been Hamburg\u2019s<\/b> lifeblood
\nfor centuries, and its harbour has remained the city\u2019s most important feature. Hamburg<\/b>
\nis blessed with a network of canals that rivals those of Amsterdam,<\/b> various
\nlakes, parks, and suburbs full of gracious houses, alongside elegant shopping
\narcades, well-endowed museums, plus a vibrant cultural life. Although badly damaged by Allied bombing,<\/b> during World War
\nII, Hamburg<\/b> has succeeded in maintaining a sense of old-world grace alongside a
\nrich and thriving<\/span> commercial life. These attractions have
\ncontributed to a growing tourist industry, and given its maritime setting, plus
\nstrategic position between the Netherlands <\/b>and Denmark<\/b>, this obviously includes
\ncruise holidays.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nHamburg<\/b>, they took place across a lengthy timescale, with the first one taking place
\nin the summer of 1975.<\/b> Back then, I was travelling around Europe <\/b>by train, with
\na fellow student from Salford University.<\/b> We were using an Interrail <\/b>ticket,
\nand after Amsterdam<\/b> and Copenhagen, Hamburg <\/b>was our third stop. Our visit was
\npurely transitory, as the following day my friend and I would be going our
\nseparate ways, albeit for just a few days \u2013 see link, for further details. My
\nmemories of the city are confined to a stroll along the infamous Reeperbahn<\/b> \u2013
\nhome to Hamburg\u2019s red-light district, <\/b>plus an overnight stay at a rather
\naustere*<\/b> Youth Hostel<\/b>, overlooking a local park. *Doors locked at 10pm, lights
\nout by 10.30pm!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\nand only happened because my boss, at the time, wanted a colleague who could
\nspeak German,<\/b> to accompany him on what was a spur-of-the moment business, trip
\nto Hamburg<\/b>. The company we worked for manufactured chlorination equipment, for
\nuse in water treatment plants, as well as swimming pools. In those pre-internet
\ndays, my boss (Ray<\/b>), had managed to locate a manufacturer of gas detection
\nequipment, and the units they were producing were of particular interest to our
\norganisation.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/b>asked the department secretary to book us a return flights to the city, plus a
\ncouple of hotel rooms. (Secretaries seemed responsible for all sorts of tasks, back then). Later
\nthat afternoon, he drove us up to Heathrow<\/b>, calling in at our respective houses
\nto pick up passports, plus overnight bags. Talk about \u201cwash and go!\u201d<\/i><\/b> Apart from
\nHamburg airport<\/b>, I remember very little about that trip. We were booked into a
\nrespectable looking hotel, but disappointingly my companion told me he was
\ntired, and didn\u2019t fancy hitting the town, after our evening meal. To add insult
\nto injury, my German<\/b> language skills were not required, as our hosts spoke
\nimpeccable English!<\/b><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\ncompany of Mrs PBT\u2019s.<\/b> The city acted as a dropping off point, on a cruise up to
\nthe Norwegian fjords. <\/b>That voyage was our first, and so far, only time on the
\nQueen Mary2.<\/b> The pair of us took one of the shuttle coaches that run from the
\ncruise terminal into the city centre, and just under three years\u2019 later, Matthew<\/b>
\nand I used the same service into central Hamburg.<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nbecause the shops were open, and the REWE <\/b>supermarket that Eileen<\/b> and I
\nvisited, was packed with workers from the nearby offices, picking up items for
\ntheir lunch-break. Our lunchtime requirements were met back on-board Queen Mary2
\n<\/b>as, after all, the cruise package was \u201call-inclusive,\u201d <\/i><\/b>but we did manage to find
\na pavement cafe-cum-bar, where we could sit out and enjoy a beer or two. Cotidiano<\/u><\/b><\/a> Alter Wall<\/u><\/b>,<\/u>
\ntucked away at the side of the Rathaus<\/b> proved the ideal spot, and I
\nenjoyed two slightly different beers from Ratsherrn Brauerei<\/b>, in the
\nform of a Pilsner,<\/b> plus a “Hamburg Hell”. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nthe weather in Hamburg <\/b>that morning was wet, windy and decidedly chilly, but we
\ndid have a walk around following a route that took us past the city\u2019s principle
\nstation, the Hauptbahnhof, <\/b>which was bustling with travellers. I like busy rail
\nstations, so we had a quick look around, and noticing a Yorma\u2019s <\/b>on the
\nconcourse, found ourselves unable to resist a Bratwurst<\/b> roll, plus a cup of
\ncoffee. It was then a question of finding a suitable watering hole. <\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\none particular establishment that I\u2019d pre-listed, which was a large
\nestablishment overlooking the river. Blockbr\u00e4u,<\/b> comprising an atmospheric
\ncellar-style brewery\/restaurant and a scenic rooftop terrace offering views of
\nthe Elbe, Blockbr\u00e4u <\/b>promotes itself as the archetypal Hamburg beer hall<\/b> and a great choice for
\nlarge groups. The beer is brewed on site and the food is traditional and tasty.
\nGiven the adverse weather conditions we were experiencing, the 30-minute walk
\nindicated by Google,<\/b> seemed a little too far. <\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nPrivatbrauerei, <\/b>which was the other pub I had in mind. Described as a vast, and
\nbuzzing emporium where the locally brewed beer flows freely, Groninger <\/b>offers large
\nportions of hearty traditional beer hall fayre, such as homemade meatloaf
\n(Leberk\u00e4se<\/b>), pot roast and sausages. With some tables equipped with a built-in
\ngrill, customers can even cook their own sausages. Leaving the sausage cooking option aside, Groninger<\/a> <\/b>seemed ideal, but after navigating our way there,
\n(the city map I picked up on the ship, from the Shore Experiences <\/b>desk, wasn\u2019t that good on
\ndetail), we discovered the place was sadly closed. The lack of lighting coming
\nfrom the windows was an obvious clue, as Matthew<\/b> was only too keen to point out,
\nbut the locked door plus the sign indicating opening hours (closed Sundays and
\nMondays)<\/b>, confirmed that we wouldn\u2019t be getting a drink there!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nthe town hall or Rathaus <\/b>as it’s called in German<\/b> when, quite unexpectedly I
\ncould see just make out what looked like a Bierkeller type establishment, facing
\nout across an area of open ground. What\u2019s more, from the signage, I could see
\nthat Biergarten Speersort<\/a><\/u> <\/b>was operated by Hofbr\u00e4u<\/b> of Munich,<\/b> a brewery that
\nboth Matthew<\/b> and I are very familiar with. There was still a little uncertainty
\nas to whether this establishment was open, but after seeing lights twinkling
\nthrough the windows, as well as people entering and leaving, we knew we had
\nfound our happy place for the next couple of hours.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/b><\/div>\n
\nconstruction, housed in a rather anonymous looking building, but upon entering,
\nwe found ourselves in a typical Bavarian beer hall <\/b>that wouldn\u2019t have looked
\nout of place in central Munich. <\/b>The clues were in the bare floorboards,
\nscrubbed wooden tables, plus staff in traditional Bavarian dress<\/b> \u2013 both sexes.
\nThere were several serving areas, and various drinking areas, including one
\nupstairs, presumably intended for when the place becomes very busy. Last
\nSunday,<\/b> it was closed, apart from the toilets, which are also on this floor. <\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nfood, as well as drink. The latter, of course, was the famous Hofbr\u00e4u<\/a> Original,<\/b> served in 0.5 litre mugs, although we
\ncould have had litres, if we\u2019d wished. For lunch, Matthew <\/b>chose Leberk\u00e4se, <\/b>a
\ntraditional type of meatloaf that is popular all over Germany. <\/b>It consists of
\nbeef, pork and bacon which is ground up very finely, before being baked in a bread
\ntin, in similar fashion to a loaf of bread. As can be seen from the adjacent
\nphoto, Matthew\u2019s Leberk\u00e4se<\/b> was topped with a fried egg, known in German<\/b> as a
\nSpiegelei. <\/b>Much as I enjoy the above dish, I opted for a chicken schnitzel<\/b>,
\nwhich was served with potato salad, as was Matthew\u2019s<\/b> lunch.<\/p>\n