Where the red bricks meet magical architecture Hamburg Excursion
On Friday, 25 November 2024, we, the participants of the Tunisia course together with Ms. Niebuhr went on an excursion to the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. Our first day was fabulous. We visited the Hamburg Christmas market – an unforgettable event for all of us. Our experience was unique, a mixture of emotion, warmth and fun. A cosy, comfortable train journey, a luxurious hotel, breathtaking sights - all in all just like heaven.
On the second, day we visited the Speicherstadt, a quarter of Hamburg with many red brick buildings. It is located directly on the water front characterized by its canals and the numerous bridges that connect the different buildings. A visit to Hamburg is not complete without a stop at the Rickmers´ museum ship. It is proof of the old seafaring tradition when ships travelled with sails and not engines. We had a lovely cruise through Hamburg harbour. It was very windy and we were very cold but still enjoyed the trip. Unfortunately, the old Elbe tunnel was closed until 5 December. Therefore we couldn't see the other side of the Elbe. Our next destination was the Reeperbahn with its numerous clubs and discos. This came as a culture shock to us as it differs from home. But it was our opportunity to discover a different culture. We then visited the Panoptikum: Germany's oldest and largest wax museum. It was a very special experience to see over 120 people from history, politics and art. A visit to the Elbphilharmonie is a great experience for all senses. From the top of the Elbphilharmonie we had a spectacular view of the Elbe, the Speicherstadt and the HafenCity. We attended a concert there. It was very pleasant to listen to the calm music.
On the last day of our trip, we travelled to Travemünde beach, where we were able to enjoy the fresh air and the peaceful surroundings. We then continued our trip to the famous trading city of Lübeck and visited the well-known Holsten Gate. During our visit of the Holstentor Museum we learnt a lot about Lübeck's rich history. The old coins and model ships were particularly interesting. The Christmas market brought a festive atmosphere to the city, and of course we also visited the Marzipan House, where we tasted the famous Lübeck marzipan. It was a perfect end to our trip.
Funded by the DAAD with funds from the Federal Foreign Office
