Today is our first official day in Hamburg, and it's a bit chilly. We've acclimated a bit to the weather, but anything resembling Wisconsin was suppose to be left.. well, in the tundra!
Despite this, Hamburg is still beautiful. We'll only be enduring the cold for another 3 or so weeks, so that makes putting on the boots and spending the day outside seem a little better. We took a tram into an historic part of the city today, and when we got out there was a pissor. A pissor is a free men's urinal, with glossed over glass on all four sides and clear door ways for easy access.. hmm. Apparently Germans don't like paying outrageous fees for bathrooms either! We went to the Ave. Reeperbahn today, which is a famous street in Hamburg similar to the strip in Las Vegas. Hamburg is a musical city, and the Reeperbahn is where it's at. So much so, they have year round stages set up along side the road. It kind of made me feel like the Jonas brothers might instantly pop out of a near by sewer and do an impromptu concert for all the people who dared to brave the weather. The bakeries here are wonderful,too. They eat pretzel bread, which tastes exactly like a pretzel without the crunch. Some people even sit outside (!) with blankets and a candle, enjoying a latte and some warm pretzel bread. And on Sundays (today) everyone is out. Although most stores are closed, families take to the streets all bundled up, to go for walks, or take their kids sledding.
Another thing I've noticed and love about Hamburg is fresh flowers. I'm sure they are grown in green houses, but this doesn't matter! There are fresh floral shops everywhere, and I LOVE seeing men carrying flowers. It is so brisk out that the flowers have to be wrapped in newspaper to keep them safe. Erik and I were at a small cafe in a historic part of town when we saw a man walk by with flowers. I believe they were roses, but they were bundled up too much to tell. Where are you going with those? Who are they for?... Let me guess, for your mom. They should be for your mom, because mom's are wonderful, and always deserve more flowers than they get.
And so it goes. I see men carrying flowers, and instantly go into my imagination to pick out the perfect receiver of these beauties. Despite the cold, the city holds a ton of beauty, including things to do and see. So, we'll just zip up, put on an extra layer and get ready.... because it's time to smell the roses!
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