Hamburg

Our daughter Laura Jo was an exchange student two years ago; she lived in Hamburg.  Her host family graciously agreed to host us in their home for a few days, giving us a chance to get to know each other, see some of the sights, and compare notes on Laura Jo.

Hamburg lies on the Elbe river.  One can argue about whether Hamburg or Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe, but it's safer to say both are huge.  We made a tour along the Elbe, combining walking with bus and ferry.

We walked through the Elbe tunnel to the south side of the river for views back towards the city.  The tunnel is unusual:  you ride an elevator down to the tunnel, transit the tunnel, then ride another elevator back up (the direction of one way car traffic depends on the time of day).

Our hosts had a family celebration to attend the next day, so Noralynn and I got to explore Hamburg on our own.  We rode the S-bahn to the Hauptbanhof, then continued on foot. 

St. Peter's church had a monument to Dietrich Bonhoeffer outside.  This pastor and theologian was murdered by the Nazis just before the close of the Second World War because of his involvement in the Resistance movement..

We next attended an organ concert at St. Micheal's church.   This massive church houses four organs, which can also be played together from a single master keyboard.  The combined instrument is a grand, symphonic organ of unbelievable power.  The recitalist, Alessandro Bianchi, chose approachable contemporary pieces which showcased both the power and flexibility of the ensemble.

We walked to the Rathaus, but just missed a departing tour.  So we paused for lunch in the courtyard.  There was a fountain to Hygieia (in remembrance of a cholera epidemic).  In the time before the next English tour, we had time for a stroll to the ruins of the St. Nikolai church.  The church has been left in this state as a peace memorial, with a modern statue of an angel.

The Hamburg Rathaus proudly conveys the glory of an economic powerhouse.  Hamburg is both a city and a state;  many paintings hearkened back to historic city-states, such as Venice.  I haven't seen a state house in the U.S. that compares with this grandeur.

On the way back to the rail station we visited St. Jacobi church.  J.S. Bach once played this historic organ.  Signs out front proclaim distances to pilgrimage destinations.  I guess we've been pilgrims, too.