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While I was able to boast about the wonderful long daylight hours during the summer, I can now moan that dusk is around 5pm and it's pitch black by 6. But I guess it's only fair. (And by the way, the fair does not only come around once a year here in Hamburg. They build it up for our enjoyment four times annually. But I digress.)The days have not only gotten shorter, but also colder, as demonstrated by the resurrection of the puffy coat. I first got the puffy coat back in February and wearing it again reminds me of the passage of time, the seasons beginning once again, and as the Lion King/Elton John would sing, the Circle of Life.
Here I am wearing the puffy coat in Frankfurt with Ajay (who, if I may suggest, was not as equipped for the dropping temperatures :)). But, anyway, we had a good time nonetheless. Hakuna Matata.
On the train to Frankfurt, after having to kick them out of our seats, we had a nice exchange with a group of Chinese tourists. First we explained the seat reservation system to them, since the group of 13 kept on sitting in reserved seats and then had to move when the passenger with the reservation arrived. (Turns out they even had a reservation -- two cars down. Oh well.) The funniest was when they asked us how Germans spend their Sundays. They noted, "you don't work, the shops are closed, what do you do?" We mentioned a few of our pastimes -- reading, going for a walk, spending time with family -- to which they inquired, "do you climb mountains?" Um, no. We don't climb mountains on Sundays.
I spent a lovely weekend in Nuernberg, a city 4.5 hours (via train) south of Hamburg that's famous for its delicious Lebkuchen (similar to gingerbread) and annual Christmas market.
On the way back on Sunday we made a slight detour to Frankfurt, where Ajay had just arrived that morning. We met at the train station in "Mainhatten" -- Frankfurt is nicknamed as such because of its status as Germany's financial capital and for the fact that it is one of only four European cities with a significant number of skyscrapers (and the Main is the river that runs through it). We spent a few hours at local cafes/restaurants, with plenty of time for a cold Hefeweizen and a Wiener Schnitzel.
I was at school when a classmate and teacher asked me if I folded or scrunched up the toilet paper in preparation for its use. Apparently they were discussing some research that indicated while Germans fold their TP, Americans scrunch it up. I am exactly as I should be: German American.
Budget Travel reports that visiting Hamburg is a real deal in the next coming months, with flight and hotel ringing up at less than $600 for a quick three-night stay. (On my student budget this doesn't seem like something too spectacular, but I draw it to the attention of you big money-making peeps.)
J-Posh here. I'm on my way to the brand, spanking new TK Maxx. It just opened here in Hamburg about a week ago. It's funny, a few months after I moved here -- tired of shopping at H&M, Zara, and other European stores (yes, it happens that fast!) -- I thought I could use a TJ Maxx, a store that's completely hit or miss, but you're pretty sure you won't see every other person on the street wearing the same thing. And here it is. The Max for the Minimum. Sweet.
A week ago I was sitting in a hair salon noticing that I actually might look my age (gasp!). I'm also noticing how ridiculous it is that I just showed the stylist a homemade collage of Posh Spice pictures as a show-and-tell of how I would like my hair cut.
Despite my visual cues, I don't think my haircut is exactly Victoria Beckham. Nonetheless, it's not bad.
A few days later I'm at a cafe and the woman who owns it, a family acquaintance, notices my new do and proclaims it so "American." I am not sure what is American about it, but her statement seems to be an open invitation for other customers to comment on my hair. So a woman starts to look. And says..."well, I think it's more British than American. Victoria Beckham is starting this trend." She continues rambling about how America proclaims everything British as their own, but I am just amazed that maybe my haircut is kind of like Posh. Rock on.
The One Who Shall Not Be Named (TOWSNBN) refutes my "undistinctive Hamburg" comments and suggests that the Harbor and the Alster make Hamburg unique, special...and distinctive. When he asked me to name another city that has a lake smack in the middle of it, I fumbled and guessed...Salt Lake City? (Nice try, right? But, sorry, no lake according to Google Maps.) Okay, I give in. TOWSNBN has a point. The Harbor and Alster are incredible. At night the lights at the Harbor spectacularly set the docks aglow. White sail boats punctuate the blue expanse of the two lakes during sunny days.
But I stand by pretentious.
At least for now.
Here I am wearing the puffy coat in Frankfurt with Ajay (who, if I may suggest, was not as equipped for the dropping temperatures :)). But, anyway, we had a good time nonetheless. Hakuna Matata.
