August 1, Hanover Germany

Another leisurely start...so off. Out of hotel by 10 am and following the "Red thread". The city has a self guided walking tour that provides a book through the various city sights and a guide book to go along. The sights are numbered, in the book and on the side walk. It is excellent. Lots of walking, probably 10 km today. Weather has warmed up, 28 degrees today. Very nice. Shorts and t shirt weather again.

Stopped at the Opera house. Rocky Horror Picture Show is playing and was thinking about going but decided not. Continued on, there are 36 stops on the red thread. Stopped at the bombed out church. It is very different in the daytime. The 4 walls and tower are the only thing standing. No roof or supports for the walls. On to the New city hall, although it is still over 100 years old! It is very nice. There are 4 relief maps in the main lobby from different time periods from 1639 to present, include pre and post war. Most of the city was destroyed but the city hall was spared.

Caught the elevator to the top of the city hall dome. 1 elevator to the 3rd floor, 1 flight of stairs, and then another elevator and then 3 more sets of circular stairs to get to the top. The amazing part is the 2nd elevator floor is on a slant, 17 degrees feels like more, and runs up a curvy elevator shaft and the floor finishes on the opposite slant. A very strange sensation.

The views from the top were amazing. Able to look all around the city.
Continuing along the red thread walked past several art galleries and museums to the Leine River. This river appears and disappears at various parts. We went through a flea market which looked like a flea market anywhere. Then into the old part of town. Stopped for pork schnitzel in a bun. Euro 5. It was huge and very tasty! Stopped for coffee in a small square as there was a jazz band playing. The square was packed with coffee shops chairs and all of them full. Seemed like that was the way to spend Saturday afternoon! Many were having beer or wine! Life is tough!

Continuing on, ended up in the main shopping area. Very nice, even for shopping, as it was completely a pedestrian area for several blocks. Lots of free entertainment as well. The mobile sausage guy. Huge umbrella and a BBQ hooked on his waste. The flutist and the break dancers.

Wandered around and then back to hotel. We had dinner out at a pasta place not far away.


July 31 Hanover, Germany

Well we are down to 2 people, Gillian left this morning. It is really strange!
Lounged around the hotel after another great breakfast at the pub next door. But this morning it was nice enough to sit outside along the canal. Very nice.

Caught a 1 pm train to Hanover. It was just over 4 hours on the train, but went very fast. Maybe that is because we are used to 24 hours on the train.

We were able to walk to the hotel, not that far. Basically just dropped the bags and headed out as there is a festival along the Maschsee Lake. A very nice lake with stone walls all around. There is even a sailing club. There were a couple of boats out but there was not much for wind. It is a music festival, apparently with live bands and DJs. When we arrived there were many food, beer and cocktail places set up and it was packed with people. Every kind of food you could want was available as well as many different beers and drinks. Walked around for a couple of hours and did not find any live bands but did see the DJ at work. Really quite the event as when we walked back to the hotel the streets were virtually empty. Bars, pubs, and restaurants were empty! They must hate this week long festival.

On the way back to hotel we saw some very nice looking buildings. City Hall, an oddly shaped museum building (??), roofless 14th century church (bombed in 1943 and remains a memorial to those who died during the war) and the opera house. At the opera house Rocky Horror picture show is playing. There were only a few people dressed up.