What a lovely night I just had! Some wonderful friends of family were so kind to wait 2.5 hrs for our tardy ship (due to a backup at the locks on the Kiel Canal). Since we’d never met nor seen pictures of them, Jens and his son, Bjoern told me what license plate to look our for on a black SUV at the cruise terminal. Brooke and I were so impressed with their perfect English and their hospitable welcome - greeting us with hugs and opening car doors for us all night. Jens drove us around Hamburg to show us some sights: the extensive shopping, the post-war cathedrals, the inner and outer lakes, some theaters and music halls, the wealthy villas, and the infamous Red Light District. It was quite unsettling to drive by prostitutes standing on corners in their knee-high boots under pink and black umbrellas. He pointed out a wall that was guarded to keep women out...only men are allowed to enter the street behind the wall, because there are window peep shows to entice them in to “buy.”
We ended up at an upscale lounge called the 20 Up Bar inside the Riverside Hotel...right outside the Red Light District, but very classy. We took the lift 20 stories up, checked our coats, passed the dress code up-and-down “scan,” and struggled to find a place to sit or stand. It was über-packed! I learned that in Germany, the drinking age is 16 for beer and wine and 18 for hard liquor (18 as well as for driving!) I also learned that when I am standing in your way in Germany, it is common and acceptable to physically move me out of your way with the back of your hand or elbow. Bjoern chose our fresh juice cocktails, Jens treated, and we had a lovely time chatting about careers and customs while appreciating the drizzly yet colorful view of the city.
The whole night Jens kept apologizing for the rain, which we really didn’t mind at all, especially since we were in the shelter of a nice car and bar! To top off the night, Jens gave us a packet of pages he printed off from home about Hamburg. I think I’ll use this rainy night on IPM to snuggle in and read it!
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