23 Juli 2016

**Full disclaimer-- I'm awful with technology so if this blog looks weird I sincerely apologize

Greetings from Lübeck! Although, I guess technically you can't really qualify today as a Lübeck day because we spent the majority of it in Hamburg...

Hamburg oh Hamburg, what a wonderful city! We started our excursion in the center of the city, the Rathaus (town hall), with a tour led by a surprisingly entertaining Scottish tour guide named Michael. 

Rathaus

PC:Maeve

Michael took us all around the city in a glorious adventure through time and architecture. Though each building stood alone in its own unique design, there was a common motif connecting these solitary monoliths: they were all replicas of the original buildings that were destroyed in the fire of 1842. 

So basically, a disgruntled employee from a cigar factory decided to set his place of work on fire, one might call him a tad hot-headed. Then, a lovely rum maker thought it wise to dump his rum into the river to save his home from burning faster with the alcohol. However, the rum was mixed with the very river water with which firemen tried to put out the fire. This fire raged for 10 flaming days and destroyed 25% of the city, leaving over 30,000 people homeless and in poverty... and then they got cholera... and died...  and then the Allies bombed 80% of the city. 

Years later, Hamburg rebuilt most of what was lost in the fiery flames of fury. Among these reboots of old Hamburg was Saint Peter's Church. You'll notice in the picture below that the bricks of the church alternate between traditional red and a charred black, this is because the architect used bricks from the original building that had survived the fire with mere discoloration. 

Saint Peter's Church 
PC:Maeve

After our tour, we had a bit of free time to experience the city in which ever way we so chose. For me, that meant food and lots of it! Hamburg is known for their Panfisch, a cod-like creature with a side of potatoes. As the self-proclaimed pickiest eater of the group, I can proudly say that even I thoroughly enjoyed this fishy dishy.

Panfisch: a fishy dishy
PC: Maeve

The boat tour of Hamburg's harbor was a little lacking in content, but still every bit as beautiful as one would expect a boat tour to be. However, I'd be lying if I said that Mr. Lyon's new 90% paper hat did not distract me from the beauty of the harbor.

Hamburg Opera House
PC: Maeve

To round out the Hamburg acade-adventure, the class ate together in a cute little restaurant where we were able to sing to our beautiful birthday girl, Adna. She's kinda a big deal. 

Here's Adna looking hawt
PC: Maeve and her stalkerness

Anywho, that's all for today folks! Bis Morgen!

-Jordan Z.