My wintry wandering this year took me to a city, not primarily of painters, poets or prophets but of businesses, industries, and traders. I tried to feel the pulse of the city and ended up with happy vibes brimming with the beauty of a different kind. History draped houses, canals, lakes, and a large port give this city a unique character that settles comfortably into one’s memory and steps forth like old pals at the mention of Hamburg, the Hanseatic harbor city.
History draped houses, canals, lakes, and a large port give this city a unique character that settles comfortably into one's memory and steps forth like old pals at the mention of Hamburg, the Hanseatic harbor city. #Travel… Click To TweetHow to feel the pulse of Hamburg?
When in Hamburg, you can enjoy a walkable feast amid cobblestone streets, bridges over the canals, stagger between cafes and then rejuvenate with a walk on the port promenade.
I missed the bus on a chilled afternoon from one of the bus stops in Hamburg. Turned out, missing the bus was the best thing that happened that day. I walked down the streets to reach the seaport, the heart of Hamburg. I felt the pulse of Germany’s largest port while walking. I saw large ships filled with containers from all over the world. Scents from distant lands waft through the air. A kind of place which makes one understand how insignificant we are in the broader scale of globalization. Borderless freedom of goods! The port of Hamburg was full of life. People were walking, singing, and making merry. While standing on the harbor, I saw both worlds: one where people presides and another world where material reigns. Hours slipped by, and I soaked in the vibrant vibes from all around.
World-famous attractions in Hamburg
After walking on the alleyways, roads, cobblestone streets and port promenade, I got acquainted with the vibes of Hamburg. I felt the confluence of businesses and beauty when I saw a beautiful sunset from the port. But I wanted to explore it a little deeper. So I planned to visit its world-famous attractions or the must-see places the next day.
Speicherstadt
Hamburg is an industrial, commercial and shipping hub, not a chic metropolitan city like Berlin, Paris or London, but it has its splashes of elegance. Take Speicherstadt, which means “warehouse city” as an example. The beautiful neo-gothic brick architecture of Speicherstadt and its winding network of streets, canals, and bridges combine an urban ethos with natural places.
No wonder, Speicherstadt is a Unesco world heritage site!
Elbphilharmonie
My second stop was Elbphilharmonie, one of the largest and acoustically most advanced concert halls in the world.
Without much preparation and expectation, I reached Hamburg on a wintry evening in January. Like many, I also wanted to listen to a concert inside the Elbphilharmonie. It is one of the largest and acoustically most advanced concert halls in the world. But alas! When I reached all tickets were sold out. I saw it from outside and filled with awe. I loved its wave-like ceiling. After a while, I started walking towards the Hamburg port and found myself nodding, after catching the wisp of a music session by a drummer.
Miniatur Wunderland
Miniatur Wunderland is the world’s largest model railway. I was surprised by the level of its details. Miniatures of different countries spread over two floors of an old warehouse in the Speicherstadt, Miniature Wunderland is truly a wonderland. Who says only digital media has the capability to take us into a virtual tour! You have to visit Miniatur Wunderland to see how reality too can take you on a virtual trip to countries like Switzerland, USA, Austria, Italy, Scandinavia, Central Germany, and Hamburg.
So I had to take a pic beside miniature Switzerland.
One thing that I especially liked while looking at the miniatures is all the human figures in action. Those figures poured life into the scenes.
Off-beat attractions in Hamburg
Some places in a city delight me, some inspire me and some impart knowledge that was unknown to me. My itinerary is always a mix of such places. I often choose off-beat attractions to go beyond the comfort zone of the known realm. During my trip to Hamburg, my visit to the exhibition called Dialogue in the Dark was one such place.
Some places in a city delight me, some inspire me and some impart knowledge that was unknown to me. My itinerary is always a mix of such places. #Travel #wanderlust #Prettycity Click To TweetDialogue in the Dark
In today’s fast-paced world, we are often unable to exercise empathy towards our fellow human beings. Dialogue in the Dark is an experience like no other that forces and helps us to understand and empathize with the world of our fellow human beings who are blind. Have you ever wondered how they go about their lives? How do they walk in the public, buy groceries from the market, enjoy a cup of coffee in a cafe, listen to the song of birds and flowing water? Dialog in the Dark takes a participant on an hour-long journey through many of these things in complete darkness, with a guide who is himself/herself blind. It may seem frightening in the beginning, but rest assured, everything is safe and you will most probably be in the company of others. Our guide was fantastic and made us realize that he leads a pretty normal life, with its ups and downs. I had mixed feelings after the experience – one of helplessness without the gift of sight and the other of empathy and respect towards those who do not have it and yet are fully able to lead normal lives through sheer will and courage. Of course, as a society we can be much more helpful by ensuring small but important things – like enabling audio signals on traffic lights and bus stops, making more books available as audiobooks and creating technological aids. If you are in Hamburg, visit Dialogue in the Dark and enrich yourself about a different world our fellow human beings share!
Chocoversum
It is always a good idea to have good chocolate with or without reasons! Because chocolate is happiness not just to a kid but adults too. My visit to Chocoversum in Hamburg was a delightful experience, to say the least!
The sweetness of the experience of visiting chocoversum, in Hamburg, a chocolate museum by Hachez still lingers in my mind. The chocolate fountain at the entrance of the tour was like a dream fountain.
The 90-minutes guided tour through the world of chocolate, where I learned how the company sources its cocoa beans and what their techniques are for turning them into chocolate were educational. Some other perks of the tour: Copious free samples along the way and a chocolate bar that I got to design in my way. What did I learn on this tour?
I learned how to recognize premium chocolate.
💖THE LOOK
Smooth surface, deep shine, and an unadulterated color.
💖THE SMELL
Not an overly sweet smell, but a smell of cocoa.
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💖THE SOUND
Firm with a characteristic crack when breaking through. (If the chocolate crumbles when broken, it is dry; if it breaks smoothly, it is soft.)
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💖THE FEELING
Tender enamel and a very soft mouthfeel without any trace of grain.
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💖THE AROMA
Intense cocoa note, but not bitter. Taste is mild and is not overlaid by acid.
Happy vibes in Hamburg Harbour
Any trip always gives me some special moments which I can relate to because of its universal qualities. In my short visit to Hamburg, my unhurried, unplanned and gentle stroll on the promenade bedside the Hamburg port is a sparkling gem in my Hamburg diary. Music, happy faces, an air of freedom everywhere and a vibrant crowd of tourists and locals and sweet sea breeze were a perfect melange of moments that beat even a thoughtfully curated social media feed in no time.
A living statue in Hamburg Port
A street performer.
A street artist.
No matter how you call them, I feel their work is pure art.
When music fills the air in Hamburg Port
A bubble man and children
An hour-long cruise from Hamburg Harbour
It was hard to tear myself away from the vibrant Hamburg harbor and embark on an hour-long cruise. It was also impossible not to hear the beckon of the sea. I decided to get inside a ship and see and feel the pulse of the port from the sea. I sat by the window and got the perfect brew with a view
Where I stayed in Hamburg
During my stay in Hamburg at Superbude Hotel & Hostel, I loved noticing an enticing mix of simplicity and uncommon detail. I found a wooden cycle and various moments captured in photographs just at the entrance of the breakfast room.
The warm and nutritious breakfast gave me the much-needed energy boost to explore the city on a winter day. And every day just before leaving the hotel, I never forgot to look at the wall full of flowers. After exploring the city every day for almost 9-10 hours, when I returned to this hotel, a dreamy white bubble-like decor in the entrance used to relax me instantly. If you have a plan to explore the beautiful city of Hamburg, then consider this budget-friendly superbude.
Book your stay at Superbude Hotel & Hostel
If you have a plan to explore the beautiful city of Hamburg, then book your stay at budget friendly Superbude Hotel & Hostel
Travel Realizations
On my short trip to Hamburg, I felt that the heart of Hamburg lies in its port. I loved walking on the bridges over the canals while exploring Speicherstadt and felt the difference between other cities with canals like Amsterdam and Venice. Hamburg is a kind of city that doesn’t take one away from the realities of life and commerce, but shows it from close quarters with all its poetic enormity.
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Disclosure: While this post was in partnership with Come to Hamburg, the opinions expressed are my own
Thrifty Campers
So very beautiful, the architecture is amazing with the arched bridges and wide canals running through. I was especially facinated when you spoke about dialogue in the dark, I can only imagine what an experience like that would do to the way we perceive our world vs a world blindly. I think we could all use a better understanding❤️