Tag: Germany

Hanover, Germany to Amsterdam, The Netherlands

We had a busy day today. We went out and found a great place for coffee and pastry.

Our coffee shop for breakfast, Machwitz Kaffee
This very cool building was right across the street from our hotel
I’m going to miss fresh croissants for breakfast!

Our train leaving Hanover wasn’t until about 4 so after we checked out of the hotel we stored our bags and went exploring.

Because it was a weekday the town hall was open. Inside we walked around a bit. They had 4 large scale models of Hanover over the years.

Inside the New Town Hall
Hanover in 1689
In Opera House Square outside the coffee shop we went to.

We stopped for coffee and a snack.

Inside the coffee house

Although we had first class train tickets we did not have an assigned seat. After we got on the train we found a place in second class to stow our bags and then, after we had pull out of the station, we found a conductor in one of the first class compartments. She found us seats even though almost every seat was taken. The train ride from Hanover to Amsterdam took almost 5 hours.

Duke’s seat. He has gone to retrieve our bags and stow them on the luggage rack in our compartment

In Amsterdam we walked to our hotel and then found a Dutch bar where we could have beer and a meat and cheese board for dinner.

Inside the bar where we had dinner
Dinner
Walking back from dinner

Hanover day 2

This morning we went out looking for some breakfast. Because it was Sunday morning many places were closed.

The building we were originally headed for.
These dragons were on top of the building we originally thought might have a bakery open

When the original location we checked out wasn’t open we kept walking and eventually found this place.

Where we ended up for breakfast
Coffee
Fresh squeezed orange juice
A breakfast sandwich

Then we went for a walk. We walked around the New City Hall (Neues Rathaus) and the nearby lake.

New Town Hall
Rowers on the lake

Then we sat and people watched and enjoyed the sun in front of the city hall.

Taking a break

Today the Hanover 96 Football Club was playing in the stadium right next to the lake. We could hear the singing and cheering as we drank our beer. We saw lots of fans.

Hanover football fans

For dinner we ate at Brauhaus Ernst August.

Inside the Brewery where we had dinner
We each had schnitzel and salad.

Poznań, Poland to Hanover, Germany

Today was a big travel day. We left our hotel and walked to the Poznań train station about 8 am. In the picture below Duke is in line to try to use the last of our Polish currency on breakfast.

Ordering breakfast at the Poznań train station
Breakfast

For the first leg of our journey we had train tickets to go from Poznan to Berlin. The train journey was scheduled to be about three and a half hours. After we got on the train we learned that they had a bus bridge from the Poland/Germany border to Berlin.

We still arrived in Berlin right on time. The traffic in Berlin was really bad and I wish I understood German so I could have understood what our bus driver was yelling at the other drivers. At one point point he said ***** Berliners *****. Which I understood to be a comment on Berlin drivers. The whole bus laughed.

On the train before we changed to the bus

The Berlin train station was pretty amazing. There were at least 5 floors with buses and trains and shops and restaurants. We had about an hour wait and then we were on the train to Hanover.

While we waited Duke went to ask about our tickets to Amsterdam for Monday. We have first class tickets but no seat assignments. The customer service agents told Duke yes that’s right. It seems strange that they can sell us tickets but NO seats. Hopefully we won’t be standing!We shall see what happens Monday!

Berlin train station

In Hanover we walked to our hotel. We saw a loud pro Palestine demonstration and several beautiful buildings. For dinner we walked to a nearby restaurant called Bavarian Hannover. We had beer and Bratz.

Our beer
My bratz
The New Town Hall in Hanover

Wilkendorf, Germany to Poznań, Poland

Today we drove back into Poland, to Poznań to return our rental car. The rental was for 10 days and we were scheduled to meet the car pick up person at the train station tomorrow. Our hope was to turn it in today so we wouldn’t have to pay for parking tonight. We got to Poznan about 2:30 and called the rental car company. They said someone could meet us at 8 tonight to pick up the car. So we parked, checked in and went exploring.

Poznań Old Market Square
More of the Old Market Square
Poznań Town Hall

Finally about 8:30 the guy showed up, We gave him the car and went to a Pizza place for dinner.

Our pizza
This is what we ordered.

After our pizza we walked around the Old Market Square again.

Tomorrow we will take the train to Hanover.

The old Market Square tonight

Wilkendorf day 2

Today we walked halfway around the Lake in nearby Strausberg. The lake has an electrically driven cable ferry that we took back to our starting point. There is an overhead power line across the lake. The cable powers the ferry. The distance between the electrical towers is 370 meters.

Walking around Lake Straussee
The electrical cable ferry

After our three mile walk we had coffee and cake at a nearby bakery.

Duke picking his pastry at Hennig der Steinofenbäcker
Coffee and pastries

For dinner we went to a nearby restaurant called Restaurant Doppeldecker across the street from the local airfield. The reviews mentioned an airplane parked across from the restaurant. We thought the name was referring to a double decker aircraft. But after seeing the plane and the pictures on the wall we realized Doppeldecker meant Biplane in English!

Restaurant Doppeldecker

Our meal was excellent.

Duke’s mixed grill
My pork tenderloin with roasted brie on top.

I’ve been sad that I’m always too full for desert so tonight we sacrificed and had brownies for desert.

Brownies