The Walter Tour

We left early this morning to catch a train (well, 1 train, 1 sub and 1 u-ban) to go to Hamburg. Becky met Walter more years ago than she can count when he was an exchange student at Peninsula H.S.  The following year, Walter returned to Hamburg and Becky was an exchange student at Walter's school, Peter Peterson Schule, in Hamburg. 

Walter met us at the main station in Hamburg and gave us a tour of his wonderful city. It was not the typically tour and it was truly delightful.

Our 'buddy shot' with Walter with the St. Michaelas Kirche in the background--we were practically on our knees to get that shot with the church spire.

 Hamburg harbor happened to be having it's 800th birthday celebration this weekend so the town was flooded with over a million tourists.  As a consequence we did not spend much time in the city center.  The photo above was taken at the Elbe River.

Many historic ships sailed up the Elbe into the harbor for the birthday celebration.

It was our intention to walk along the dike, but once up the hill we found the way blocked by this fence.  In fact detours were the order of the day on the streets and elsewhere.  Not that it mattered because we were seeing new things whether they were on the intended route or the detour. 



 Sheep grazing on the dike hill.

 Just for Gary:  shots of the apple orchards in the area.  There was a strong and cold wind that day that had just knocked off the blossoms.

Blankenese house and garden.



 View from a restaurant in Blankenese where we stopped for coffee and kuchen.

Walter took us to the house where Becky lived with her first Gernan family, the Carstens, who unfortunately have passed away...

Wo ist meine Schule? (where is my school?)

and to Peter Peterson Schule which has been renamed and remodeled.

Walter invents a new word.

   Not precisely in this restaurant, but in another restaurant in Hamburg Mary Frances asked Walter (who is retired from the police department) whether German policemen like any particular pastry, much as American upholders-of-the-law are reputed to enjoy donuts.  Walter's English is perfect, but somehow there was a miscommunication:  Mary Frances and I couldn't stop laughing when Walter saw a photo of Gary and commented, "He looks like a donut".  Walter wants a copyright on the new slang word for police officer.