Germany, last visits before going home, 27.4-2.5.2016

27-28.4 Hamburg

The route on the map.

(up, d.l): I really liked the view from the train while travelling in Denmark, crossing bridges and taking interesting routes! (d.r): Stayed only for one evening and night in Hamburg, as a spontaneous decision, but had so much fun! Got to stay over at this lovely woman Linda, ate delicious wraps for dinner and in the evening for the last time experienced night life/bar life in Hamburg. We met up with two other super nice meteorologists and went out for a drink to Sternschanze. 

28.4 Thursday

28.4 Karlsruhe
This day was a lot of sitting and travelling by train! And once again my trust and positive thinking of Deutsche Bahn (DB) were at stake. On the way to Karlsruhe almost 45 minutes of delay, later 5 minutes of delay made me miss my next train by just 10 seconds, having to take other connection trains with more changes, which rises the risk of that delays would affect how good I will get my next train. In the end, I missed my last possible train to Regensburg, the final destination for the evening. But luck in misfortune: DB arrange taxi ride, 80 km!, so that we, me and another guy, could safely make it to Regensburg still this evening! So in the end, even though the delays, DB did everything so that I could get where I wanted, as it was planned! Just stay positive ;) I actually arrived to Regensburg earlier than it would have been by train :D

The route from Hamburg to Karlsruhe. The time here is not correct, actually had to travel in the same train for more than 6 hours, but when finally coming to Karlsruhe, the nice weather, meeting a friend Robin from the early part of my trip and knowing you can see the city in nice sunny weather, made it all worth the long trip!

About 3 hours time to get to know this beautiful city. Karlsruhe was founded by Charles William in 1715 and is today the second biggest city in Baden-Württemberg. In the same year the palace (d.r) was build at the center of the city with 32 streets radiating out from the palace. From above it looks like a folding fan (viuhka) or the spokes of a wheel, giving the nickname the "fan city", or in German Fächerstadt. Behind the palace is a big park and forest. (d.l): the oldest part of the city is the city centre and lies south of the palace. Here is also the market square with the town hall (on the picture behind the constructions). The pyramid in the picture contains the tomb of the founder of the city (Margrave Charles III William). We walked along the streets in the center and you could really notice the structure of the streets radiating from the palace.

After seeing the city Robin took me to Durlach, the former capital of the area. We had lunch here and then took the funicular railway, Turmbergbahn (d.l), up to the hill named Turmberg (tower hill). The hill is covered by vineyards and on top of it is a castle ruin. We climbed up to the watch-tower, and by this beautiful weather you had a nice view over Karlsruhe and all the way to the valley of the river Rhine. It was so beautiful! Down we took the staircase.

Robin and me on top of the hill in Durlach. Thank you for showing me your town and thanks for taking the time! Even though it was only a few hours, I saw a lot and really love Karlsruhe, especially the view from the hill in Durlach!

28.4-1.5 Regensburg

Because of the delays I missed my train by a few seconds, having to take the next connections towards Regensburg. As mentioned before, in the end I got a ride with the cab from Nürnberg to Regensburg and met there my lovely friend Petra, who is now on exchange in Regensburg until the end of July, then coming back home to Finland.  I was really looking forward to see her and spending time with her before going back home. This is the last stop before going to Hamburg and then to Helsinki.

29.5 Friday
The weather was just lovely and I went for a run in the morning, checking up the area.

Regensburg is the fourth biggest city in the State of Bavaria and lies in south-east Germany. The big river Danube flows next to Regensburg, but the city is also situated close to the Naab and Regen rivers. Before going for a city sightseeing tour, we, together with Petra's friends, went shopping for lederhosen for the traditional Maifest. We went to Donau Einkaufscentrum (up). (d.l): the medieval stone bridge, looks like the Charles bridge in Prague! The bridge crosses the Danube river and was build in 1135-1146. (d.r): the view from the river in the direction towards the old town that is actually the largest old medieval town north of the Alps! The most famous things to see in Regensburg is also located in the old town. On the picture you can see the towers of the Dom, St. Peter's Church. It was founded in in 1275, completed 400 years later. It is also built in Gothic style, such as many other churches I have seen during my trip.

(up): The view from the stone bridge. (d.r): the front side of the cathedral. Apart from this church there are a lot more on the old town. 

(up): enjoying the lovely weather and Regensburg on the stone bridge, me and Petra. (d.l): the town hall. One funny thing is that along the roads in the old town, suddenly there is a bus! It drives among other people and there is not even a car road, it just drives in the old town! (d.r): inside the church. We had ice cream and just enjoyed the afternoon/evening in the city centre/old town. 

30.5 Saturday
Today is a special day for the Finnish people, it is "Vappu". Lots of serpentines, colours, balloons, grilling, eating, drinking, spending time with friends and school mates and just celebrating the students/workers day. The eve of the first of may is mostly celebrated among students, the day is the picnic day and people come to the city for lunch, visiting the market and having a walk at the sea. This year I will celebrate Vappu here in Regensburg with Petra and her friends here. Actually there are other people from Finland studying here in Regensburg, so we could make an own Vappu celebration here! :) with Finnish music, saying cheers at 6 p.m., grilling and having serpentines. It was really a nice day! But before the celebration, we went to Walhalla!

We took the ferry to Walhalla, driving along the Danube and sitting on the deck for 45 minutes, enjoying the nice weather and the trip.

It was really beautiful during the trip towards Walhalla!

We had about 75 minutes to spend ashore, climbing up 251 steps up to the temple (up, u.l). Walhalla was built in 1842 and erected by the crown prince Ludwig I of Bavaria (Bayern). It is a national monument to honour the greatness of Germany. From outside it really resembles Parthenon! We did not go inside, just sat in the stairs and enjoying the nice view (d.r). Inside you would have found 130 busts, i.e. sculptures, of Germanic worthies from more than 2000 years of history. 

The place was really amazing! We almost got sunburned from being so much outside and sitting on the deck under the sun! But it was all worth it! In the afternoon we went for the grilling and celebrated Vappu. It was a perfect ending for a perfect day!

Regensburg was a really beautiful city and I loved spending time with my friend and her new friends from the dormitory or from school! It was so lovely! Thank you Petra <3 hope to see you when you come home, before I will leave again!
My favorites in Regensburg: the old town, Danube boat trip to Walhalla.

1.5 Sunday

1-2.5.2016 Hamburg
So the trip comes literally to its end, unfortunately! Last stop: Hamburg, before going back home to Finland.

Got to experience once again the fun in travelling with the German trains--> my train from Regensburg to Würzburg was delayed, and just by a few seconds I missed my connection train. Me and four other people were also about to take the same train, so we travelled together part of the trip, having to take the next possible train. By doing this, I arrived in Hamburg Altona at 17.51 in the evening, just one hour later than planned. It was lovely to meet my relatives again. We had a delicious dinner together that evening. 

2.5 Monday
The last day in Hamburg, arriving in September for the first time, spending an amazing Erasmus exchange half a year here, meeting so many new people, making new friends, studying at the University of Hamburg, experienced and saw a lot during my stay here, mostly good things but also bad and hard things happened. Then leaving for an Europe trip for two months, visiting many cities and countries, meeting more people and seeing a lot! Now back to the place I started. But this time it is different, until now I always knew I would come back in a short time, but now I will leave and won't come back shortly (for sure some day in the future!!). And now I really need to say goodbye to all my friends, who are living here or are still continuing their Erasmus year. It was really hard, but this trip made it easier to say goodbye, because I could visit my friends during my trip, as I also did, and always stop by in Hamburg, my second home ;). So I really spend this day meeting up with people, very important ones and good friends, enjoying the beautiful Hamburg, this time the weather was also lovely! The last impression from Hamburg, not as a rainy and gray city, but as a sunny and beautiful city <3

(up): having a lovely walk with my friend around the lake Alster. I will miss this! (d.r): TV-tower of Hamburg. (d.l): Geomaticum, my study place at the university on Hamburg. From outside maybe not the most beautiful building, but I got many good memoires from here and had many good lectures! As you say: the beauty comes from inside ;) I also met many exchange friends at the main Uni campus, sitting outside on the grass in the sun!

Before having to go back and do the last packing, I met up with my other new meteorologist friends and we walked to the big park Planten un Blomen. I am so happy I got to be here in Hamburg at this time of the year and see how beautiful the parks are with all the green and flowers! 

We all had ice cream in the park. It was just lovely and a perfect ending to my whole adventure!

In the evening of was time to gather all my stuff, say goodbye to my relatives as well and then heading to the train.