Hamburg-Germany 10,
July 18, 2023,
Hi Everyone,
I am staying at the Nordsee Hotel on the beach just outside of Wilhelmshaven. It is a nice enough 2-3*, very clean like everything in Germany but without too much character. I wasn’t looking for character; I was more interested in price and convenience when I chose it. I have a beautiful view of the beach and the gardens and I can get to ‘downtown’ easily in 5 minutes on my motor bike.
There are no children or families staying here. Mostly the hotel caters to 50-60 year old couples out for a few days holiday. The guests appear to be mostly working class or lower middle class, My bike is worth more than any car in the parking lot. (No Mercedes, Audis or Beemers except mine). In Hamburg everyone spoke English. You didn’t have to ask anyone “do you speak English?”. English, the Roman language of the 21st century has not reached here yet. Everyone is very polite and can speak a smattering of the international language. Once again sign language comes in handy.
Everyone smokes here, in the restaurant and on the terrace. The men all have bellies and the women are rather pudgy. People drink beer and only sip wine as an apero. I am used to saying Bonjour or Monsieur-Dame as in France when you enter a room or pass someone while walking. This is out of question here. I did this in the dining room yesterday and the men just stared at me. The women smiled however ( maybe they find me good looking ). My tattoos from the triathlon don’t wash off and I don’t feel like buying acetone to remove them. I look quite athletic.
I loaded up my bike with the necessities and headed into town to explore my surroundings. Rule 1, when you travel, always carry an umbrella. If you don’t, it will rain. It did, not hard but just enough to get me wet. I am wearing my North Face, gortex jacket for riding. It’s amazing. Yesterday, it was soaking we on the outside but I was dry as can be on the inside. It dried out in 8 hours hanging in my room. My leather gloves however are still wet. Unfortunately, the jacket has a hood that I didn’t bring with me. Rule 2, keep walking in between the raindrops. The rain will eventually stop and you will dry off.
Love, Brian
gobriantravel 