Hamburg, City of Luck?

Hallo from Hamburg! This blog seems to be having an identity crisis, for this week, the author is Drew (aka twin #2!). I felt it was a pretty big honor to be trusted with this task, but the joyous look on both Brenda and Chad's faces inspires a bit of skepticism. Regardless, I am happy to be in charge of sharing the past week's excitement!

I'm going to report our most current events leading backwards to where Chad left you loyal blog followers last week. That way, I can share the very exciting news Brenda got today! While Chad, Brenda, and I were getting ready for the day at the apartment in Hamburg, Brenda got a call from her company in Frankfurt about a jump-in role at the Hamburg Opera! Brenda will start rehearsing on Thursday, with her first of three performances happening a week from Saturday. So our Frankfurt return plans have changed slightly and we are all staying in Hamburg until Friday! Chad is nice enough to share his Dachgeschoss until we all hop the train back to Frankfurt in time for me to pack my suitcase and fly to Minneapolis on Saturday.

After the initial excitement we all shared for Brenda (and after she got all the logistical details worked out), Chad went to class while Brenda and I explored Hamburg. Though I have had the pleasure of visiting Germany many times before, this is actually my first time in Hamburg! It is a beautiful city and I'm quite glad I get to stay an additional two nights to take in the sights. The weather was fickle today (pouring rain while the sun was shining, you know the deal), so while Chad was on a break between classes, we all enjoyed some coffee while looking out at Binnenalster, a lake originally made as a reservoir for a mill in the center of the city. The mill is long gone, but the view is great! The weather started behaving, so Chad led us back to his school, where I got a quick tour of the beautiful grounds and one of his classrooms, which Brenda and I left him at so he could continue to fill his head with knowledge (though I'm not sure that's a good idea - I've gone hat shopping with the guy, it's a full head, if you ask me!). Brenda and I took a wonderful stroll through Planten un Blomen, a vast park filled with many different gardens.

Fall colors were plentiful in Planten un Blomen and I couldn't be happier!

By the time Chad was done with class for the day, we had all worked up quite the appetite. Brenda and Chad had been telling me about the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, which is a very traditional Bavarian brewpub and restaurant, and it just so happens that there is one in Hamburg! We went and had a very filling meal complete with live polka music and large beers. It was great fun, though we couldn't help but feel that this place might be comparable to the Hard Rock Cafe in the States...

Chad is always trying new things...

The big glass (ein Mas, one liter!) held Dunkelbier, which Brenda and Chad both had. The middle one is half  a liter,  which held my alcohol-free beer (does the size-alcohol ratio really make sense?). And what was in the small glass? It held silverware, of course.

Before arriving in Hamburg, Brenda and I (and Chad over the weekend) had been spending lots of quality time together in Frankfurt. Chad was my date to the opera last Friday where we got to see Brenda sing Musetta in La Bohemè. Brenda, Chad and I spent the rest of the night with Ariane, a friend of theirs that I had met on previous trips. It was a fun night (see picture below)!

This picture made the blog cut because my photo loading capabilities were left in Frankfurt! Flattering, eh?

I still have a few nights left in Germany, so I'm sure Chad or Brenda will fill you in next week about the new adventures! It's been a pleasure sharing my Germany visit with you all! Let it be known that Brenda and Chad are the most fantastic hosts EVER!

I'll leave you with one of the many reasons I love Germany:

A tiny, three wheeled truck. I think I'll take it on the plane home as my carry-on!