Having never been to Augsburg previously but having heard a lot about Augsburg and particularly the Fuggerei I had high expectations. I set off on foot as check out time was noon.
Some interesting nooks and crannies Breakfast
Stopped for breakfast at the local market.
There are trams. Anti-antisemitism poster in the background.
I
The Main Street of the Fuggerei
8 Euros to explore the Fuggerei. The place is fascinating.
One of the key requirements of the Fuggerei is the Catholic faith.
There was a victim of the National Socialist even in the Fuggerei.Stolperstein
The Fuggerei was flattened by British bombing towards the end of the Second World War. Augsburg was a major centre for manufacturing weapons including fighter planes, and therefore a prime target. The Fuggerei was rebuilt.
Lech
On the way back to the hotel I discovered that the river is channelled through the city next to roads and houses.
I also walked along a street with loads of school children playing in the road. I asked the policeman what was happening. The police had blocked the street in preparation for a demonstration. An enterprising sports teacher used the moment to get the children out for a bit of fun.
Police blockade
After checking out I went back to the Augsburg Altstadt
Ausburger WasserfahrradKaffee und KüchenIt’s warm- eating outside in February Time to head to the station
Augsburg exceeded expectations, beautiful city, but substantially rebuilt after the war.
Change at München
Leaving München Mountains in the distance Bernau am ChiemseeTraunstein
What is interesting is that the German regional train runs from München to Salzburg, requiring cross border cooperation. This happens quite frequently on this trip.
Change at Salzburg Near Salzburg Full luggage rackSun setting Wien HBF
A short walk to St Pancras station. As ever border control seems chaotic and the waiting area is packed and too hot.
St Pancras platform Leaving St Pancras Lunch under the sea.Arriving in ParisGare du NordIt’s not far to Gare de l‘estBoarding at Gare de L‘EstHeading out of ParisThe suburbs The TGV is fast. It reached 319kph.SupperArrived in Augsburg
Time for a quick late night tour.
Am FischertorDer DomIbis am Hauptbahnhof
A pleasant but long day. Also confusing language wise. German, French, English (and some Polish) being spoken on the train. French bartender spoke to me in French until I hesitated ,then he switched to German.
Didcot Premier Inn – Plus roomBathroom- shower better than standing in a bath.Leaving DidcotA view of the BT tower on the way across London St Pancras Premier Inn – a plus room.View from the room.Paddington to St Pancras
The cycle route was mainly on protected cycle lanes. Some are very new. This makes the ride far more pleasant. But stop start.
Then a cycle to the Great Nepalese Restaurant near Euston station.
Vegetable momos The Nepalese set menu for one.Great food at the Great Nepalese.Complimentary food is available in the Sleeper Lounge.About to board the sleeper.Breakfast in the Highlands It’s snowy- the River Findhotn.Approaching Inverness Arrived at Inverness Snow had crept into the train.Inverness station has a dusting of snow.
Unfortunately the Far North train does not connect well with the Sleeper. I have a two hour wait in Inverness. Not much open at this time so in a moment of inspiration it’s off for a breakfast at Premier Inn. Must get sponsorship.
River NessSecond breakfast.
The Premier Inn is slightly disorganised. The card reader is not working so I get a free breakfast. Due to a low number of staff it takes an age for it to be served. Can’t complain because I am not paying for it.
Snowy Far North train at Inverness.Heading away from Inverness Slight speckling of snow near Conon Bridge.Near Edderton Near Invershin
There’s proper snowy scenery
Then back to the coast.
Near Brora
Then up the Helmsdale Strath.
River Helmsdale Very white near Kinbrace.Between Halkirk and Thurso.River ThursoIt’s snowing in Thurso
Den Haag HSChristmas decorations are up.Appeared to be no luggage racks on the train.Typical countryside near DelftNear SchiedamHollanders DiepBreda station
Breda station is poorly signposted plus two platforms are missing. Very confusing for a visitor.
Passing AntwerpArrived in Brussels.
I had a little time to look around Brussels
Cartoons are on some of the house walls.. Rue des Capuchins More cartoons. Rue Notre Damme de Graces.View across Brussels from Palais de Justice.At Judgy Vegan cafe
In the cellar of the Judgy Vegan.
A cartoon at Brussels zuid midi
Kerfuffle at the border control. I was asked if I have a flick knife. Turns out to be a multi tool in the bag.
Due to congestion at the Eurostar terminal we leave late. Eurostar, you have something to work on. The whole process of passing through border control is hectic and disorganised with lots of pinch points.
It’s turned to dusk as the Eurostar sets off. It’s dark by the time the Eurostar has a pause waiting for permission to enter the channel tunnel.
Pause near Fréthun,
Then it’s down into the tunnel and onto England.
Platform for Eurostar at St Pancras.
I unfolded the Brompton to make it easier to move with the luggage. A mistake as it turned out. I was directed to the lift which is tiny and therefore has a long queue of people with large amounts of luggage, push chairs and one bike. I am second to last in the queue. Poor design!
Tiny lift at St Pancras.
I am the last to leave.
When previously passing through Oxfordshire on the train I had spotted that the train line would be closed between Paddington and Reading due to HS2 workday, but it was possible to get to Reading using the Elizabeth Line. So I cycled to Tottenham Court Road to catch the Elizabeth Line. I discover that the Elizabeth Line in the central area of London is not running. I am directed to take the District Line to Ealing Broadway to catch the Elizabeth Line. It is chaos at the tube station.
The District Line has small, noisy and very warm carriages. It is an old line. The tube train is crowded.
Change at a busy Ealing Broadway.On the Elizabeth Line.
The Elizabeth Line has modern rolling stock. Nice and quiet but nowhere to put rubbish.
Reading- Elizabeth Line train across the platform.
The journey from St Pancras took far longer than normal so by the time I reach the Premier Inn at Didcot the kitchen is closed. So an emergency Macdonald’s it is.
Soggy burger and overly salty fries,Premier Inn room.
The room has seen better days. One light out and sink plug jammed. Welcome back to the UK.
Room is basic with no kettle, rather inconveniently.
Amazing cookie at the Birdflower cafe.The beach is nearby.A street in Den Haag.Escher in het Paleis
The Escher exhibition in a former palace is worth the visit.
Looking away from Escher in het PaleisInside the palace
One of the moving exhibits.
Having left the exhibition I stumbled on the Sintetkaas parade., which was impressively long. Before the parade children and parents thronged the streets. I grabbed a coffee in Vascobelo – V Den Haag.
Parade
The main attraction
Unfortunately the cycle back in the rain resulted in a soaking.
The people in Den Haag are extremely friendly and international.
Catching the 1243 train I was due to get in to Den Haag at 1910.
German Premier Inn breakfast.
The German Premier Inn breakfast was not as good as the British version. Fuelled up for the journey.
Premier Inn – Alster ( nearish to the Alster).
It’s only a 12 minute cycle to the Hamburg Hauptbahnhof.
Waiting at Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
Arrived punctually at Osnabrück.
Osnabrück Hauptbahnhof
The connecting train to Amsterdam was 27 minutes late.
Passing goods train at Osnabrück provided entertainment.
The train to Amsterdam arrived, off we went, crossing the border onto the Netherlands. The train guard had changed from a German to a Dutch person. The announcements went to three languages.
And then the announcement came on, the train was terminating early at Amersfoort Central, due to an accident on the line between Amersfoort and Amsterdam. We were told to catch a train to Utrecht.
Off we got at Utrecht where I followed the crowd who started running. After resisting the urge to join in, I sprinted on the platform to join a very crowded train.
Busy platform at Utrecht.The Christmas decorations are already up.
The next train to arrive at the platform where I had got off was heading to Den Haag, very conveniently. This was the same train I would have caught from Amsterdam. Which meant I arrived at Den Haag on time.
Hamburg combines a massive port, industry with a beautiful city including two large lakes, Binnen Alster and the Außen Alster. Lots of history, lots of culture, lots to see. And the there is the Elbe, used by ships to reach Hamburg, which is inland. The container port is built on the Elbe.
Hamburg has a really good public transport system including the S Bahn.
Hamburg has a number of impressive churches.
View from the St Michaelis , including the Hamburger Dom.St MichaelisClose upSt Nicolai KircheSt. Katharinen KirchePetrikirche- the oldest site for a church.Altona Kirche
Not as old as the churches is the Elbtunnel opened 1911. You can cycle or walk through it, free of charge.
View down the tunnel from the north side.Looking up on the south side.
And then there is the Spiecherstadt. A complex of old warehouses next to canals. Now mainly repurposed.
A view of the warehouses next to a canal.
Some of the bridges have two levels.
Warehouses, picture taken from above the previous picture.
There are other interesting buildings.
Schanzenturm- now a hotel. Formerly the biggest water tower in Europe.FC St Pauli stadium, Grüner Bunker and Fernsehturm.
The former bunker now has a garden on top.
Hamburger Rathaus
Every year the Hamburger Dom takes place in Winter. It has its origins in the 11th century.
There is a lot of culture in Hamburg, with the Elbphilharmonie standing out as a landmark, built on top of some warehouses.
Elbphilharmonie partially hidden by the bridge to the Spiecherstadt. St Katharinen Kirche in the background.
The Elbphilharmonie is a good place to view Hamburg and the Hafenstadt.
A view from the Elbharmonie.
The Elbharmonie has a long curved escalator.
The port is huge, the third largest in Europe. The Elbe gives an advantage, bringing goods inland reducing costs, but the downside is as the ships are getting bigger they can no longer travel up the river.
A view from the Köhlbrandbrücke.Also from the Köhlbrandbrücke Cranes for moving containers
Vehicles for moving the containers.
On a bus tour
There is of course the Reeperbahn
The Davidwache-the famous police station.Just off Davidstraße is Herbertstaße. No men under 18 and no women allowed.
A few more Elbe related pictures.
Lock at Moorfleet.Flood control barriers at Moorfleet.Neue Elbbrücke.
Near Hammerbrook
Hamburg is a a beautiful city but like many cities it suffers from the dominance of cars. The roads are crowded with cars and the seems to be little observance of the 50km/h speed limit. Unpleasant!
There is good provision for cyclists, but could be better. Occasionally the routes are not clear and there are frequent road works which particularly seem to affect the cycle paths. Touring Hamburg on the bike was fun.
And a tip for rainy days. Buy a HVV day ticket and travel on the U3 , which does a loop, mostly above ground, sometimes elevated.
Insight 