We are docked in Kiel and our tour today was a little different. We boarded the bus as usual but we had an escort board the bus with us for our 1.5 hour drive to Hamburg. When we arrived in Hamburg our tour guide, Alexander, was then picked up for our guided tour. The trip from Kiel to Hamburg was along the freeway where there is no speed limit and cars were zipping past us at a very fast pace. The only photo I took was of the wind turbines and solar panels that were in the middle of farming country. We think that the farm owners lease their land to the energy companies that would generate a good income for them. Can I also add here that every country we have been to so far in Europe and also Ireland and the UK, are embracing green energy. We hear figures from anywhere between 100% (Iceland) to 70% of energy needs coming from green sources. Most are around the 90%. We have a long way to go in Australia to catch up with the rest of the world…..
The farm is well and truly set up for the tourist trade with a lovely restaurant and gift shop inside the main building and dotted here and there are lovely pieces of furniture made from old apple crates. The locals arrive in dozens to collect a little cart to go and pick their own fruit. The kids love it. The German owner gives a talk (interpreted by our tour guide) about the varieties of apples - some 500 - that are all organically grown. He has laid out an orchard in the shape of an apple with all 500 varieties. It is really quite amazing.
The restaurant continues the apple theme with its colourful red and apple green chairs sitting around tables made from the timber from apple trees. We are served tea or coffee with both plum and apple slices and a Schnapps that we are to drink in one gulp at the end of our meal.
Back on the bus and we are headed to the old Elbe Tunnel. Built in 1911, under the Elbe river, it was constructed to connect the centre of Hamburg to the docks and shipyards on the other side. It is 24 metres under the waterline and is 428 metres in length. Six large lifts on either side, transported vehicles and pedestrians down to the tunnel. In 2008 approximately 300,000 cars, 68,000 bicycles and 700,000 pedestrians were transported in the tunnels. In 2023 the tunnel was closed to all vehicles with only cyclists and pedestrians allowed. It is quite an experience to walk the 428 metres.
The next leg of our tour is by train. Our tour guide quickly purchased tickets and we all board the train and travel just three stops and we are in yet another town square! 
Before we begin our walk around the square our guide takes us to a little cafe for another sweet, this time a cinnamon pastry. I think we were meant to have them as take-away and munch on them as we walked but out of the 12 in our group the majority wanted to sit at tables to eat. **sigh**. The pastries were tasty but Philip and I purchased salad rolls to take and eat on our walk. They were seriously good eating but I forgot the photo. However I did get a photo of the local favourite. Herring salad rolls. Not for me thank you very much. 
Our guide took us first to the most important building in the town square, you got it, the Town Hall. However the foyer inside this one was pretty amazing, and the courtyard beyond was also a surprise.
We came upon this weird structure in the square and the guide encouraged us to stand in the middle or it and take a photo. How amazing is this photo that looks like a crystal.
We again returned to our bus and were taken to the very exclusive Lakes area. The lakes are man made and are surrounded by lovely parks and gardens. Our guide pointed out the mansions that were owned by many famous people who have paid over 10 million dollars for the privilege of living in this beautiful area.
Before we reached the lakes area we passed by Hamburg Railway Station, another of Micheal Portillo's greatest train stations.
Before I sign off I want to mention that Hamburg has a huge shipping container port. There are thousands of containers lying in the yards and you couldn't count the number of cranes that are unloading massive container ships. All I can think is every container that is unloaded has to be re-loaded on a single truck and indeed there are hundreds of trucks running backwards and forwards from the port. All the talk about green energy but it is all a bit defeatist if you don't reduce the number of carbon emitting trucks. Just my thought…..
Oh, and just for a laugh, the odd shape building in the background of this photo the Germans call their "Sydney Opera House". Are you kidding me 😂😂
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