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City tour Hannover (Sep 2009)
Together with our good friends Barbara ("Schoeneberger") and Rainer ("Otto") we visited the cosmopolitan city of Hannover in Sep 2009.
After a long, long journey with app. 1.800 km jam on the motorway we arrived shortly after 6 pm at our Hotel where we unpacked our travelling bag. Shortly afterwards we had a great greek diner including some pints of local beer. As the car travel had been exhausting we needed a beer or two more than usual to get relaxed. At 11 pm or maybe some minutes later we fell into our beds - sleepy and in pieces. Next morning, or better the whole next day, we had planned to make a sightseeing tour through Hannover.
Hannover, a cosmopolitan city? For sure! If you look out of the windows of the New Town Hall, the whole world lies beneath your feet:
The world map: 'islands' in the Masch pond 
But one by one. As a start we strolled through many pedestrian zones near and around the main railway station (without buying anything!).
App. 100.000 steps further, after having had an ice cream and a coffee, we made a sightseeing on the New Town Hall. "On" the town hall? Sure. Hannover is the only city owning a town hall which is old (built 1901 - 1913) but is called New Town Hall, and also having an underlay lift. This lift reaches up to the dome of the town hall where you have a splendid view over the whole town.
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You also have a splendid view on one of the wonders of the world: the market church in Hannover. Wonder of the world? Why that? Yes, the market church is the only building in town which can be seen from anywhere. Probably even in the subway.
Market church 
Remark of the lector: the description of the market church on this page is wrong. First of all, it is not a wonder of the world, and secondly, it cannot be seen from anywhere in town. This is a subjectice impression by the author.
During World War II, Hannover was extensively destroyed. Rainer, native-born in Hannover, showed us a model presenting the city in 1945 - I believe more than 90% were razed to the ground. I was astonished that nevertheless many single buildings have "survived", and we visited quite a few of them (or at least had a look from outside). These old buildings and modern architecture compose an interesting mixture - a choice of it:
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Watching art didn't get a raw deal during our visit - at least architecture design. Many artfully designed bus stops attracted our eyes of which you may see the two samples on the left and the right. |   |
From time to time we made a break. Please be assured that we did not drink any alcohl during breaks! I furnish proof:
.. and counterevidence .. 
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On sunday morning the sighseeing tour commenced in direction Hannover-Herrenhausen Gardens. For three hours we visited the park-like gardens with all its magnificence which is hardly to express in fotos. Legions and dozens of gardeners must be at work to secure the military-like correctness of the shape of trees, hedgerows, flowers, plants and statues. What a delight for the senses! This was a wonderful completion of a well-organized weekend. The merit goes to Rainer and Barbara who were responsible for the logistical details of this trip! Please see some impressions of the Herrenhausen Gardens - to the left you will see some floral points, and on the right side you will find some highlights in landscape gardening. |
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We enjoyed this nice weekend trip. Our bad memories of Hannover and environment from our last vacation in this area in 2004 were revised...
We felt comfortable all the time. Thanks to Barbara and Rainer! And, of course, Birgit has landed herself another beau as often done before: the B-R-O-L-L-Y M-A-N.
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| Outward (18.09.2009) | Backward (20.09.2009) | |
| Length | app. 291 km | app. 300 km |
| Time | 4 hrs. 08 min. | 2 hrs. 48 min. |
| Number of jams | app. 6 (à 10 / 6 / 5 / 6 / 5 km) | 0 |
| Stuck in jam | app. 20 km | 0 |
| Ø mileage | 5,7 l / 100 km | 5,8 l / 100 km |
| Ø Speed | 70 km/h | 107 km/h |
