Tag: friends

The little town of Lüneburg: Hamburg’s best day trip

On By Alison HaywoodIn Sightseeing, Travel2 Comments

Just 20km south of Hamburg’s bustling downtown and industrial river ports lies the little town of Lüneburg, a city frozen in time.

IMG_0977
The Lüneburg harbor.

It’s easy to forget the city of Hamburg is much older than the second world war, because outside of a few restored churches, not many buildings from the pre-war era remain. Lüneburg, on the other hand, escaped the brunt of the bombs in both wars, and periods of affluence followed by poverty in the city’s history lead to beautiful houses being constructed, then preserved, as there was no money to tear them down and build anew. The result is like a step back into the middle ages. Continue reading “The little town of Lüneburg: Hamburg’s best day trip” →

Advertisement

Moving to Hamburg and the story of my summer

On By Alison HaywoodIn Arrival, Culture, Night Life, Sightseeing, Summer, TravelLeave a comment

I got into a bit of a blogging slump this summer, so here’s a catch-all post of some of the highlights I’ve neglected to write about: Hamburg Pride, a Germany reunion with my dear friend Edwin, a brief weekend in Berlin, and a visit to Brighton, U.K.

wpid-20150823_175315.jpg
Trying to make the most of the short-lived sunny weather – paddle boating on the Alster with friends. (See below.)

Continue reading “Moving to Hamburg and the story of my summer” →

Barcelona y Cadaqués

On By Alison HaywoodIn Night Life, Sightseeing, Travel1 Comment

My first impression of Spain was the warmth. At the end of February it wasn’t hot, just a comfortable 15-16 degrees C (60 F).

I got to go outside with bare arms, got to lay on a beach all day, and got to use F-stop 22 on my camera. No complaints here.
I got to go outside with bare arms, got to lay on a beach all day, and got to use F-stop 22 on my camera. No complaints here.

My second impression was the mopeds. They darted through traffic like a person with a deathwish. They drove on the lines between lanes when traffic was slow, dodging cars and narrowly avoiding rearview mirrors and swerving bumpers.

Mopeds in Spain are like bicycles in Denmark - they're everywhere (though they don't obey the traffic laws half as well as Danish cyclists). I'm told this is true of Italy as well.
Mopeds in Spain are like bicycles in Denmark – they’re everywhere (though they don’t obey the traffic laws half as well as Danish cyclists). I’m told this is true of Italy as well.

My third impression was the palm trees. I’d seen palm trees before in California and Florida, but somehow it didn’t occur to me that they’d grow in Spain as well.

Palm trees were street trees, and cacti instead of shrubs.
Palm trees were street trees, and cacti instead of shrubs.

Continue reading “Barcelona y Cadaqués” →

Berlin in der Nacht (Berlin at Night)

On By Alison HaywoodIn Sightseeing, Travel, WinterLeave a comment

A couple weeks ago I took a weekend trip to Berlin to visit my old friends and enjoy the city I fell so deeply in love with just over two years ago.

The famous Fersehturm (TV tower), visible from nearly everywhere in the center of the city.
The famous Fersehturm (TV tower), visible from nearly everywhere in the center of the city. View from in front of the Rotes Rathaus (red city hall) at Alexanderplatz

Continue reading “Berlin in der Nacht (Berlin at Night)” →

Wasted in Wales, a traditional English Christmas, and Ye Olde Trip to Nottingham

On By Alison HaywoodIn Christmas season, City Life, Night Life, Traditions, Travel3 Comments

For a number of reasons I decided not to go home to Washington for the Christmas holidays. But the prospect of staying in a dorm all Christmas didn’t exactly excite me either, so I decided to go somewhere much closer and cheaper instead: England.

_MG_1541 Continue reading “Wasted in Wales, a traditional English Christmas, and Ye Olde Trip to Nottingham” →