Breakfast in our hotel was excellent, as well as the usual cooked dishes, fruit and pastries, a chef was on hand to prepare waffles for us topped with fruit and whipped cream.  I couldn’t resist the temptation of returning for more as they tasted delicious, so a brisk walk was necessary to walk off these excesses.

We strolled along the banks of the Alster until we reached the Maritime Museum.  This large museum is housed in a former rubber storage warehouse and is spread over 9 floors.  There’s something for everyone with an interest in sailing, ships and history but with so many galleries to view, we selected just a few of those that interested us the most.  The district along the canal side here has been regenerated in recent years with stylish apartments some in refurbished warehouses and others new build.

Hamburg has been a major European port for more than 800 years and we enjoyed a pleasant stroll watching ships sail close to the shore and on the quayside viewing huge container ships unloading their cargo.  Overlooking the port there are several bars and cafes so we had mugs of hot chocolate to warm us on this icy morning.

Part of the afternoon was spent in Stadt Park , a large urban park with walking trails, a small lake which was frozen and being used as an ice skating rink and a large beer garden/ cafe.

Before heading back to the hotel we looked in some of the stores, visiting the Europa Passage mall, Nivea Haus (a huge shop selling nothing but Nivea related products) and many smaller specialist stores.

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