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Post date: Dec 08, 2016 1:28:35 PM
During my many travels for work this summer, I attended a viral bioinformatics course in Glasgow. There, I met two awesome lady biologists who are both pursuing their PhDs in Germany. What a coincidence, I had JUST moved to Germany! So we made plans to meet up and travel a bit around Germany together. This involves a handwritten list of places to go. It was on a napkin. I still have it.
But with schedules, and time, I wasn’t able to make it up to Hannover where Wendy lives, and were Cynthia had planned to meet us, until the first weekend in Dec. So we made plans to meet up, and hang out.
Usually this picture can be titled “View from my cup of tea, taking the train somewhere new and interesting edition”. However, this iteration is called “View from my cup of Gluwein, because it’s Christmas season and that’s how I roll”
The Germans do. Not. Fuck around. With. Breakfast. This was the breakfast for one person. That’s 7-8 different types of cheese, jam, honey, nutella, butter, fruit, some veggies and 3 rolls/croissants. Seriously, one person is supposed to eat this. I love it.
This was one of two churches that have been in Hannover since it’s been Hannover. Which happened before 1300 ad. The time scales of things in Europe are so funny.
At first I couldn’t figure out if this guy was slaying a large lizard, a dragon, or a komodo dragon (I don’t know why I thought this was a possibility, biologists are weird). Immediately after taking this picture I realized it has wings, so it’s got to be a dragon.
Inside the church I mentioned to Cynthia that I loved Luthern churches because they are so much more modest than the gaudiness of catholic churches. She tapped my shoulder and pointed to this organ… ok never mind.
But (likely due to the war) none of the windows in the church were stained glass. Which makes for a brighter and less pompous atmosphere.
Now, this church was built long before the luthern religion. So I don’t know why the structure was so plain. Rebuilt after The War (WWII)?
Downtown there was a lego display in one of the windows of the department store. It’s someone’s job to build these. It’s also my dream job (besides biologist that is).
Hannover is in West Germany, so although it was CRUSHED during the war, it’s largely rebuilt and did so quickly (this is not true in the East). But this style of buildings are original architecture and really cool.
My guidebook told me that the most “Hannover” thing was Das Nanas. They are these “voluptuous” statues, each with a different ladies name. They were odd. But there was a flea market around them, so Cynthia and I looked for the one thing she’s been wanting to find in a flea market for years… a gramophone.
We were not successful, but it was still tons of fun.
This is the “Rathaus”. I think that’s how it spelled. It’s really awesome looking from afar.
And close up!
And inside.
They had these cool 3D maps that show the city in early years, right before World War II (seen above with Cynthia and Wendy for scale).
After the war. I don’t think they are underestimating the damage in this map. Hannover was bombed a ton, and there was very little that was left undamaged.
And modern day. While I hate the colors they used in this map, it definitely gives you the idea about how much the city has rebounded since the war. Again, this is starkly in contrast from what I know about east Germany cities/towns that were affected by The War, which don’t look like they did before The War.
It was great catching up, and I think we made plans to meet up again soon. Somewhere else, like Hamburg.
Also we visited the Christmas market, see next post!
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