After Rügen Island, we had to make our way back toward Amsterdam. Sadly, our time in Europe was coming to an end and in just two days we'd be on a flight to Iceland.
Quirky Hamburg
We originally wanted to spend one night in Hamburg, but decided stay in nearby Bremen because we found a really good price on a hotel and Bremen was an hour closer to Amsterdam. Therefore we only spent an afternoon in Hamburg- driving around the new town and walking around the old party of the city, near the fair grounds. If I could do it again, I'd spend more time in Hamburg because there is a lot to see and this town would be so much fun at night!
Quirky Hamburg
We originally wanted to spend one night in Hamburg, but decided stay in nearby Bremen because we found a really good price on a hotel and Bremen was an hour closer to Amsterdam. Therefore we only spent an afternoon in Hamburg- driving around the new town and walking around the old party of the city, near the fair grounds. If I could do it again, I'd spend more time in Hamburg because there is a lot to see and this town would be so much fun at night!
Flirting with a thunderstorm heading into the old city from the new city.
Hamburg old town
Hamburg
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This was a novel concept. A mobile bar where the drinkers do the pedaling while the bartender (in the middle of the bar) pours from a keg. I guess there are no DUI laws here!
Just a typical Saturday afternoon in Hamburg! Nothing like a bunch of dudes in drag/tight tennis outfits looking at you like YOU are the attraction.
A really cool coffee shop we stopped off at for a drink.
We also stopped into a few shops and walked through a pretty big flea market. That was about all we had time for in Hamburg, and I'm sure we missed most of the highlights. However, we did enjoy our few hours walking around and I hope to be back someday to see more!
Bremen
That night we just needed a simple place to crash before our flight out of Amsterdam the next day, so we picked a place called Bremen which was about an hour further up the road from Hamburg. We didn't know anything about Bremen other than the fact that it had a reasonably-priced Holiday Inn Express. Turns out Bremen is a manufacturing town most notable for its Mercedes and EADS plants, with a really nice downtown area.
We did some poking around and found a great little place to eat in the middle of a cool residential neighborhood. It's called Medoo, and it was packed with locals from the area. Lots of families and friends were having dinner here and they all seemed to know one another. It reminded me a lot of the neighborhood restaurants we used to frequent when we lived in Chicago. We had the friendliest waitress who helped us navigate the German menu. I ended up with a delicious vegetable strudel and Chris had a nice fish dish. After we paid for our meal, Chris tipped the waitress which led to a lot of confusion on her part because apparently they don't tip here (though it is common elsewhere in Germany). We insisted she keep the money since she spent a lot of time walking us through the menu and she was elated!
That night we just needed a simple place to crash before our flight out of Amsterdam the next day, so we picked a place called Bremen which was about an hour further up the road from Hamburg. We didn't know anything about Bremen other than the fact that it had a reasonably-priced Holiday Inn Express. Turns out Bremen is a manufacturing town most notable for its Mercedes and EADS plants, with a really nice downtown area.
We did some poking around and found a great little place to eat in the middle of a cool residential neighborhood. It's called Medoo, and it was packed with locals from the area. Lots of families and friends were having dinner here and they all seemed to know one another. It reminded me a lot of the neighborhood restaurants we used to frequent when we lived in Chicago. We had the friendliest waitress who helped us navigate the German menu. I ended up with a delicious vegetable strudel and Chris had a nice fish dish. After we paid for our meal, Chris tipped the waitress which led to a lot of confusion on her part because apparently they don't tip here (though it is common elsewhere in Germany). We insisted she keep the money since she spent a lot of time walking us through the menu and she was elated!
Bremen neighborhood
Medoo Restaurant - Great neighborhood spot if you ever find yourself in Bremen, Germany
Sunday Afternoon Beach Clubbing
We left Bremen before noon the next morning and arrived on the outskirts of Amsterdam by the afternoon. We didn't have to drop off our car until 8pm for a 10pm flight, so we had some time to kill. We had already been to Amsterdam and didn't want to deal with driving in the city. Since it was a beautiful day we decided to check out a popular beach north of Amsterdam called Bloemendaal.
Upon first glance, Bloemendall is a beautiful massive sandy beach with lots of kite surfers and regular surfers enjoying the windy conditions.
We left Bremen before noon the next morning and arrived on the outskirts of Amsterdam by the afternoon. We didn't have to drop off our car until 8pm for a 10pm flight, so we had some time to kill. We had already been to Amsterdam and didn't want to deal with driving in the city. Since it was a beautiful day we decided to check out a popular beach north of Amsterdam called Bloemendaal.
Upon first glance, Bloemendall is a beautiful massive sandy beach with lots of kite surfers and regular surfers enjoying the windy conditions.
Bloemendaal
We noticed a string of restaurants below so decided to check it out.
Walking down to the beach against the wind.
We arrived at the first restaurant to see a bunch of people hanging out and enjoying lunch. It was a very chill scene. Then we started noticing something odd - people dressed up in clubbing outfits were walking by. What were girls in 5 inch heels and guys in leather doing on the beach at 2pm on a Sunday?? We had to investigate.
We walked past a couple more restaurants, each one a little swankier then the last. As we walked the heels got higher, skirts shorter and the leather and mesh more common. We soon heard the thumping of a DJ and walked right by this MASSIVE club on the beach:
We walked past a couple more restaurants, each one a little swankier then the last. As we walked the heels got higher, skirts shorter and the leather and mesh more common. We soon heard the thumping of a DJ and walked right by this MASSIVE club on the beach:
The picture doesn't even do its size justice. This first club went on and on and every inch was packed with people. The DJ was spinning pop music and I'd say the average age of the patrons was around 22. Right next door was another club - this one even more packed than the first one. This club explained all the leather sightings. The DJ was playing some kind of heavy metal dub-step mix that was so loud that you shook as you walked by. I didn't take a picture of this club, fearing that someone might punch me in the face for the fun of it.
We saw one more club at the end that was much more chill. It was colorful, quieter full of different places to lounge around. We both thought this could be a cool place to hang out. Upon closer inspection we realized that the average age of these folks was probably mid-40's to early 50's. This was the catch-all club. If you aren't a 20 something or a metal head, you go here.
We saw one more club at the end that was much more chill. It was colorful, quieter full of different places to lounge around. We both thought this could be a cool place to hang out. Upon closer inspection we realized that the average age of these folks was probably mid-40's to early 50's. This was the catch-all club. If you aren't a 20 something or a metal head, you go here.
Random couches on the beach outside the club
Chris and I decided to pass on the clubs and head back over to the chill restaurant we saw when we first arrived. It was the perfect little spot! We had a tasty lunch right by the beach while listening to someone playing the acoustic guitar.
Little surfer shack where we had lunch
Bitterballen - yum!
Bye Bye Citroen
After our meal we went to the airport where we dropped off our Citroen, ending our short-term lease. We were pretty sad to say goodbye to this car which drove us for 2 months throughout Europe. With the exception of when the GPS lost its signal in Vienna, this car was a great way to travel throughout Europe!
That night we said goodbye to continental Europe and made our way north west to Iceland!
After our meal we went to the airport where we dropped off our Citroen, ending our short-term lease. We were pretty sad to say goodbye to this car which drove us for 2 months throughout Europe. With the exception of when the GPS lost its signal in Vienna, this car was a great way to travel throughout Europe!
That night we said goodbye to continental Europe and made our way north west to Iceland!
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