26th - 27th May 2001, Staying at Youth Hostel, Fisherhof Ubahn station
It all started when I decided spontaneously to go somewhere for the weekend. I went by myself, which meant that I could do what I wanted to do, and when. I still believe it is better to travel with someone, because half the fun of travelling is sharing it with someone. I arrived at about 11:00am with a slight hangover, put my luggage in storage, then went to the Tourist info. I walked to the big markets, that are in Hannover every Saturday, and strolled around, wary of all the eastern and southern europeans.
I found a Kraftwerk record, which I bought for Stephen. I also bought some old DDR money. After the markets, I decided to go and check in at the hostel. My knee felt sore, and I was incredibly tired.
On my way back, I saw an old church, which was open. I decided to go in an have a look. Once in there, I realised it was the first chuch I'd been in since Nanna died. The realisation overwhelmed me, and I started to cry. More of a releasing unknown pent-up emotion. It felt good. I felt Nanna's presence, and I felt God's presence. I wanted to light a candle, but they were sold out. I left there feeling refreshed and better. Eventually I got to the hostel, checked in and sat down. It was only 4pm and I knew I still had about 6 hours of daylight left. So I went back to the city centre, and did the Red Thread tour. It's a really good idea. There is a red line on the ground, painted throughout the city, and you buy a small book and follow it seeing important sites. I returned to the hostel at about 6-7pm and was fast asleep by 8pm.
On Sunday I went first to the Herrenhauser Gartern, which was the palace gardens. They were beautiful. There was a maze (which I did get lost in) and statues. I spent a couple of hours there, and then went to the Zoo. I actually really enjoyed the zoo, it was cool to see all the different animals. My favourites were the Gorillas and the Polar and Grizzly Bears. So cute. After the Zoo, I went to the Rathaus and took photos from the top. I went the day before, but the lift was broken. The weather was sunny on Saturday and rainy on Sunday. Oh well.
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Reading this I have to laugh at my wariness of 'eastern and southern europeans'. It does sound a bit racist, but any young woman travelling alone in Europe will know what I'm talking about. I'm making a huge generalisation about them - thats true. I was referring to the men. There are Roma ('gypsies') hanging around churches in big cities begging for money.. and you hear horror stories and I was afraid of being pickpocketed... I even wore my backpack around the front.
Another fond memory I have of Hannover is a naked lady. The old unabashed charm of naked germans... I was in the hostel room resting and she had just checked in. We were chatting and then she just took her clothes off to get in the shower. She would've been mum's age.. I was taken aback.. and prudish.. but kept on chattering, trying not to look. I ended up doing the same thing (well not quite the same.. stripped down to my bra to change shirts) to a couple of Korean backpackers in Munich a few months later - I was germanised! Those poor girls were shocked and embarrassed. I didn't mean to!
Around the time my Nanna died (which I've gone on about over and over and over on this blog.. sorry ;p) I also fell off my bike one day while riding around Lueneburg with friends. I am unco anyway, and while riding I looked behind me to see where my friends were. I started to lose my balance, and veered towards cars but swung back and stopped by the wall of a building. Laughing cos I'm unco, I then lost my balance and somehow fell between the bike and the wall... landing with bended knee on a drain grate.
Yeah. Universe knows how that happened.
Once the pain set it it was horrible. Somehow, with the help of my friends I made it home. My knew swelled right up and Mum begged me in the middle of the night to go to the hospital. I didn't do that, but I did go to a doctor I had visited earlier when sick. Both times when I arrived in Germany I ended up with Bronchitis... even in little Lueneburg. Apparently the air isn't as fresh there as it is here in Oz...
I remember crying to the doctor, cos Nanna had died and he is prodding my knee apologising... then he sent me to the local specialist, who was also a plastic surgeon. After x-rays and an MRI (where I learnt the meaning of Schwanger) it turned out that I hadn't broken my knee cap or ended up with minisculis (whatever that is) .. but I had a permanent dent and a heamatoma there you can still see to this day..
what a great story ;p
The moral is get Travel insurance! My travel insurance cost $800 for 8 months... the MRI and doctors visits cost $1500!
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