Ach so! Thank you for being so patient! I know you have been waiting for the next installment of the adventures of Darryl and Pamela Pantyhose but we had such a non stop busy and wonderful time in Der Hansa Stadt, Hamburg, that there was little time for blogging. At this very instant it is the middle of the night in Istanbul and my better half is sleeping in the bed and I am perched on the loo updating you!
Shall we continue....
Hamburg ... Darryl and Pamela touchdown in Hamburg, growl goodbye to Military Mike and head off to find their luggage which had arrived safely and without incident. YEAH! However Pamela is in a bit of a panic. "I can't find maid marion's phone number" she whines as Darryl who tells her to "Chill...we can take a taxi if we have to" . Pammie tried the internet but no free Wi-Fi...buys a Wi-Fi card..still no luck.."that family have been living there since the beginning of time so they are not listed anywhere" she frets.
"latte time" said Darryl, and Pammie decided that a latte would set everything right with the world. "So this is where the first Hamburger was created I guess" stated Darryl...Pammie flashes daggers.
The cel phone rings..It's Maid Marion..our saviour. "OMG I am so happy you called" squealed Pamela "we are at the airport, lost and confused bla bla bla". "Be there in 30 mins" says the Maid. D&P finish up the latte and buy some flowers for Frau Langendorf and walk outside to scan the horizon for MM. Taxis and cars a commin' and a goin'. "Is that her??" ask Pammie as each car draws near...and then drives bye. Then..just like a TV commercial..out of the crowd runs Maid Marion, hands waving, towards them. Big huge hugs all around. The car gets loaded up with the 2 big bags and 2 little bags and 2 tired travelers. Darryl is in a daze in the back seat, Pammie and Maid Marion yak it up in the front seat. Clutch...what clutch...Darryl re-names Maid Marion .. Marion Andretti ... make you own opinion of that...
The group stopped for pastries and fresh berries and pretzels then they go to Flottbek..the ancestral home. Big hugs for Frau Langendorf. Tears and more hugs as old acquaintances see how old they have all become over the last years..laughter mixed in there too.
D&P settle into their little apartment downstairs and then come up for Coffee and pastries...Pammie groans at how wonderful the Pflaume Kuechen is..ahh the memories come back. Pammie was Maid Marion's first "Kinder Maedschen" (nanny) when she was 6 months old. When Maid Marion started to speak her first words with an Irish accent she thought it better to move on ... Maid Marion did visit D&P in Vancouver when she was about 17 years old..on her way to Arkansas..but thats a WHOLE 'NOTHER STORY!!!!
MM, D & P head down to Oevelgoenne down on the harbour below the house. Pretzels and beer in a back pack. There was some pretty cool graffiti on the retaining walls down there as they walked along the beach
MM&D stop for a picture
They settle into some chairs and are immediately greeted by Ben..surely the cutest dog ever...and amazing similar to Pammie's friends dog in Vancouver
"his owner is not bad either" quips Darryl. Here they sit and relax for a bit before dinner drinking beer and eating fresh pretzels about the size of a dinner plate.
Really cool they agree as ships pass by in front of their noses. Container ships, harbour cruises and even a paddle boat. "That's come a long way" says Pammie...
Dinner is decided and while Pammie and Frau Langendorf catch up MM and Darryl head off to buy some fresh fish for dinner. Whole fresh Atlantic Sea Bass. Darryl can't believe how mature the young Maid Marion has become..after all it's only been about 18 years!!
D & MM get home with with the groceries and D&P head down to their basement apartment...("kind of ironic" says Darryl to nobody in particular) for a quick cat nap. About an hour later it's cocktail time..they head up the spiral staircase to see what they will be drinking. Frau Langendorf is at the bar preparing her specialty cocktail...Manhattans..with little Canadian Flags in each one..how cute is that???
You need to understand the location of Flottbek a little...the house is set back from the main road and opposite the entrance to Hamburg Harbour..so every ship that comes and goes passes in front of the big picture window..
The gang is just sipping their cocktails when Aizat of Kyrgystan arrives. Aizat is Frau Langendorf's companion. Just about as sweet as she could be
As we sit and look out at the harbour activities we notice people are starting to gather across the road, then a tour bus stops, then another tour bus and everyone jumps out. Frau Langendorf states...there is something big coming down the Elbe...guaranteed. Suddenly a huge ships horn blows and the whole house shudders..."Oh Ja!..It's gonna be a big one kids" says the wise Frau L.
The gang stand at the window and wait...the bow of a GIANT ship appears..
and followed by a giant white wall of cabins that blocks the whole harbour view
"Whoa" screams Pam "it's the Queen Mary 2!!" "OMG" mutters Darryl.."that's quite a boat!! It's massive"
Frau Langendorf says excitedly.. "It only comes here 2-4 times a year..you are very lucky to have seen such a huge ship leave..good thing you were awake for it"
"WOW" says everyone in unison. "Let's eat" says Darryl!!!
and eat they did...smoked salmon, shrimp, Sea Bass baked in a medly of veggies sprinkled with white wine, potatoes and copious amounts of Champagne created especially for the Reischof Hotel in downtown Hamburg (more on that in a later post).
What a night they had. Big Bands and Frank Sinatra playing on the stereo, drinking and talking until 2 in the morning!
D&P slept well..didn't get up until 10 the next morning. Latte's, champers and OJ, cold cuts, cheeses, potatoe omelette ..yes that was breakfast!!! D&P had died and gone to gastronome heaven. WOW!
What fabulous images...I feel like I am on vacation with you! :) Now would you pass me some of those cocktails and pretzels?
Posted by: Tammy McChesney | 08/31/2010 at 07:39 AM
Wow! A picture window facing the Elbe?!?!?! WANT! That must be some amazing sights! It sounds like you two are having a fabby time. I look forward to upcoming posts!
Posted by: leslie | 08/31/2010 at 07:42 AM
Das Haus ist wunderbar. Ich kan sehen das ihr zwei hat viel spass gehabt. Bier und Pretzels, Champagne, UND die Queen Mary. Fantastisch!!!!
Ein sehr schoener wieder vereinigen.
( A rough translation for Darryl):
The house is wunderbar. I can see that you two had a lot of spass. Bier, pretzels, champagne, UND the Queen Mary! Fantastisch!!!!
A very nice reunion.
Posted by: Sue C | 08/31/2010 at 05:23 PM
How fabulous! looks and sounds like you had a marvelous time in Hamburg.
Posted by: Isabel Wood | 09/01/2010 at 06:47 AM
What a wonderful adventure P&D are having. Thanks for sharing! I agree, that little dog is just about the cutest thing I have ever seen. Miss my pals, but glad you are having such a wonderful time!
Posted by: Lindsey McTaggart | 09/02/2010 at 09:35 AM