5.5.15 - Hamburg

Hamburg is a fantastic city, in the true city and fantastic term. Not far behind other world cities, mixing his old  pompous with modern architecture, giving it a strength, a life that not all can boast. A city of pirates which is reinvented every day!
For dinner, Daniel showed me the Blockbraü, opposite the Elbe, with a superb terrace and a good beer. Nuremberg sausages with cabbage and beer tastes like heaven in early evening.
The view for the harbor, very industrial, very mechanical, marine, like any great platform should be, at dusk, with a reddish sun reflecting on brick and glass buildings, gave him a unique atmosphere, making it difficult to match. Following dinner beer still followed other after other, there in Blockbraü and in St. Pauli.
St.Pauli is a street where there is everything imaginable through the night: restaurants, bars with live music, strip bars, "red neon" bars, adults films cinemas, sex shops, art galleries with erotic themes, a steel installation in memory of the Beatles, etc. etc ..
I went to a very fancy, very fashion sexshop with worthy shades of best Venice carnival and bodices to remember Marie Antoinette. Beside, an art gallery with paintings of various authors who create sex scenes. Tourists and more tourists from various backgrounds of the globe, and it was noticed, with several experiences of it.
After this "sexual adventure," the only I must say, I went to a bar that was called "Indian Cowboy", which was full of pieces, guitars and posters to remember hard rock. The band was on stage had a look middle-aged guys, living their younger years: Harley t-shirts , jackboots, head scarves, sunglasses, earrings, playing Fender. The music? U2, Eagles and a few commercial hits. In fact, the people who really like Harleys have a taste a little doubtful; right Drew?!
The return to the hotel was underground, listening to the German version of "Ó Joana," from Marco Paulo. All people laughing and expense of it, I met Christiane, from Jena, making the evening more enjoyable for a few minutes.
The hostel ... has that style. I did not see or hear anything that was waiting. In fact, I had the best pillow trip and the breakfast this morning was very good. Speaking of breakfast, all that room appeared to have been taken from a film: red and purple velvet chairs, antique furniture, Edith Piaf on the sound system and, next to me, a couple: she blonde and too high, he was short, dark with a mustache to remember Hercule Poirot!
During the day was hot and sunny, 17 ° C, but interspersed with rain at lunchtime.
I walk through the city, the port, the monuments and churches, the canals and the lakes abound of swans, ducks and geese. So much life, so much color, architecturally well framed. By grandeur of the buildings I felt small. Hamburg is a vibrant, cosmopolitan and fancy city. I entered in art gallery to see Roy Lichenstein and other pop artists, see the latest news and products from Originals and went to a shoe store to see customize Hunter and Dr. Martens.
Want an advice? Go there, worth a quick getaway.

4.5.15 - Copenhagen | Hamburg

Yesterday, at the end of the day, once again, i went to sleep a nap before dinner.
After that, when i was looking for a restaurant at an affordable price - almost impossible in Copenhagen - saw a poster of a jazz club. I entered, I left running to go eat the first thing to appear ahead, and went back to get to watch a jam session, old-fashioned.
A saxophonist and fixed bass and drums and guitar were running. Great quality! The bar was full to the door, not even fit more people and everyone vibrate with music.
With that lay down more than what wanted but woke up at the same time: seven in the morning.
Contrary to what has been usual, today rain flashed down and therefore the trip was very wet. Before leaving the hostel put the rainsuit, to doesn`t get soaked. It looked like a sausage but at least it was dry.
With the rain and especially with the very wind that was felt - I got to ride almost 45 degrees in the middle of the highway - had to change the travel plan. So instead of going for Odense and cross the longest bridge in Europe (so they say, but I always suspect when they tell me "the greatest anything" or "the best in the world"), I went for Rodji, saving 140 km and can prevent further complications. That was Friday route. At the races I always knew that to win you need to end; Here, in order to write the adventures later in the day, rested in the hotel, I have to get right to it. So in the name of security, I changed the route.
En route linking Copenhagen to Hamburg bumped me with trucks Volkswagen and Peugeot of Swedish teams in the world Rallycross; I was also stopped because a truck was burning at full highway and blocked traffic.
But worst of all was the same wind. With the monster weight of Triumph, I had to stay maximum focused because the bike often literally followed the downwind, tired me physically and psychologically.
On the ferry was time to take the latest photos with decorated bike, since arrive to Hamburg went returns it to the Triumph.
When I was here on Thursday, the taxi driver advised me to clear the room I had booked at the Ibis and looking for another in the city center. So I did, scoring the cheapest hostel I found.
Between casinos, porn cinemas, sex shops, African fruit shops, kebab and other questionable hotels, is mine.
Here you hear a French from Ghana or Mali,  burcas like in Afghanistan, the better (or worse) of Eastern Europe, an entire underworld of multiculturalism that makes the free city of Hamburg has always been.
The outer shade of the hotel is blue but inside the predominant red, pink and black, carpeted with floral motifs and wallpaper to tend to the former. Abound gilded mirrors, "artistic" nude statues and photo, also naked. In one of the levels you have a former movable with various Kamasutra positions and the walls are leather and velvet.
For the first impression, I'm sure photos of this hotel came directly those of Taschen books, like "Motel Festiche".
The face of other guests, there are so many who came, like me, of deception; then there are others who seem to repeat customers.
As a friend of mine would say in such a situation: just spend the night alone if you want. Scary


!

1.5.15 - Hamburg | Copenhagen

Hamburg hostel was on the outskirts and had a bunk bed with a horrible mattress. He had set the alarm for seven-to-five was already awake ...
With that, I managed to leave the hostel at seven and have time to miss me for Hamburg before heading to Copenhagen. Literally.
Threatened rain but it didn`t appear until Fehmarn.The Triumph behaves like a luxury saloon, weighs, but with great engine. It has all possible and imaginary extras and provided a pleasant journey.
It was its size that caught the attention of a group of Germans who traveled to Sweden in its Maxi-Trail. "It's not too heavy?"; I let it fall, when we stopped at ferry and they helped lift can, of course, assess whether or not it was heavy. With that I got company on the journey to Copenhagen.
In Fehmarn, bikes access to Ferry, had a huge post full of stickers clubs, brands and other things related to motorcycles. I put the a Roadgalaxy sticker for the next travelers see it!
The ferry is a real frontier on water, dividing the German from Denmark, Baltic full. With free shops, restaurants and laser zones, 45-minute drive pass quickly.
Shortly after passing the border the rain appeared and quickly gave way to hail. One of the Germans shot out by the edge of the highway while trying to stop the bike. It was a sign and time to wear the rainsuit.
Windy and rain proceeded trip to Copenhagen. In the Danish capital we were treated to sunshine.
They went to Sweden and I stayed here.
The holtel, compared to yesterday is a five-star hotel. I left the bike there and went out to walk the center of Copenhagen.
I saw lakes, palaces, the Botanical Gardens, Tivoli. I drink a beer in Nyhavn.
In Copenhagen we can breathe calm.
On the street I was approached by two UNICEF boys to make themselves known to the organization. One was Nepalese; He was very touched when I asked how was his family ...
After all the emotions I returned to the hostel to tell them to you



and take a nap.

30.4.15 - Hamburg

Traveling is fantastic!
Today arrived late afternoon to Hamburg, a Ryanair flight and didn`t see the city; for tht, I wasn`t to write anything on the blog. And I don`t have pictures.
However happened to me two simply delicious things, those who clearly demonstrate why the pleasure of travel.
A few days ago, when i was chatting with a friend, she said that when I related travel only referred people and hardly ever the country. I said that countries still there and people make them special. And that's what happened.
I had combined with bike rental company that came to nine at night, since the plane landed at eight. However, the bags where delayed and I was couldn`t arrive in time to the shop. I called and attended a fax ...
At the door from Hamburg Airport I caught a taxi to take me to the place. The taxi driver, Indonesian, retired from  Siemens, where he worked for over thirty years as an engineer, who loves Portugal - Porto, S. Jacinto, Aveiro, Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais - , seeing my distress, tried to call the rental company. In vain.
Fortunately, when we arrived at the place, there were people waiting for me, also very friendly.
My friend Indonesian, as had done little for me, wait for me hand over the bike - a blue Triumph - and insisted on driving me to the hostel where I am at this time installed.
Wonder!
The hostel is on the outskirts of Hamburg, in a quiet street and where nothing happens. After making my bed and unload the bike bags, I went to dinner. I went into the first restaurant I saw: a Subway.
The owner or manager asked where I was from and when I said Portugal, made a party. When I told him I was going to ride a bike around, sympathy tripled; time to pay the sandwiches said "is on the house." He is Palestinian, has a Polish employee and another Bulgarian.
We were only three in the restaurant and gets a Spanish. "It seems the Olympic village!" Said Palestinian friendly.
The trip has not yet begun and already paid off.