The most efficient train route to Copenhagen took us via Hamburg. In order to do a lot of the very do-able scavenges in Copenhagen and Sweden, we had very little time to spend in Hamburg, although about 24 scavenges could be done there. We worked out a schedule that had us arriving in Hamburg at about 10:30 and leaving at 1:28. Less than 3 hours to check our luggage at the train station, run around like crazy doing scavenges, and eat a Hamburger. We prioritized our order of doing things according to their location and point value. First was the 150-pointer, "Take a balloon ride over Hamburg". Due to the light rain as we stepped out of the station, we wondered if the balloon would be operating. We waited a few minutes in line at the bahnhof (train station) tourist information booth to ask if the balloon flies in the rain. Line too long. Plan B: Armed with a Lonely Planet Guide of Germany, this time in English, we set off to take the U-Bahn (trolley or subway - never did find out). We deciphered the direction, the stop, the fare, and then discovered that the entrance gate was closed off. Feeling pressed for time, we jumped in a taxi and asked for the balloon. The driver did not speak great English, but we think we made ourselves understood. The driver communicated that we did not need a taxi because the balloon was just on the other side of the train station and he hand-motioned the route. We started walking in the direction he pointed. Then, we second guessed ourselves, not confident that he understood. Consulting our map, we believed the balloon was in the opposite direction. About face; and off we marched. We saw a toursit loop bus idling in front of the train station, which we are now passiong for the second time. We stopped to ask the driver which way the balloon is. He pointed the way the taxi driver had pointed - the opposite of the direction in which we were now headed. About, about face! Now heading out a third time, and in the same direction in which we started, we finally spotted the balloon. It was firmly anchored and had the appearance that it was not taking off any time soon. Indeed, we entered the ticket seller's pavilion and he confirmed that it does not operate in the rain. Forty five minutes wasted.
Next, we set off to the prison, for a chamber of horrors show. With misgivings that it sounded touristy and expensive, we went anyway - mostly because it was 75 points. We bought two tickets for nearly $50 and the ticket seller told us to wait for the show to begin. We were greeted by a guy dressed in black tattered clothes with his face painted white, and fake blood dripping from scattered wounds. We had a brief chat with him. He asked where we were from; we said USA; he said we couldn't come in "HA HA HA HA HA". Not in the mood for that, it occurred to me to ask if we could just walk through the museum ourselves. Nope. It's a 90 minute show...AND it's in German. The English show is at a different time. We returned the tickets and got a full credit on the credit card. One hour wasted. Nothing to show for it except two taxi rides, brochures for things we did not do, and receipts for a round trip of transactions on my credit card.
OK. Reload. Another taxi. This time to try for the last two things we chose that were not clustered in walking distance. First was the Star Club. This one was a research find. The scavenge was to visit one of the three places the Beatles played in Hamburg. The Star Club is closed but you can go to the spot where it was. It is in the center of the sex district. The street has a banner over it saying something about table dancing. The Funky Pussy was across the street. We had the driver wait while we snapped a pic in front of the Star Club sign. Next, we had him drop us at the Rathaus (city hall). We went inside and took photos of the beautifully ornate interior.
Next was to video locals while asking them how many bridges there are in Hamburg. To our surprise, both people we asked said yes on the first try AND agreed to be videoed. Both had the same answer.
Question: How many bridges are there in Hamburg?
Answer: More than 100 and more than Venice. Both guys gave the same answer.
Next video, still in the rain, and amazing that people stop to talk with us. This one was to ask a few tourists where they are from (Belgium, Germany, Germany) and tell them about our trip.
We had a little over one hour to get to the train station, retrieve our bags, do a few scavenges and get on the train.
We found a soccer jersey for the home team, Pauli. We ate a hamburger and snapped a pic in front of the Hamburg sign. Hokey.
The train from Hamburg, Germany to Copenhagen includes a ferry crossing. The train drives right on to the ferry boat. The passengers must get off the train and go up into the lounges on the ferryboat for the 40 minute ride across the water. The boat is lovely, with duty free shops, restaurants, duty free shops, open air decks, and duty free shops. The loudspeaker announces countdown every ten minutes of the amount of time until the duty free closes.
Overall, the ferry ride was way cool!! And relaxing....