As I finish my stay in Potsdam, I jump on the S7 train to Hamburg. The train ride takes about 2 1/2 hours and the train usually stopped every 60 to 90 minutes. I arrive in Hamburg and I am amassed by the wonder and views the city provides. Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and has roughly over 1.8 million people, and the overal metropolitan area has over 5 million people. The city alone has more people residing in it than the whole state of Idaho alone.

The port of Hamburg on the river Elbe, is the second largest port in Europe and tenth largest in the world. The amazing thing about it is that it offers thousands of people jobs that include benefits.

Now lets talk about the most important reasons I made this my last destination, to attend a concert and check out what the history has in store for me.

The city was founded or named after Claudius Ptolemy reprorted the first name in the vicinity in the 2nd century and first named it Treva. Charlemagne first constructed a castle in AD 808, and called it Hamma. It was between the rivers Alster and Elbe and was used as a defense against the Slavic incursion and eventually acquired the name Hammaburg. Burg meaning fort or castle.
(this is basically what's left of it, an archaeological dig site)

There's lots of history involved with this city. The Vikings captured it in 845, in 1241 the Hanseatic league was set up, and the bubonic plague wiped out 60% of the population in 1350. In 1529, the city adopted Lutheranism and allowed any refugees from the Netherlands and France up until the 17th century.
(below is the offical Hanseatic Trading seal in 1241)

The Hamburg port was also used for many migrants to the united states in the late 19th and early 20th century. A fire from Allied bombing raids on 23 July, 1943 led to a firestorm to sweep throughout most of the city resulting in the destruction of entire boroughs such as Hammerbrook, Billbrook and Hamm-south. After post-world war, the city started to regain its strength in regards to economic and rebuilding means.
The first place I want to visit is the overly massive flak tower that was created in Hamburg during WWII. This massive tower made entirely of concrete was  one of 2 towers used in the air defenses against Allied bombing raids. The Flakturme is absolutely massive and still draws lots of tourists to this date.

It sounds incredibly boring, but of course Germany is most famous for monuments or buildings that were created during WW I and II.
(Below is a photo taken of Nazi troops firing flak shells at enemy planes)

After I was able to visit that for a good one or two, I decide to go to one of Hamburg's most celebrated fairs. The Hamburger Dom is a funfair held at Heiligengeistfield fair ground in central Hamburg. I decide to go to that because the fort is actually on the same grounds/area as the fair.
I spend hours there enjoying the rides, games and the food.

I enjoyed one of their many famous local dishes called Fried plaice, Finkenwerder style. Plaice is just another name for a flatfish that is popular to the Elbe river.

The last thing to do during my stay in Hamburg, is going to a Rush concert at the Sporthalle!

The encore^


It was an amazing 3 hour show, featuring over 25 of their classics. Could not have had a better ending to my trip!