In which we row, row, row some boats.

T'was a most photogenic weekend. Saturday afternoon was spent exploring Hamburg's carless streets (see previous post); Sunday afternoon was spent -- somewhat spontaneously -- with a group of German and American Fbright alums exploring Hamburg's carless canals in canoes. I'd done this a couple times before, but not for a long time and, to put it simply: what a pleasure. The day was overcast, but the Alster was full of happy canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddlers, and steam boats. One highlight/delight was a canoe-thru café where you could ring a bell on the wall and order ice cream, coffee, cake, beer, whatever from the window above. Another delight: being reminded how much I love this city.

The weekend concluded pretty spectacularly with an intimate, wine-filled, donation-based, pop-up "living room" jazz concert in a newly opened, very grand Steinway piano repair shop about a 5-minute walk from my apartment. The adjectives go on. 

As the Germans would say, "I am a lucky mushroom".