Travels in the 2nd half

Hamburg's main train station Hamburg has played an important role in Germany’s economic and industrial history. Today it is still the center of the country’s shipping industry, and it is Europe’s third largest port. Its reputation had been one of an industrial city, with nothing much to see, but in recent years it has become a tourist destination with a growing arts scene. I decided it was worth checking out on a recent trip. Sitting along the Elbe River, Hamburg’s history dates back to the early 800’s, when The Emperor's Station, because here he would descend from the tracks Charlemagne ordered the construction of a castle to stand against invaders from the east. While it was attacked and sacked several times over the centuries, it maintained its importance. In 1189 it was granted the status of “ Free and Imperial City ” by the Holy Roman Emperor, giving it both political and economic independence. In 1266 Henry the III of England signed a contract that es...

The Jersey Shore and Ocean City Maryland are the big names in the mid-Atlantic Shore areas. But sitting in between them is a 30 mile stretch that is not as well know, except by locals – The Delaware Shore. At the northern end of this stretch of beautiful beach front is Lewes, Delaware . Lewes sits at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, protected from the Atlantic by Cape Henlopan. Lewes was first settled in 1631 by the Dutch. While this town did not survive, in 1663 a permanent presence was established.   Lewes has served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, and was home to Fort Miles, which protected the Delaware Bay from invasion from 1943 until 1991. Lewes Beach Today, Lewes is a vacation destination for residents of the area from Wilmington DE to Washington DC. It is a small town, with around 2800 full time residents, but it has a growing number of summer and weekend homes. I first visited the area around 20 years ago, over Christmas week. Back then,...