Dockland at Hamburg port

This futuristic office block in the shape of a parallelogram is known as Dockland and hangs out 40 metres above the Elbe river at Hamburg port like some ship’s bow.

There is a public viewing platform on the roof of the Dockland building, reached by a flight of steps. The effort of climbing about 140 steps is rewarded by a fine view across the Elbe and the port.

By screwing the telephoto lens on my camera body, I was able to get a little closer to the ships in the dry docks...

...this beauty is the MS Europa, a 5-stars-plus luxury cruiser. the flagship of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

She was in the dry dock for several days for comprehensive modernisation work.

In the background you can see the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, the new concert hall under construction in the HafenCity quarter of Hamburg, Germany.

The "Enquest Producer" is being overhauled by the traditional shipyard company Blohm + Voss for 75 million Euros in Hamburg. Originally built in 1983 as an oil tanker, this 248m ship’s new tasks will be extracting of oil and gas, storing and loading onto a second tanker. She is a F.P.S.O. "Floating Production Storgage and Offloading". The ship is planned to leave the dock in mid-2014.

Hamburg is always worth visiting.

In my humble opinion the most interesting and international city in Germany.

Where else can you watch several of the most impressive ocean liners like this 290m container vessel during your afternoon stroll???

Harbour tugs at rest.

Hamburg - I love you... ;-)

Impressions from Aarsdale

Aarsdale (also: Årsdale) is a village on the eastern coast of the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark. Located between Svaneke and Nexø, it has a population of 461. Once a prosperous fishing village, its economy now relies mainly on tourism thanks to its half-timbered houses, its harbour and its windmill.

Welcome to Aarsdale... ;-)

Aarsdale havn - Aarsdale harbour

Codfish trawler after the haul.

Souvenier postcard from Aarsdale Silderøgeri / smoke house

The eight-sided Dutch windmill (1877) close to the main road at the southern end of the village is a local landmark. It is the only windmill on the island which has been in constant operation since it was built serving three genrations of the Mikkelsen family. Flour production is now for private use only.

Hamburg harbour picnic

Just arrived at Hamburg harbour after a long car trip.

On the other side of River Elbe there are several dry docks of BLOHM + VOSS dockyard.

Currently the U-434 submarine, formerly known as the Soviet B-515, was relocated to this part of Hamburg harbour.

The Soviet submarine B-515 was a Tango-class submarine  of the Soviet and Russian Navies. She was built in 1976 and remained in active service until 2000. She is currently docked in Hamburg and is open to the public as a museum exhibit. The submarine is sometimes referred to as U-434, which derives from the pennant number painted on the vessel.

Not the worst place for a picnic, isn't it?