FROM BRISTOW BUNGALOW IN FORT COCHIN TO HAMBURG, GERMANY

On my last visit to Fort Cochin, I had met a mother (specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology) and a daughter (who would begin her medical studies this autumn). In the months following, we kept in touch and I decided to go to visit them in Hamburg where they live: I was in Bentota in Sri Lanka  and my destination was Quiberon in France, so I made a slight detour to Hamburg..

 I was picked up at the Hamburg airport, I had driven from Bentota to Colombo, ate a lovely Dosai in Colombo and checked on a patient, then took off on Turkish Airlines to Istanbul to connect with a flight to Hamburg.
It was nice to see a large portrait of Frida in their house, in a small town outside Hamburg, much more rural in appearance and the northern summer, hot and humid and the landscape in full green.

 We talked late into the night, i was being filled in on what is happening in Germany and also a good time to learn about the Social Medicine in Germany. The daughter prepared a healthy dinner and after that we went for a walk along the forest near their house. The sun did not set until about 10 pm.

 The next day was a full day of sightseeing and had a good feeling for the port city of Hamburg.

 the beautiful philaharmonic hall

 Hamburg was almost completely destroyed during the second world war but still one could catch glimpses of its past architectural glory

 so many canals that it has been called the Venice of the North

 A nice Lutheran Church

 the ornate town hall

 on the boat on the way back to the village and a dinner .

 The chef/owner was Portugese and I requested the portugese specialty on the menu (below), it was just delicious.

 The sunset, the air was still warm. and the silence of the countryside.. and the wonderful Portugese meal.. and a glass of wine
it was just magical 

 Exhaustive day, after a nice rest, we met for lunch at a neighbourhood resto, which had just three lunch specials as outlined in the handwritten menu

 My dish was a fish cutlet with a lovely sauce. 
After that it was time for Good-byes with promises to meet somewhere along the way, as they too are travellers. I was driven to the airport, where I could enjoy a light snack before boarding the flight to Paris