Biergartens Uber Alles!

We finally feel we are recovering from the ride into Hannover. Poor Karin has had to go to work these last few days, but Joe has been gracious enough to shuttle us all over town. After our whirlwind walking tour yesterday, we hopped on our bikes this morning to see more Hannover sights.

Joe led us (quickly, I might add) through the city to a lake and park behind the town hall we'd ascended yesterday and on to an old forest that had some centuries-old trees. We locked the bikes and hiked on the path through the forest to see the wild boars, deer and other wildlife that roam throughout the park.

A picnic lunch in a serene spot gave us a rest and then onward to a large formal garden. Unfortunately, since there is a festival going on, we couldn't enter the formal garden, but what we ended up doing was almost better. The Kleine gartens are plots which city residents can rent, cultivate into vegetable gardens, or more likely flower gardens, and proudly display for all to see. A "hut" is included with each plot. Here is what it amount to: people who live in apartments can have a yard and a little place to spend the weekend (they can't be lived in on a permanent basis) so that they can still have yardwork to do. They have a little cottage in which to relax on weekends without spending a fortune on gas to get there. Their "backyard" is across town. Go figure.

After dinner, Joe and Karin walked us over to a genuine Biergarten, a sort of outdoor bar with picnic benches set up. Over glasses of wine, Pepsi for Bob, we solved the problems of the world. Or at least we talked ourselves out and had a relaxing evening.

Tomorrow the plan is to set off for Hamelin, the home of the Pied Piper, after Karin leaves for work, poor thing.