From Hannover's Charm to Hamburg's Bustling Port Festival

After a scenic journey, we arrived at Hannover Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) as night fell. We met Nihal's friend Kai, who was staying overnight before his flight. As we walked to his place, I tried to take in the city, though it was too dark and I was sleepy.

Nikitha had prepared delicious Paneer Masala that filled our hearts and stomachs while she rested. After some highs and lows, we settled in front of the TV. Kai recommended the show Scrubs, which I ended up binge-watching. It's classic comedy, not laugh-out-loud funny, but the improv and character choices are great! Kai and I watched a good few episodes before crashing. The next morning, we dropped Kai at the airport and spent the day shopping.

Back at the apartment, I continued watching TV and snacked on healthy breakfast while Nihal whipped up amazing sambhar in the kitchen. In the evening, we finally dragged ourselves off the couch and headed to the Herrenhäuser Gärten.

Attempting couple photography, I hilariously mimicked my macho brother's poses!

After a leisurely stroll among roses, we returned home, ate some more, and later enjoyed a lackluster light show.

Despite my sarcasm, we managed to capture some good shots at the fountain before calling it a night, preparing for the upcoming port festival.

The next day, we lazily woke up and headed north. After a delightful Mexican meal, we relaxed by the lake. Nihal had errands at the Indian embassy, then we lounged at Jenischpark, embracing our wanderlust spirits.

After a restful break, we ventured to the port festival, where the bustling crowds and smells of seafood and alcohol reminded me of Mangaluru's ports (no alcohol here!), making me a bit dizzy. We hopped on a ferry (free with the D-Ticket) to the Elbphilharmonie and witnessed a breathtaking sunset from the top, watching bridges open.

Following the sunset spectacle, we dined at Badshah, Hamburg's renowned Indian restaurant. Missing Indian food terribly or perhaps feeling homesick (just 3 days in!), the food was worth every penny. As night fell, we returned to the port, greeted by a lively atmosphere and regretfully missing the fireworks and main show. We hastily caught a midnight train to Hannover, navigating through crowds reminiscent of Mumbai locals. The trains, sluggish under the weight of passengers, managed to get us to Hauptbahnhof on time, where we collapsed into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, we also missed witnessing the Northern Lights, the northernmost Germany we could offer!

Exhausted from our late return, we slept soundly. The next day was a chill one, with an evening visit to Maschsee lake and an underwhelming food fest in Hannover's streets, claiming to be international but offering few options.

The following morning, Nihal prepared a delicious Vegetable Dum Pulao, which I saved some for lunch! Finally, it was time to get to work. :)