FLS General Social Events Excursion Following Hamburgs Waterways...  · 

"Fleetfahrt"

After cruising the Alster lake the boat takes us to the City Hall lock next to the "Rathaus" (Town Hall). The lock seperates what is called the "Little Alster" from the waterways or "Fleete" of the city centre, which are at lower level. The lock will take us down a good 5 feet to the level of the Alster "Fleete". The word "Fleet" is the name for the old harbor waterways of the inner city as opposed to the canals joining the Alster. The boat passes the "Adolfsbrücke" which is one of 2490 bridges in Hamburg. Hamburg has more bridges than any other European city - considerably more than Venice and Amsterdam. After passing through the "Schaartor Lock" we reach the tidal waters of the Elbe. Here in the inner harbor sailing ships were once leaded and unloaded. The cruise then leads us to the "Speicherstadt" (warehouse area) which has been constructed in 1889. It is built in redbrick Gothic style which is characteristic of the time and can be seen here in its purest form. The Speicherstadt covers an area of 670.000 square yards, which makes it the largest connected covered store in Europe. The foundations of these buildings are oak piles which are still as fresh as they were 100 years ago. The "Speicherstadt" holds precious goods from all over the world (raisins, nuts, tobaccos, coffee, tea, spices and oriental carpets). Here goods are stored by the "Quartiersleute" whose profession has a 300-year-old tradition.

 

 
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