This is Speitcherstadt in Hamburg, our last stop before heading back to Lisbon and one of the most beautiful german cities. Built between 1883 and 1927, Speitcherstadt is the largest warehouse district in the world. The fleets, the red brick buildings and iron bridges make it one of the most idyllic places to visit.
BADEN-BADEN
But our german road trip began one week before, when our flight landed in Baden-Baden late at night and I took the luggage of a stranger unintencionally. No harm done, we were still close to the airport when they called us to exchange the belongings. First thing I noticed? Everyone here is portuguese... from the strangers in the airport to the hotel's staff. So if it wasn't for the freezing cold I wouldn't even know I was in a different country.First thing to do in the next morning? Get our rental car and begin to add some kilometers to the adventure. Banden-Baden is located in the Black Forest, Schwarzwald, place that has populate my dreams for a long time. I was excited to explore its melancholic landscapes.
TRIBERG
Through giant trees of brown foliage (oh did I mention how I love Autumn? It's my favourite season of them all), we've disdovered the pituresc Triberg, where all the buildings are in fact stores seling Schwarzwald souvenirs among which hundreds of the very typical cukoo clocks. Shoping isn't really my kind of program when traveling but I must say that even I felt tempted. Waiting for me in a cosy, super kitsh restaurant was the dish I ate more times in this trip - Goulash - I love it!! So dense and spicy, the only food capable of warm up my freezing body, head to toe.FREIBURG
Time to get on the road again, on the way to Freiburg. German people are crazy about Christmas markets and hot wine. The Friburg Christmas market was the frist I've seen, but then, during the week I ended up thinking I was always getting to same city center, over and over again, since they were all decorated the same way. Freiburg was a great surprise, with most of its medieval center preserved, today is one of the biggest ones in Europe. Loved the dinner at Martin's Bräu - a nice, laid-back brewery/guesthouse in the city center.LINDAU
Next day, heading to Munich, we decided to explore Lake Constance banks, where we stopped to spot Switzerland and visit Lindau. The city... nothing special really. It remained in my memory as the place I asked for a chocolate coffee and a Struddel with whipped cream, hoping for that crispy puff pastry crust that you can hear being shattered in the mouth of SS Coronel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. It wasn't like that at all... I'll have to carry on with my quest, but this was ok, at least I still remember it.NEUSCHWANSTEIN SCHLOSS
Before getting to Munich, we still found the time to visit the dreamy castle that inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty - Neuschwanstein Castle. We did by foot, as we would never take a horse cart to go up the hill. It is worth it, it's beautiful, but if you don't have a drone, we will keep thinking your photos won't make it justice. I've tried to get to the famous bridge that gives you the most mesmerizing view of this place, but in this time of the year, with all the snow around, the passage was blocked.MUNICH
Munich was freezing cold, it was snowing which made it even more beautiful. We've explored the city center, the English Gardens, and we drove through the Olympic Stadium.Dinner was magnificent, brilliant, memorable!! Don't miss out YUM - Thai Kitchen & Bar in Utzschneiderstrasse. At dinner, it surprises you with a dark atmosphere, only disrupted by few warm lights. The food is delicious, spicy, warm enough to keep you alive. LOVED IT!!
The second day in Munich was pretty much marked by the football that lead us to Munich. Benfica-Bayern Munich. It was a very cold experience, but loved to get to know Allianz Arena. I'll make sure I won't mention game result, I'll only let you know the coach was fired short after.