Mandi is right, it is difficult to explain what we have seen and heard from the tour guides and even a couple German girls we met in our hostel. Starting the day with a trip down the canal of history and ending the day in the red light district. I wonder if that is the path all humanity is on? Humanity. Hamburg was/is a very independent city from the beginning of its existence as a city it pretty much ran itself and was/is a very wealthy city.  For example, when the Catholic church brought the good news the Vikings did not like it so they burned down the church EIGHT times but because the stubbornness of the church it still stands and is the highest point in the city (a whole 5 kilometres from the water). Our history books had not told us about the people of Germany only that their punishment but because we are here we are able to learn of the repentant heart of at least the government and the embarrassment of the people (the two young German girls). In the same location of the memorial church there was a bronze statue of a young man with his face in his hands sitting on a pile of bricks. This was a memorial for the the Jewish people used in the brick factories that also died in WWII. But like Mandi I appreciated the "tripping stones," I think we all need a memory of when we do wrong or mess up to remember when we tripped on our own ego or pride and probably hurt or destroyed someone else's life. Because I am here I am reminded America is a blessed country and I will always be proud to call myself an American as well as a Texan. =o) Coming back from history to the present we saw red....yes, the red light district. Neither one of us had done a "pub crawl" so we decided to try, I had three shots (mexicana, f/u smurf, and tequila) and I also had three coca cola's and one sprite. The road was full of people many short skirts (which I do not understand because it is COLD here) and party clothes. Hehe, Mandi and I wore our best stuff...the stuff that did not smell =o0 jeans, boots, t-shirts and coats (we seem to be the only ones who knew it was cold). I cannot say a "pub crawl" is any different from bar hopping when I was a kid. However, we did meet some very nice and handsome Brazilian boys in Europe to get their masters degrees in engineering. I tried to get them interested in Mandi by saying she was going to start her masters in engineering when we get back but Mandi so missed the pitch and said "what! I am not going to do that." I need to teach her about pitches. We also met a German and Aussie who were very nice and the Aussie even loaned me his coat for a while because I looked so cold. We had fun because we were together but like Mandi said we are not that kind of people but you do not know till you try. =o) Finally, we met some real sweet German girls who were going to go out the following  night. They discussed who they are still paying for WWII by having to bring Greece and Spain out of their financial situation. I actually do not agree that has to do with WWII. That occurred when they wanted one currency not from WWII. But scripture says the sins of the fathers will be visited upon the son and daughters so we pay for the sins of our fathers whether it is from the Holocaust or slavery, we have to take responsibility and do our best to improve by remembering the past (tripping stones) and not making the same mistake.  It was nice end to our canal tour of Hamburg and I am sure Mandi and I will not forget  it.
Lots of love from Amsterdam,
Ana