Planned trips especially when on business could be less exciting but when in Europe and more so when a place you are familiar and dear to you breeds a nostalgic feeling.
Europe cannot be described in words much because not many words can express the beauty of the place or the vibrancy the open cities.
Almost all places in Europe offer the same menu - architecture, museums,churches and a happening city square where you can relax after a hard day of sight-seeing with a beer or wine.
Hameln in Germany -the land of the Pied Piper is one such place.
Brief on Hameln- A town in the northern part of Germany inhabited by ~ 60000 inhabitants, loacted 60 km from Hannover. A popular toursit place due to the widely popular Pied Piper legend.
Well without touching on the story this travelogue would not do justice to the place, so here is a recap of it.
According to the familiar legend, rats overcame the medieval town of Hameln. A stranger dressed in multi-colored clothing bargained with the town, in the person of the mayor, to get rid of the rats.They set a price. The Piper then led away the rats to the music he played on his silver pipe and drowned them in the river. Afterwards, the townspeople refused to pay the promised amount, whether because of the "little work" the Piper had to perform. The angered ratcatcher returned to the town two days later and, while the adults attended church, the Piper began to play. This time the children came running out. The Pied Piper led the 130 children past the local hill of execution, called Calvary, to a mountain called Koppen and closed them up in it and Hameln has lost all its children.
To this day the palce in summer on every sunday the Pied Piper story is enacted and draws tourists from all across Europe to Hameln.
Having stayed (10 months)in Hameln in the past and travelled 4 times after this place has a 'special' satus in my travel list. Added to this, had planned a drive ~ 580 kms south to Munich with other colleagues.
As the Schengen Visa validity still existed only ticketing was to be done. Opted for Lufthansa, knowing that this is not the best, but transit timings suited the best. On currency front forex card is the best option to take.
The long wait for the 3:00 am flight @BIAL
Nice to be on ground after the 9 hours flight - @ Frankfurt (9:00am)- bright and nice @ 12deg C
Jaguar displayed at FRA.
The next lap was a 50 min flight to Hanover.
Take off from FRA
![Deutschland - A visit to the land of Pied Piper (Hamelin), and a drive to Munich. Now, 2015 updates-dsc00754.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/1079884d1691540728t-deutschland-visit-land-pied-piper-hamelin-drive-munich-now-2015-updates-dsc00754.jpg)
Descent to Hanover
Monday evening drive (taxi) from Hanover to Hameln - an hour's drive.
Reaching destination - Hameln. First signs on how popular VW's UP is as a city car! ( in pic- used for advertising!)
Stay at Mercure - Hameln, decent for 99 Euro/ day. Good time to be ( not spring yet) and temperatures of 20+ deg c.
Pied Piper awaits @ the hotel
Figurines depicting the story @ the lobby
Now for the outside, a guide accompanied for the guided city tour.
The building 'Rathouse'adjacent to the street where the 'children disappeared' as the legend goes!
..and the inscription depicting the end of the fable!
Some more architecture from the 12th century (restored).
Typical alleys as seen in Europe.
And the relaxed mood on a weekday, restaurants doing brisk business but would be closed at 7:00pm.
..and an Indian store!
A community park. For the kids ..
..and for the aged
Outside what seem to be a Farmer's market - Pre spring - only from 8:00 - 12:00pm
![Deutschland - A visit to the land of Pied Piper (Hamelin), and a drive to Munich. Now, 2015 updates-dsc04092.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/1082032d1691543537t-deutschland-visit-land-pied-piper-hamelin-drive-munich-now-2015-updates-dsc04092.jpg)