Today was my birthday but with the daily scheduling I had a long train ride today. There is an express train that goes from Hamburg to Copenhagen via a historic German town of Lubeck so I was going to make a pit stop there before continuing to Copenhagen.

In the hotel I had their buffet breakfast (free food) before heading to the station. I had arranged to meet my friend Dorothea this morning. We know each other as we were fellow Korean bloggers and had been invited together on several trips for Korean bloggers when I was living in Korea.

I always told her I wanted to come to Hamburg one day, not sure how serious she took it. We met briefly in the station and she treated me to strudel not knowing it was my birthday. It was only 2.20 Eu ($3.30). I was still in awe of how cheap Germany was compared to Norway. We asked some police officers to take a picture of us together.

I then wanted to buy my ticket to Lubeck after Dorothea had to leave to get to work. It was 13.80 Eu ($19) and was leaving in a few minutes.

I was waiting on the platform but there was no train. I asked an attendant 'Ich gehen Lubeck' (I'm going to Lubeck). She replied 'acht' (8) so I indicated on my watch if I had time as it was scheduled to leave now. She said 'funf minuten' (5 mins).

I rushed over to the new track impressed with my improvised German. It was a two level train and mostly empty as we were going against morning rush hour. The journey to Lubeck was about 45 mins.

On arrival at Lubeck I turned right outside the station as I'd researched on Google maps. The gate to the old town was supposed to be quite close but I didn't see it and there just seemed to be houses and nothing special.

I tried to go in a hotel to ask them or get a map but there was nobody at reception. I picked up a brochure with a picture of the gate and decided to ask someone. I showed them the picture and asked 'wo ist centrum' ?

I was supposed to turn left outside the station and gate was right there. The orientation on google was wrong as it always points north. There was also a town map and brochures with maps.

There is a small bridge to the island adorned with statues. The two tower city gate was aged and the brickwork seemed to droop in the centre.

There was an entrance to go inside and it was a museum for 6 Eu ($9) so I went in. I had my bags as I was going to Copenhagen so I asked to leave them with the cashier. I told him 'Ich gehen Copenhagen aus zwei hur' (I'm going to Copenhagen at 2pm). He also asked 'wo wohnen' (where live) and I said Kanada.

The museum was interesting. It is inside the two tower and the central connecting portion. There was also a replica of the old town so I asked the lady 'wo ist hier' to find out our spot.

I then left to go into the old town proper. Nearby is the Town Hall and Market Square. It didn't have many stalls in low season but you can imagine the grandeur when it is full.

As I was walking around you can actually go inside to see the main lobby which was quite impressive similar to the Hamburg Town Hall.

Nearby was the Cathedral but you had to pay 2 Eu ($3) to go in and I was short on time. I had to be at the station at 2pm as I was booked on the train to Copenhagen and couldn't miss it.

I was trying to reach the north gate then get back to the station. There was a building supposed to be the old hospital and you could enter the main foyer which had more of a Church feel with a lot of the architecture and art.

I made it to the north gate but then the rain moved in so I tried to shelter.

After trying to shelter I made my way back to the city gate to head to the train station. Here there was a small district I had passed. It had narrow streets housing a puppet museum. They also made scenic reflections on the river.

Back at the station I got a noodle box for 2.90 Eu ($4.50), more cheap food as I waited for my intercity train to Copenhagen, hoping the rain would pass.