1st Weekend in Hannover: Saturday: Architectural Details, Maschsee Walk

One of the joys of walking around Hannover is all the architectural details: the iron work and stone carving and sayings carved or painted on the half-timbering. For example, the Ballhoff is a square a block away with a youth theater. On the Fachwerk (half-timbering) above the door it says (translated): "We youth have the task of looking for new ways and paths and having the courage to follow them." Below are pictures of a stone carving on our building and iron  work on the fountain we can see from our window in the square just below, as well as an iron dragon on the side entrance to the chemistry building. Right behind our building is a river with walk- and bikeways along it that lead toward the university. There is a "New Tower" right behind us (1787) and an old tower further down. There is a victory tower from the Napoleonic war a block away.   

Knight carving, Leibnizhaus facade

Stone Dog, Leibnizhaus facade

Close-up Ironwork on Fountain steps, Leibnizhaus

Iron dragon on the chemistry building handrail

Icicles on the weir bridge over the Leine River behind our apartment building

We had a good weekend. Sat. we bought a SIM card for a mobile phone and did other shopping, but it's more fun than in the US--all on foot in the pedestrian zone. The thing I really like here is that the German shops decorate their shop windows artistically. Right now they are all decorated for Easter in bright colors with birds and eggs, v. cheerful in contrast to the cold and grey outside. That sounds tacky, but somehow they do it tastefully and with a bit of whimsy. Even ordinary signs like McDonald's have a cultural twist, e.g. currywurst.

Easter egg wreath in front of a flower shop

Easter flower basket

Easter window, department store

Currywurst at McDonald's

Then we went for an afternoon walk along the river. The Maschsee (big artificial lake just south of the city center) is frozen and it was fun to watch a mallard duck slipping and sliding as he walked.

Frozen Maschsee  with the old city hall behind

Mallards on ice

Crocuses & snowdrops, Maschsee walk

In the evening we went to an a capella concert--gorgeous music from 1500 to the present. Cold in the church though. One lady on our row brought a blanket. These old churches would be too expensive to really heat. People took off their hats and gloves, but kept their coats on, which was a clue.