When I got into the lab last Tuesday morning, I thought it would be a fairly routine day of running experiments at work followed by a quiet evening in my room. Little did I know that Christiane, one of my labmates, was planning an adventure to the Hamburger DOM. In the morning, she announced that we were going to the Dom festival. I had heard of this festival before because it’s big news in the city. This festival/carnival is held three times during the year: Frülingsfest (spring), Sommerdom (summer), and Winterdom (winter) and boasts the largest transportable Ferris wheel. I agreed with her that we needed to go to the Dom festival. Later in the day, she mentioned that we were going to the Dom festival that day. Thinking she was joking, I readily agreed. At about 5 PM, she turned to me while I was working and asked, “Are you ready to go to the Dom?” And that’s when those of us still in the lab stopped our work and left for my first visit to the Hamburger Dom, in my work clothes and heels.
Rides, including the biggest transportable Ferris wheel
I am so thankful for Christiane’s spontaneous invitation. The Dom festival was so much fun! I felt like I was a child at Disneyland, just without all the Disney theme. Although I didn’t ride the huge Ferris wheel, Christiane and I rode a spinning ride called Viva Mexico (video of ride). The cars and the platform spin much faster than in the video (or at least it feels like it!), but the video is just an example since I was a little preoccupied to take pictures. The ride was a lot longer than I expected but I enjoyed it. Right after the spinning ride, we all got in individual cars for a time of bumper cars. I can’t even remember the last time I did bumper cars! Now I can say that I’ve been on the “road” with other German drivers. Our group of four also rode the Atlantis Rafting water ride just before some rain started to fall around 9PM (at 1:20 on video). We played one of the carnival games and my friends surprised me by winning a small stuffed animal keychain for me. All my lab mates were such great hosts in showing me the best parts of the Hamburger Dom. It was so much fun, and I hope I can go again before it ends on 23 August 2009.
Bumper cars!
Atlantis Rafting!
In addition to having rides and carnival games, the DOM also has portion called “World of Seventies.” There’s a mini-man-made beach where we took a breather from all the fair activities. I learned that the “Dom” means “cathedral,” and the Hamburger Dom got its name from 11th Century history or so. There used to be dealers and craftsmen in Hamburg’s Mary’s Cathedral until 1804 when the building was demolished. The festival and its followers did not a have a permanent site until 1893 when the city assigned them to the open space where the Dom/Cathedral previously stood. Now, Hamburg has this great Dom festival three times a year for Hamburg citizens to enjoy. Most people think the Sommerdom is the best one, so I’m glad my first Dom experience was Sommerdom.
World of Seventies stage
By the time I got home in the evening, I felt like it was a Friday. I was a little disappointed when I realized it was a Tuesday evening and I still had to work the rest of the week. It’s a good thing I enjoy my work, or else it would have been very challenging for me to get out of bed in the morning.
I am staying healthy for the most part, but please pray that I would not get any bug bites. I think I inherited sweet blood from my mom because she and I are both prone to insect bites. Since it’s August, the mosquitoes are starting to get more active and I’ve already gotten more bites than I would like to admit. In addition to praying that I wouldn’t get bug bites, please pray that I do not excessively scratch the existing ones.
Can you believe it’s already August? Only 35 more days in Hamburg!
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Psalm 4:7
why do you work in heels?
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