This week’s small pleasures 487

Our time in Hamburg is coming to an end. It has been such a good few weeks, with lots of walking, seeing new places, figuring out the supermarket (orange juice is next to beer, well they are both drinks), and enjoying being in a different city where we aren’t just tourists. We will both leave this city with fond and happy memories.

Anyway, I finally took a picture of this gate opposite out nearest S train station. I love the shapes and the picture.

The food section

You asked, I bought, I tasted. Yes, I am talking about the Black Forest smoked tofu. Taking the picture on the front as inspiration, I made an sandwich with the tofu, some leaves, sauerkraut and a sprinkling of dill for photographic purposes. It tasted just like ham from the Black Forest, though with a tofu texture. If you are vegan or vegetarian and miss ham, you might like it. Certainly worth tasting!

Also in the shopping basket this week were these two delightful coasters which I realised actually go with two I have at home (and which happen to be made in Sweden), some special chocolate with aromatic pink peppercorn flavour, a bunch of glorious radishes, two little blue napkins from Danish chain, Søstrene Grene, a huge bunch of very fresh dill and some fresh peas. There was also some asparagus, but more on that on Wednesday.

One thing I appreciate here is being able to get good sandwiches for a quick and simple lunch when out and about. Here are two of this weeks ones, both very good. Something I will miss. On Friday, I tried a local cafe which I wish I had found sooner as it felt like a good place to sit. I had a slice of raspberry lemon cake, topped with almonds, so it almost felt healthy. It also wasn’t a huge slice which was good! The coffee was excellent too.

Final exploring

On Sunday we headed out to walk to town rather than take the S train. We passed by the Jewish cemetery, which has been in place for 400 years. It is amazing it has survived. The picture is taken looking through the fence as it was closed. Unfortunately, the walk took us through the Reeperbahn, the area with bars, strip clubs and tourist traps. Luckily it was Sunday morning, so it was just a question of dodging the broken glass, but at least we spotted this street sign. We then walked onto the waterfront but decided not to go on any of the boat trips, though I did spot this rather sad looking bear on the wall. From there we strolled around, finding both the Norwegian and Danish churches (we had already found the Swedish one), and lots of Portuguese restaurants (not a surprise – this quarter was home to many Portuguese immigrants who first arrived in the late 16th century I believe). After a sandwich lunch, we returned home to read, rest and cook.

Simple things

• Watching 2 little girls on the third floor of the flats opposite, send things down in a basket to 2 little girls on the ground floor, the basket then being returned. Endless fun was being had.
• Listening to our little visiting robin, singing his heart out.
• Shopping in the market on Saturday – beautiful salmon and tasty sausages, the latter of which went into a pasta dish on Sunday.
• Saying hello to our neighbourhood cat.
• Having a lot of quiet down time.
• Seeing all the spring flowers popping up in unexpected corners.

What were your small pleasures this week? Here are some other blog posts from a few fellow bloggers looking at the good things in life. 

• Carol Ann travels to The Netherlands and other delights.
• Meanwhile Travels Through My Lens takes us to the wonderful Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.
• Neal shares his weekly Five Friday Happy Bringers.
• And Natalie seizes the day.
• Anne brightens up a gloomy day with the colour orange.
• The Travel Sketcher shares his week in The Pearl and some very good looking biscuits.
• And Mr Tootlepedal has some wonderful bird pictures.
• Anabel of The Glasgow Gallivanter takes us to Bishopcleugh and Lockerbie.
• Maria is delighted she will be enjoying cucumber this summer.
• Jo takes us a walk on the dark side…
• The Eternal Traveller goes to Corfu.
• And Jo takes us to Whale Bay.
• Finally….Mr Platypus takes us to see some swans and the delights of spring.
• ..…and all the other lovely bloggers out there. Sorry if I have missed anyone…..

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer and good food. Thistles and Kiwis can be found on Facebook and Instagram @thistleandkiwis