Copenhagen. Hannover.

In the end I didn't take very many photos in Copenhagen or Hannover. Copenhagen was a fleeting visit with nothing but a visit to the Omnium bike shop and dinner planned before a midnight train to Hamburg, then a connector to Hannover. In Hannover I wasn't paying attention and I let my camera run out of battery - so it's nearly mobile photos only.

Hannover was a surprise. I'd never really thought of Germany as a holiday destination, but I'm really glad I went. I went to visit a friend who is not only knowledgeable about Hannover's history and present, but also fiercely passionate about Hannover as a city. It feels like Hannover carries the same reputation as Adelaide of being dull and boring. It may be true that our respective cities aren't the heaving metropolises of Sydney or Berlin, but if you look beyond the immediate, there is plenty to see and do.

Most of my time was spent on bike in Hannover.

The three chimneys on the right are a thermal plant for the city. The locals call them the Three Warm Brothers. I think "warm" can be a derogatory term in German, but in this case it's not. They are lit up with LEDs at night, and the colour scheme depends on the theme of the day. I think the plant has a cult following and is one of those landsmarks that locals.

This is one of three sculptures called The Nanas by Niki de Saint Phalle. When they were unveiled in the early 1970s there was uproar not only because the city was expecting more classical statues, but also because in the shapes people saw all manner of body parts. Scandalous!

The town hall has an interesting elevator. When you enter it, the floor is on quite a steep angle, and you're firmly told to not lean on any of the walls. As the elevator ascends, it levels out and then even starts to lean the other way as the elevator follows the curvature of the dome to take you to the very top. It's worth the few euros to enter!

Rome next!