This weekend I visited a dear old friend in Hamburg, and enjoyed the stay very much. The city celebrated the 825th birthday of the harbor, and put its whole marine history and heritage on display. The weather was “nordic” and I got a thick woolen sailor’s pullover and enjoyed the fresh breeze and horizontal rain. I bought it at Ernst Brendler: the store close to the city hall, where I got many of my clothes about 25 years ago. Nothing changed in the store; not even the assortment. Hamburg though has developed a lot. I always liked it there, but now I experienced it even more as a very nice and livable city. Of course we also strolled around St. Pauli in the footsteps of Hans Albers. With container ships, sailors have no time to come here any more. But it is still a walk on the wild side. Ours did not last until sunrise and started the new day having breakfast on the fish market, but civilized with a brunch at the Alster. No swollen right fist, no broken heart, no blood stains on the leather jacket. Yes, it has been a quarter of a century. And that’s a long time.