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n the early hours of every Sunday morning, several thousand visitors and locals flock to the fish market in Hamburg‘s borough of Altona on the banks of the Elbe. Fresh fish is not the only thing on offer here, as the visitors can browse through a colourful jumble of mobile phone accessories, bas- kets of pasta, tropical plants and even live chickens and car- rier pigeons. The market is set up on the open space right next to the inner harbour, and at its many stalls and wagons haggling is more than commonplace: baskets are crammed with more and more goods and advertised by market criers at the top of their voices until someone agrees to buy them. This loud and verbose spec- tacle alone makes the market worth a visit. Rumour has it that you can hear the market criers all the way to the Reeperbahn (a street famous for its nightlife) several hundred metres away. But the fish market is not only a colourful and bizarre shop- ping opportunity: for many it is also the last stop before bed after a long night out in the famous Kiez (the district where the Reeperbahn is located). Tucking into a hearty breakfast of a fish sandwich or Currywurst while enjoying the view over Hamburg‘s harbour is an experience with its very own charm. Filled with fresh energy, some might even venture into the nearby former fish auction hall – now an attractive dance venue with live music. While the fish market is presently usually marketed as a tou- rist attraction and is copied by a travelling fair that stops in mar- ket squares throughout Germany, it boasts a proud history and tradition: Sunday trading has been allowed in Altona since 1703 so that freshly caught fish can be sold to churchgoers early in the morning before they go to church. Informations Opening times: Every Tuesday and Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) Address: Isestraße between Eppendorfer Baum and Hoheluftchaussee Public transport: U3 stop Eppendorfer Baum and Ho- heluft Isemarkt I ith around 100 weekly farmers‘ markets, Hamburg is one of the cities with the most markets in Europe. And of those, the Isemarkt is probably one of the most worth seeing. It has the longest history of all the markets in Hamburg: for over 100 years it has been held beneath the viaduct of Hamburg‘s first underground line between Eppendorfer Baum and Hoheluft, only a stone‘s throw from the former offices of Deutsche EuroShop on Oderfelder Straße. It also holds a European record: with a length of 1 km it is longer than any other open air market on the continent. Nearly 300 traders offer an impressive assortment of goods here, especially groceries that would make any amateur chef‘s mouth water: a multitude of regional products and specialities from around the world such as fruit, vegetables, herbs and spi- ces, nuts, honey, pralines, cheese, fish and meat, often from fair- trade or organic production. Flowers, gifts of all kinds and even clothing are also on offer. With a bit of luck you might even spot one of Hamburg‘s famous faces amongst all the amateur chefs, such as TV chefs Tim Mälzer and Cornelia Poletto, or one of the many other cele- brities who live in the magnificent Jugenstil buildings in the area. However, it is rarely hectic amidst this jostle of pushchairs, bikes, tourists, customers and market traders. Everywhere you look people are jovially discussing the latest news and goods. So you should make sure you take your time to visit this place. And where else would you find such a multitude of snack, coffee and espresso stands? Informations Opening times: Every Sunday from 5 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. (from 7 a.m. in winter) Address: Große Elbstraße 1 Public transport: S1 and S3 stop Reeperbahn, U3 stop Landungsbrücken Altona fish market W SHOPPING Hamburg‘s famous markets { 29 } DES ANNUAL REPORT 2012

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