If the Alster freezes over...

The Alster is what most people get first of Hamburg, quicker than the river Elbe. Because the Alster is the lake/river in the heart of the city. The Elbe marks a southern border between the places where people work the dirty jobs in the harbour or live the simple life on small farms, and the city in the North. The Alster is always beautiful, and for recreation purposes only. Even in the winter. It has to be -10 C for almost two weeks or even colder for at least a week to let the Alster freeze over. Last time that happened in the winter 1997/98. So while most of the people in Germany are cold and miserable (maybe except of their kids) most people in Hamburg wait whether the Alster will now freeze over or not. Last time half of the population of the city were on the ice - a spontaneous fun fair spread out, little cabins for sausages and mulled wine were build up over night - and I had a cold and was forbidden to go out. So - if we already have to suffer from a russian cold - this time I'm hoping for the thick ice on the alster...