My Life as a Lion

Lions Flags outside the convention centre

Arriving at the Radission Blu

Christine and I arrived in Hamburg yesterday after a simple one and a half hour flight from Birmingham. We were met at the airport by a well drilled team of local Lions who directed us to a coach which took us to the Radisson Blu Hotel.

View from Hotel

After checking into the hotel and meeting up with Liam and Ann on the way in we decided to go for a walk.

We wandered aimlessly around Hamburg not really knowing where anything was but eventually found a supermarket to buy some cereal for the morning and checked out a restaurant to eat at later. We returned to the hotel meeting up with numerous Lions including most of our Multiple District group. After freshening up we came down looking for others to go out for a meal with but none were around so we headed for the Restaurant Leopold and had an excellent meal. A quick drink in the hotel and then bed ready for an early start.

Queuing for our photo with Barry Palmer

105 DGEs and partners

Tuesday morning was an early start with registration and gift collection at 8am for our group followed by the official photo with the incoming International President, Barry Palmer. the gifts were many and varied with the highlight being a flight bag. We then queued for our photograph and to be honest I felt sorry for Barry and his wife who have to sit there for 750+ photos. After the individual photos we met up for a quick group photo (seen on the right, I’m the one with a hand in front of my face).

off for the bus tour

and Christine too

Following the registration and photos the day was ours and as I sit and type this Christine and I have just returned from an open top bus tour of the city. A very interesting tour and plenty of evidence that the Lions are here. Not sure what our plans are for this evening but in a couple of hours I’m off for a run around the Aussenalster Lake to try and burn off some calories.

Welcoming sign by the Elbe

Tomorrow (Wed 3 July) is the first day of our district governor elect school and I’ll try to post later in the week to tell you how it went. More information about the convention can be found at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/common/convention/index.php

Lion Simon Moss

@simonhmoss @MarstonGnLions @lions105m @lionsclubsorg

1820 miles travelled as 2nd VDG

1500 miles travelled as 1st VDG

700 miles travelled as DG

At least 1000 hours since 1 July 2011 on Lions’ activities