Dear Lions,

What a ball! We hope you had a wonderful time in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg during your Annual Lions Clubs International Convention in Hamburg. More than 23,000 members from more than 130 countries did breathe life into your slogan „Meet friends in Hamburg“.

We hope that you and your families have enjoyed Hamburg and its touristic attractions like the Michel, the Rathaus, the HafenCity and, of course, the rivers Elbe and Alster.

Before you end your conference on Tuesday night you will elect Barry J. Palmer as the new International President of Lions Clubs International and set the course for the future. The preparations for your next Lions Clubs International Convention 2014 in Toronto (Canada) are already in full swing.

Your spectacular parade on Saturday was a very special gift for Hamburg and its citizens. The happy, peaceful and colourful march of 15,000 people from 130 countries around the Binnenalster sent the spirit of the Olympic Games and friendship between nations to Hamburg. Thank you very much!

And we’ll tell you a secret. We had a deal with the weather man. Either he ensured blue skies and sunshine during the convention or we wouldn’t publish his forecasts any more. As you see, it worked.

We are sure that you had a convention full of interesting discussions and joyful encounters. And we hope that you have met friends and have made friends with our home town. Bye, bye, have a safe trip home and please come back to our city soon. We are looking forward to it. And as we say in Hamburg: Tschüs!

Hamburger Abendblatt, Editorial Staff