Die Ostsee

Today, Saturday, we drove an hour north to the Ostsee (hmm, being called The Eastsea I wonder if we drove north or east?  Should have a look on Google Maps…).  Anyway I was quite excited to see the coast because I had only once seen it before many years ago when I visited a friend there (who wasn’t a boy friend of course because there were no men before Andrew).

Going to the beach during winter to me meant packing a picnic lunch and hot drinks, expecting a deserted beach and a long cold walk.  So I had boiled eggs with me, gherkins, carrots, sandwiches and a freshly baked lemon cake. Ah, isn’t it funny how those previous experiences in life shape us and how things can be so different from what’s in our head?!?

We had a pleasant drive and I kept admiring those red brick homes and farm houses on the way.  The building style up here is so different from the south.  When we arrived it quickly became apparent that the coast here is very different from our coast in NZ, in particular the west coast (I am thinking ‘Piha’ here) which is the image that was in my head for a winter beach walk.

This place was a pretty little town with beautiful cafes and shops, a promenade type walkway parallel to the water line and far, far removed from our west coast.  It became apparent to me how much New Zealand and my twenty one years there have shaped me and how in these situations I truly feel like a visitor in Germany now.  That is probably particularly so up here where I have never actually lived during my life in Germany.

Birgit and Nick on the promenade.

In the end I could only see about 20 or 30 metres of the actual ocean as the fog was incredibly thick the entire day.  I really enjoyed the atmosphere this created as Aukland has only got about five days a year when it is foggy and then it only last about five minutes.  It was mystical and wintery and very ‘Harry Potter’ I thought.

The foggy beach.

We spent some time on the beach where the children played

There were no other children rolling in the sand I might add…

In summer one can rent those wicker beach baskets to sit in from the place in the back. I was really shocked to hear from Marek that during summer everyone entering the beach has to pay six Euro!

and then walked along the pier where we encountered seagulls and ravens.  Now that IS unusual for me to see in one vista.

Ravens on the beach…do you think they were sent from Hogswort’s??

Tessa got a nice warm hat today.

Nick throwing some crumbs in the air making the seagulls all excited.

…which I think Marek enjoyed at least as much as as the children did.

Ah, aren’t they all lovely together?

Birgit

After the walk we enjoyed the warmth of a cafe and we even saw our first Christmas tree in full decoration.

Somebody had too many pancakes.

Our first Christmas tree this year.

Have I mentioned I really like those red brick houses with the thatched rood??

Thank you Birigt, Marek, Ingrid and Gunda, who lent us her car so we could all make it up there together.  We had a really nice day and best of all the children fell into bed and straight to sleep as soon as we got home.  Actually the boys did, Tessa is still reading Harry Potter and it is 21:43…

Off to bed myself now, that might make her turn the light off as we share a room!

Good night

Tanja

PS Tessa, Nick, Ben and I had some of our picnic on the way up there as it was mid day and we were hungry, the rest came back with us and will be eaten for lunch tomorrow, even if I have to take them our for a picnic in the cold for it!!