The Baltic Sea

Watching the sun rise from the hotel room

After breakfast (at 8 a.m.) we headed out to visit Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's largest national park, the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park, consisting of marshland, lagoons, with a very unique coastal vegetation and diverse wildlife, and went on a long walk.

While strolling along the beach and over the boardwalks we had the opportunity to watch birds, deer and we also spotted a fox. It was a lovely day spent in fresh air. The wind and the salty air helped clearing our minds. Life can be very good at times.

Sonja's favourite pastime: Walking and beach combing

Typical for the region: Wicker Beach Chairs

Bikes and beaches are things making Sonja happy.

Feet in the water. A must-do for a fish head.

 Climbing up the many stairs of the lighthouse

 Views from top of the Lighthouse 

A two horsepower trip back to the parking lot

A former fisherman's house

Flipper - the Fish snack bar (boat)

 Fish & Chips, a proper reward for a day's walk on the beach.

Prerow Tour - 140km

Give me Water!

We are completely landlocked. The Black Forest couldn't be further away from any ocean, be it the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea or the Baltic Sea... every ocean is a day's ride away.

Sometimes a lake or a river will do to satisfy the need of a water view, but every now an then there comes the time when Sonja's Northern soul cries for salt water, and with a week of vacation left, the man was happy to oblige.

Nine hours and 1,000 kms (620 mls) later we had arrived at Stralsund, located in Northeast Germany, in the region of Western Pomerania, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, close to the Polish Border, opposite from Denmark, at the Strela-Sund (Strela Inlet), which opens into the Baltic Sea.

Stralsund is a founding city of the former Hanseatic League. It was founded in the year 1234, but settlers had been living here long before it was given formal city rights. The town had a lively history, and was under Slavic and Scandinavian control in the Middle Ages, Napoleon's army was here, and after WWII it belonged to the German Democratic Republic before Germany's reunification in 1990. Luckily some of the historic architecture survived and in 2002 the city was honoured with the title of a UNESCO World Heritage.

Here is a walk though the old town core of Stralsund:

Strela Sund - Strela Inlet

Gorch Fock

Bridge to Rügen Island

Leisure Time in a Spa Town

Baden-Baden is a city of many faces, from early Roman influence to French savoir vivre. Exemplary in its cleanliness, and rich with culture and architectural gems. In case you haven't noticed just yet... we really love this town.

Of course we walked, no make that promenaded down Lichtentaler Allee and through the parks, as well as through the city's pedestrian zone. We had an exquisit lunch at the Atlantic Park Hotel (yet again) and stopped for real brewed coffee at a lovely recently opened roasting house / cafe in a side street. After, we visited the 2000 years old Roman Bath ruins underneath the city. No photography allowed, but no less interesting. Life is good!