May 29, 2013. the m/s Eurodam, a cruise ship with the Holland-America line, docks in Warnemunde, Germany. We join a tour to Wismar.
Wismar, Germany
Wismar (Vismer) is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea. It is about a 90 minute bus ride from Warnemunde
The setting (renamed "Wisborg") for the 1922 vampire movie Nosferatu.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.
On the way
We see wind generators. Our tour explains that male wind generators are all white and female generators have red stripes on the blades. Our guide asks, 'Do you know why?" Shrugs all around (it's too early in the a.m. for jokes). "That's because female wind generators have their nails done in red". Still too nearly for jokes!
The Medieval city
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| Entrance Gate. Impressive! |
Bicycle touring of the Baltic states must be popular. We have seen many.
Darn cobblestones
Once I dismissed people who complained of walking on cobbles as wimps; now I am one! Day in and day out of walking miles on stones have taken their toll. The bones in my lower legs feel like they have micro fractures from the pounding and the muscles feel like they are pulled from repeated rocking over the stones.
Bless the brewery
A brewery stop is good for the legs and feet. In medieval times almost every house brewed beer as it was safer to drink than the water. Now this brewery is the only local brewery in Wismar. We tasted three of their beers--all excellent!
Original construction dates (1684) and restoration dates (1985) are on some houses.
this medieval house sits over the medieval canal seen earlier. It looks like collapse is imminent.
Even little kids know we are tourists
Red Brick Gothic
A specific style of gothic architecture common to northern Europe, especially in north Germany and the regions around the Baltic Sea that do not have natural rock resources.
The use of baked red brick in Northern Europe dates from the 12th century, and is characterized by using built ornaments and the color contrast between red bricks, glazed bricks and white lime plaster.
Many of the old town centres dominated by Brick Gothic, as well as some individual structures, have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
St. George Gothic church. It is actively being rebuilt after damage in WWII.
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St. Marys Gothic Church
Just down the street is St. Mary's Church also partially destroyed in WWII. All that is standing is the tower.
Discoveered near St. Mary's, under the street is an old school.
Reputedly the mayor who worked hard to get funds to restore St. Mary's
Decorative bricks can be made to help supprot restoration. The mold is filled, leveled and then removed. The brick (far right) is then dried and burned in a fire.
Decorative bricks on a facade.
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| These decorative bricks are dated, signed and have inscriptions |
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| Not holes in her stockings, but a pattern |
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| One of the largest medieval market squares in the area |
Warnemunde, Germany
We returned to the Eurodam around noon and had lunch. Then I went with "table 50" friend, Maureen, to explore Warnemunde's waterfront.
This reminded me of a model train set. Frequently a red passenger train passed through
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I stood in line to reboard the Eurodam an unusually long time one day. The couple behind me commented continuously about the number of people that cut in line, a fact that I hadn't noticed until then.
We finally make it to the gangplank when a handsome young man slipped in front of me. Feeling like I should be assertive i asked, "Did you just cut in front of the entire line?"
He winked at me and said it was OK, "I'm the pilot". I shot back as he breezed through security before me "The pilot of what?"
He disappeared and as I made me way through security I heard a crew member informing other crew, "That was the pilot'; he's on board now."
What the Eurodam would look like leaving Helsinki...
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