Lübeck, Germany
Head and seat of the Hanseatic League that dominated the Baltic Region from the 13th to the 15th centuries but dating from 1158, “Lubitze” (the Beautiful One), known today as Lübeck, is still one of the biggest and most important ports of Germany. At one time there were over 200 cities incorporated in this group of merchants. Even such far-away states such as Venice had their inference in it... The city proper is a World Heritage Site, and is beautifully conserved for our enjoyment.
Early today we anchored near this small walnut-shaped city on the Trave River, and immediately after breakfast boarded a German riverboat which took us around it, with a guide informing us of the fantastic and long history of Lübeck, founded originally by the Slavs. The weather was cool, and the majority of the trees and bushes were flowering, as the weather seemed to have skipped spring and gone straight into summer (or so our guides said). All the hawthorns and spiraeas were covered in white or pink flowers, and the yellow Laburnums were in full bloom. The rest of the trees wore a cape of green tender leaves, with or without young fruit.
We divided into different groups and started our morning walks in this lovely small city. The story of the churches with their beautiful green copper spires and their destruction during the Second World War, the Central Square with the cathedral and the Rathaus, as well as all the flower and vegetable and fruit vendors adding their colors, and the abundant museums (the Puppet Museum especially), made us feel the vigor of this small city on the Baltic Sea.
Back again to the ship at midday for lunch and some rest for our tired feet, and again back into the city, where some of us had lunch instead. During the afternoon we either walked or took Zodiac shuttles back in to town, where we could choose to visit different points of interest on our own, or explore further, accompanied by either one of our historians, Tim and David, or one of our photographers, Sharon or Marcin, into the most interesting parts of the town.
By late afternoon we were all aboard and the ship began its descent of the River Trave, during which we enjoyed some specialties from Lübeck: fresh pretzels, cold cuts and beer!
Tomorrow promises to be another marvelous day!
Head and seat of the Hanseatic League that dominated the Baltic Region from the 13th to the 15th centuries but dating from 1158, “Lubitze” (the Beautiful One), known today as Lübeck, is still one of the biggest and most important ports of Germany. At one time there were over 200 cities incorporated in this group of merchants. Even such far-away states such as Venice had their inference in it... The city proper is a World Heritage Site, and is beautifully conserved for our enjoyment.
Early today we anchored near this small walnut-shaped city on the Trave River, and immediately after breakfast boarded a German riverboat which took us around it, with a guide informing us of the fantastic and long history of Lübeck, founded originally by the Slavs. The weather was cool, and the majority of the trees and bushes were flowering, as the weather seemed to have skipped spring and gone straight into summer (or so our guides said). All the hawthorns and spiraeas were covered in white or pink flowers, and the yellow Laburnums were in full bloom. The rest of the trees wore a cape of green tender leaves, with or without young fruit.
We divided into different groups and started our morning walks in this lovely small city. The story of the churches with their beautiful green copper spires and their destruction during the Second World War, the Central Square with the cathedral and the Rathaus, as well as all the flower and vegetable and fruit vendors adding their colors, and the abundant museums (the Puppet Museum especially), made us feel the vigor of this small city on the Baltic Sea.
Back again to the ship at midday for lunch and some rest for our tired feet, and again back into the city, where some of us had lunch instead. During the afternoon we either walked or took Zodiac shuttles back in to town, where we could choose to visit different points of interest on our own, or explore further, accompanied by either one of our historians, Tim and David, or one of our photographers, Sharon or Marcin, into the most interesting parts of the town.
By late afternoon we were all aboard and the ship began its descent of the River Trave, during which we enjoyed some specialties from Lübeck: fresh pretzels, cold cuts and beer!
Tomorrow promises to be another marvelous day!
