Tag: Germany

The Island of NEUWERK – where the way is the goal

Posted onAuthorRenata Green48 Comments

“So, by which ferry did you get here?” asks the chubby little lady and her accent gives her away as Southern German. “Well, I came here walking”, I beam at her, still thrilled by my hike from the mainland to the island of Neuwerk.

Hike on tideland from Cuxhaven to Neuwerk
To Neuwerk – this way! You cannot blame people if they don’t believe that you came to an island walking.  

The lady looks over the rough sea where the huge waves are rolling towards the shores of Cuxhaven. She frowns and shakes her head and is, obviously, thinking I’m trying to tell her a cock and bull story.

Little does she know: Visiting the island of Neuwerk, the way is the goal; definitely.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

The Island of HELIGOLAND – soft spot with rough edges

Posted onAuthorRenata Green47 Comments

A trip to the island of Heligoland is always a good idea. On just one square kilometer, it unites soft sand dunes and rough cliffs. It adds tax-free shopping to natural wonders like frolicking seals and jumping guillemots.

Gray Seal
Gray Seal on the island of Helgoland in Germany

Heligoland is a tiny archipelago that long ago used to be Danish and British. But, actually, it is as German as can be since the poet Von Fallersleben wrote the National Anthem during his stay on the island in 1841.

However, visiting Heligoland today, either on a day trip or for a longer stay, it is almost impossible to imagine that at the end of  WWII, Germany’s supposedly only deepsea island was completely bombed out. For then long years, it was even uninhabitable.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, today, Heligoland is one of Germany’s most popular island when it comes to a couple of relaxing days in a secluded spot.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Guide to the Island of FOEHR – every village a home

Posted onAuthorRenata Green79 Comments

Foehr – let me guide you to the island in the Northern Sea where every village is a home. Every village a home – what’s that all about?

Woman leading two horses in the early morning on Föhr.
Idyllic country life bathed by the North Sea.

Well, let me take you to one of Germany’s most popular holiday islands where almost each of the 16 villages’ names ends with the suffix –um. Since this is the Frisian and Lower German version of heim…which translates to home, you can imagine how cozy and homey this North Frisian island is to its….homies.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

A VAN-TASTIC TRIP to the ISLAND of FEHMARN

Posted onAuthorRenata36 Comments

Spending a weekend trip or a vacation on the island of Fehmarn in a camper van gives you a totally different perspective of the island’s cool activities and beautiful sceneries.

Surfer in front of the Fehmarnsoundbridge off the Island of Fehmarn
While the strong wind is the cyclist’s enemy, it’s definitely the surfer’s and kiter’s best friend. One of the hotspots is at Fehmarn’s southern strait next to the legendary Fehmarnsundbrücke, the Fehmarnsoundbridge

After I had spent a weekend on this Baltic island in Spring – when it still was a bit nippy – I thought, in Summer, this place must be paradise.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

BREMEN – BIG and small. A complete city guide.

Posted onAuthorRenata Green45 Comments

Bremen, located in the northwest, is definitely not Germany’s most famous city. However, visitors who find their way here will certainly be surprised. And even rewarded since the historic old town – partly a UNESCO world heritage site – deems like the capital of a fairyland. And you’ll run into some fabulous creatures and fairy tale figures, indeed.

The Roland in front of the City Hall of Bremen
Mr. Roland in front of the town hall: As long as he stands tall, Bremen remains free and independent.

But there is far more to discover in this Free Hanseatic City.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

LUBECK – a guide to Germany’s most ravishing city

Posted onAuthorRenata Green48 Comments

Somehow Lubeck, Germany’s most ravishing city, has always reminded me of Venice. An innocently cute and relatively small city that used to possess such political influence and economic power – reaching all over Europe and beyond.

Lubeck Germany's most ravishing city: Holstengate
There are quite a few lions in Lubeck – honoring Henry the Lion, the Bavarian King who after Munich founded also Lubeck in 1159. In the Backdrop the iconic Holstentor and right next to it the ancient salt warehouses.

Although Lubeck has incredibly beautiful buildings and alleys, seven church towers, three Nobel prize winners and world-famous marzipan, it does not suffer from destructive over-tourism. I don’t want to change that, however, I’d like to show you around one of Germany’s most ravishing cities.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

We’ll Always Have Büdelsdorf – bye:myself at the NordArt 2017

Posted onAuthorRenata Green2 Comments

We’ll Always Have Büdelsdorf – since every year, hence, also in 2017, the NordArt is taking place in this forlorn suburb with the quirky name.

City sign Büdelsorf and a sign advertising for the NordArt2017
Welcome to the town where one of Europe’s largest art fairs is taking place; I kid you not.

Don’t judge an art event by its location: The annual NordArt is one of Europe’s biggest exhibitions of contemporary art.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Büdelsdorf Revisited – bye:myself at the NordArt 2018

Posted onAuthorRenata Green11 Comments

Büdelsdorf revisited – since every year the NordArt is taking place in that forlorn suburb with the quirky name, also in 2018, I visited bye:myself.

NICHTS by Klaus Gündchen, made from stainless steel in 2011.
Apart from the annual changing exhibitions, some of the works – especially the sculptures in the gardens – stay for longer.
For instance this NICHTS-sign.
NICHTS was made by Klaus Gündchen from stainless steel in 2011.

As you already know from this post, the NordArt is a very nice, annual art event. Obviously, you cannot compare it to the Biennial in Venice.

Nevertheless, they show a great variety of international artists. The NordArt has been one of the largest exhibitions of contemporary art in Europe, after all.

This Way to the Whole Story ->