Not originally included in Operación Verano Fresco, the excursion to Bremerhaven was a last-minute decision… thinking we’d have a quick look around & return to Bremen for the city hall tour. But we soon realized that the city had so much to see & decided to forfeit our pre-paid Rathaus tickets. That beautiful waterfront, a preserved trading ship from 1380, a World War II U-boat & an emigration museum kept us busy all day!
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Allied forces inflicted Germany with such heavy damage at the end of World War II that entire cities needed to be rebuilt. Religion also returned with about the same number of Christian worshipers as in the 1920s, so reconstruction of Protestant & Catholic churches accompanied the housing boom… with decoration inspired by current trends. Modern stained glass panels became a common sight in churches throughout West Germany.
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While planning Operación Verano Fresco, I stumbled on a region that looked intriguing: marshy bogs, purple-flowered heath, charming hotels & lots of hiking trails. Lüneberger Heide promised to be a relaxing getaway after so many city days, but little did I know it would turn into one of the most memorable stays of our Germany vacation…
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Something rare happened during this trip: I failed to unravel what makes Berlin tick. Meeting Rafa for a four-day break in the midst of a guidebook research assignment, he planned to show me why he loves the capital so much. In fact, everyone I know raves about Berlin. We saw killer museums, found interesting World War II remnants & enjoyed beautiful architecture; however, something seemed to be missing. What could it be?
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Deustchland? Not my typical Mediterranean home turf, for sure. I hadn’t been to Germany in at least 20 years, & all the cities above were completely new to me. With little time to brush up on some rusty, dusty German, I hoped for the best… & was pleasantly surprised. This book assignment helped me rediscover what a great destination Germany is. Let’s get going!
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