WorldTravelReynolds

Who would have thought a day trip to a coastal town could be such a journey through time? 

Our first destination when we saw Germany on the itinerary was the Berlin Wall. Then we saw the 12 hour day and 6 hour round trip journey to get there. Hard pass. We can come back. We chose Warnemunde and Rostock instead as our 2 destinations in Germany for our tour today. 

We first did a walking tour of Warnemunde since that’s our port and then took a train ride to Rostock. We couldn’t help but wonder about the countless journeys taken on these same tracks during the era of the GDR.(German Democratic Republic) commonly known as East Germany.

Warnemünde, like much of East Germany, bears the scars of a divided nation. The weight of history is noticeable here. We visited the imposing former state security and prison building, a chilling reminder of the oppressive regime. Incredibly, locals saved vital documents, demographic records and personal histories, from destruction during the war. 

It’s hard to imagine the fear and suffering endured within those walls. Many times the desperate desire to escape led to dangerous tunnel-digging attempts resulting in imprisonment or death.

In stark contrast, St. Mary’s Church offered a moment of peace and reflection. Its stunning architecture and rich history provided a much-needed respite for the locals. I’ll add more about the Church later.

Our guide shared fascinating personal insights into life under the GDR. Despite a seemingly happy childhood, she described the constraints of living in a communist state. Her parents’ educational and career paths were dictated by the government, and travel was restricted to only communist countries. Even as a child, she sensed the underlying tension and hardship. There were times when basic necessities like underwear and car parts were scarce.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a turning point for Berlin, but the complexities of the past linger. Some former Stasi agents turned out to be friends or family, a heartbreaking revelation as they spied on friends and family.

We remember watching TV in 1989 and hearing President Reagan’s famous words: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” What an amazing day for Berlin.

So let’s move on to the city. The architectural style of the houses here is unique. They are long and deep, often housing up to three generations under one roof. The small gaps between houses were originally designed for cattle to pass through, a relic of the region’s agricultural past.

St. Mary’s Church in Rostock is a masterpiece. The astronomical clock is a marvel of engineering, and the colossal pipe organ, with its 3702 pipes, is awe-inspiring. We learned that it took three years to make just one brick for this magnificent building!

Today, Rostock is a thriving community. People are drawn to the area for its high quality of life, making it a popular place to raise children. It’s such a difference to the challenges faced by previous generations.

But it wasn’t all darkness. We also indulged in the lighter side. A taste of East German ice cream was a sweet escape into nostalgia. The traditional ice cream is a chocolate and vanilla mix and we had it in an edible bowl. It was yummy! And of course, no trip to Germany is complete without a hunt for chocolate. Let’s just say we stocked up!

We had a great train ride back to Warnamunde and a short hike back to the ship. Such a nice, beautiful day!. We hope to visit Germany again. I want to see the wall or what’s left of it.

Next stop is Riga, Latvia.

May God bless you always!

Chuck and Lea Ann