Germany - Part 2

Week 8 – 23^rd to 29^th July

We arrived into Northern Germany from Denmark, this time the plan is to work our way down the East side to the South.

Berlin

Our first main stop is Berlin and we really enjoyed this city; we took a walking tour and it turned our to be a great way to see the main sites and learn about the history. We were surprised by the amount of renovation that has occurred since the wall came down, given between the war and that happening, East Germany remained a bombsite with no regeneration whatsoever. What is particularly nice is that they have kept the new buildings in tact with the old, meaning that wherever there used to be a building before it was bombed, they have to build on the same site.

This is the view from East Berlin of the Brandenburger Tor which was in no mans land and the wall was situated just beyond this gate. Hard to believe that before the wall came down, no one could stand within a mile of this gate on the East without risk of being shot. The monument on the top was destroyed during the war, however a cast of the original was held in West Berlin and they created a new one. The monument was returned to East Berlin as a sign that the people were not forgotten but at this time relations between Russia and West Germany were so bad that they literally placed it over the wall overnight for the Russians to re-instate. See what you can learn from a walking tour!

The square that precedes this wall has now been rebuilt and what is nice is that they have to build a new building in the exact same place that the old building used to be and they also have to keep the design in tact with what it used to be. Evidence of this is all over East Berlin.

Part of the wall that is still in situ.

Checkpoint Charlie – well a replica of it but in the original location. As we arrived in Berlin and drove to the camper stop we did in fact drive through here, the Lunar just gets everywhere!

Below is the holacaust memorial which consists of 2711 concrete slabs to make an abstract cemetery in memory of the murdered European jews. Ironically, whilst excavating the site they found Himlers bunker (head of the SS) and there were discussions as to whether they should cease with the project and change site but decided it was too far developed and so should be completed.

At first it perhaps doesn’t look anything too special, but the artist made the slabs of various heights and size and his intention was that you should walk amongst the slabs and experience the confusion and disorientation that represents the loss to the Jewish people. It works and is quite a surreal experience.

Gendarmenmarkt, said to be Berlins most graceful square

The TV tower is Berlins tallest structure. In sunlight the steel sphere below the antennae produces a reflection of a giant cross (as can be seen in the photo). For the Russians this was a cause for embarrassment since they removed all crosses from East Berlin. This then became known by the local people as the pope’s revenge.

Norway

Week 7 - 16th to 22nd July

What a fabulous country!! There is so much to say about Norway but at the same time so little because how many words can you conjure up to express fabulous? We limited ourselves to the western Fjords and they met expectation and reputation. Every turn in the road provided us with exquisite scenery and every campsite saw us surrounded by mountains, rivers and lakes. For this reason, for once I am going to cease with my inherent ramblings and just let the pictures do the talking.

We hope you enjoy this snapshot - we have actually taken 1600 photos to date so you’re getting away lightly; when we have bought the country mansion and instilled the basement cinema you are welcome to view all in their splendour! That said, Andrew, my technical expert, does assure me that these will soon be available via the web album that will be easily linked to from the blog. If you have ever considered visiting (Norway itself or the web album) then I urge you to do so, you wont be disappointed.

The Bergen River – view from our campsite



Cruising down the Naeroyfjord in Flam

We took the Flamsbana Railway that winds its way up through the mountains in about half an hour and then we hiked the 7 hours back down.

The drive from Flam to Loen, taking in the Sognefjord

View from our campsite at Loen

With this just around the corner on our way to Kjenndalsbreem Glacier

Kjenndalsbreem Glacier

Glacial lake – it was hard to capture but the water in this lake was of the most beautiful milky green, almost like jade. Apparently the clay from the glacier gives the lake its colour

Geirangerfjord – the smallest, and said to be the most beautiful of the fjords

The seven sisters waterfall in the Geirangerfjord. Each waterfall is said to represent 7 sisters and the waterfall opposite it is said to represent the man who did not successfully marry any of the sisters and the waterfall is ironically shaped as a bottle

Jotunheimen Naional Park - Gjendesheim

Having seen the fjords it didn’t feel like we were quite ready to leave Norway and so we headed for a hike in Jotunheimen.

It was a bloody hard hike and more strenuous than anticipated but so well worth it, this place was spectacular

Just when we thought the climb must be over we turned the corner and found this...

There were a few tense moments but we made it to the top

and back down again

So that was the Western fjords, glaciers and National Parks, photos never do a place justice but hope you can see how spectacular it is here.

Next few days were mostly driving as we ploughed back through Sweden and Denmark and crossed back into Germany. Next we plan to make our way through Northern and Eastern Germany towards Bavaria in the South.