October 15, 2001: Baltic Sea (2)
Hotel Am Wind, in which we stay, was a navy barracks until five years ago. Today, it is turned to a seaside hotel. There are ten or so similar buildings around the hotel. After a summer was over, we can find accommodations rather easily except weekend. We take breakfast in the white round-roofed restaurant.
There is a wonderful promenade on the beach lined wild rose shrubbery that holds many red nuts.
The largest building of the old barracks is turned to a senior residence in which Klaus's old parents live. This morning, we first visited them. The first floor of the residence is a public space and other service areas. Private rooms are on the second floor. One private room is divided into two small spaces, one for husband, one for wife. There is a bathroom for two in the back. There are many commemorative pictures on the wall. It is just like an ordinary apartment house if there is no helper in the building. Klaus's parents are in very old ages. After a short meeting with the parents, we said good-bye. We hope they will live well longer.
Today, we will drive Eckernforde, a small town north of Kiel we visited yesterday. The town is a natural good port. We walked around the old town to find a good fish restaurant Klaus and Kaeko recommended. Marinated herring dish was really tasty, a new taste I found for the first time during this travel.
This is the harbor with many yachts at the berth. Beautiful autumnal color, small but pretty house cast their reflections on the water, making a wonderful atmosphere of a local port town.
Passing through beautiful streets with trees, we came across to a fish shop that sells many kinds of unusual smoked fish. Long bar-like objects are smoked eels. My husband called it "wooden swords." We asked to slice fresh salmon in 10 cm width.
Kaeko quickly took out her "secret seven tools" and sliced the salmon. We soon enjoyed it on the bench with soy sauce and Wasabi spice. The taste was really good; I have never experienced such deliciousness in Japan.
What is this odd-shaped object? Yes, it is a unique beach bench found only in this area. Klaus explained he could see many benches in summer season on the beach. A guest can borrow it and put the belongings under the bench and spends a long day laying on it by adjusting the angle of the sunshade.
Next we came down to a small beautiful town called Schfeswig at a narrow bay created by a foerde. We visited a street called Schlei, which is decorated with flowers on all the toy-like lovely houses. In the center of the town are a church and cemetery. This is a typical local old town. There were fisherman houses in old days, but most of them were re-developed and sold as second houses. People worry about how long the good old atmosphere could be reserved.
Passing through a narrow array, we came up to an open space facing to a calm cove. Most houses are provided with a slope for boat unloading to the water. This is one of the remnants of the old fishery town.
The sunset reflects on the beach. Kaeko said if we drive up a little, we could stand on the northernmost point of Germany, but there will be nothing particular to see. Therefore, we will drive back to Grossenbrode from now. I have found myself anew that I was actually in the north of northern Germany. I feel very much delighted. In the dusk, we returned home safely.
This time, Kaeko has been backing us in full, but she will have another schedule after tomorrow. So, we had a small thank-you-dinner. We took a we-were-there-picture altogether. Thank you very much, Kaeko.
