Neubrandenburg
This is a beautiful old walled town dating back to the 1200s. The wall itself is complete and all the watch tower ‘houses’ have been converted into cafes, bars, offices and homes. Inside the walls is a magnificent gothic church (which has become a concert hall in its new life), a business and shopping district and residential areas. The reason for our visit to this city was to celebrate the wedding of Julia and Christian. Both of our daughters and their boyfriends joined us (in the midst of their own travels). The celebrations started on Friday afternoon with a BBQ in The Marstal: the former horse stables of the Prince (old stone buildings and inner courtyard and gardens). The wedding was the next day in a Greek style pavilion atop a hill followed by a dinner reception and after party lasting into early morning (again at the Marstal). It was a beautiful event as well as a great chance to reconnect with many of Heidi’s relatives.
Berlin
On June 2 everybody dispersed and we, as well as the girls and their partners, travelled to Berlin. Berlin is a super cool city: remarkably diverse neighborhoods, walkable and hip. The contrast between West and East Berlin is still apparent even after 30 years: the style and conditions of the buildings, the way the neighborhoods are organized and the types of shops and cafes for instance. We visited the East German Museum with Sarah and Reid: nostalgic for Heidi and a discovery for the rest. We were very happy to have had the opportunity to reconnect with another of Heidi’s distant (though beloved) cousins, Svenja. She very generously hosted the girls and their partners for their days in Berlin and also took the time to show us the gritty Kreuzfeld neighborhood for a canal-side beer garden and fantastic dinner on a boat. While the girls stayed in the city centre, Heidi and Art enjoyed staying with her aunt and uncle, Marleen and Hans, in the lovely suburb of Spandau, on the river-side of the Havel.
Fun (And Not So Fun) Fact
Some of you may remember the 80’s band, Spandau Ballet. Spandau was the location of a famous prison where many hangings took place and when the person reached the end of the rope they called the last convulsion the Spandau Ballet.
Bellissimo Travels 