Farther North And Back In History

Following a sumptuous hot breakfast (these folks know how to eat), we headed back to the main train station in Lübeck for a short trip north to our next destination: Schleswig. First stop was Kiel, and after a brief transfer we were gliding through the lush terrain of northern Germany. These are the lowlands leading to Denmark, where blue and grey lakes intersperse with wild varieties of greens and yellows as we sped past thatch-roofed houses, sycamore groves and expansive farmland.

Schleswig, a Viking site, lies on an inlet to the Baltic Sea. Not too many Vikings in view, but the area evokes its once-powerful sea trade. Now, small double-hulled pleasure boats dot the many docks. Danish, rather than English, is the second language. We arrived midday, and after a light seaside lunch of fish and chips, we explored the historic area of the main church in sunny, 70 degree weather. This Lutheran cathedral is another towering Romanesque/Gothic structure, originally dating to the early 12th Century. On display, a passion for interior and exterior detail.


Yesterday was spent in an adventure of genealogical discovery. Since a branch of my friends Ken and Kay's family tree is rooted here, we rented a Mini-Coop convertible and wended our way through rural landscapes and Ken's history to the town of Böklund. There, Ken connected first with a delightful functionary at the local church of his great grandfather, where I tried to serve as a fractured interpreter, then to the nearby cemetery administrator, who miraculously recognized the family name and led us directly to a manicured gravesite. After a fashion, it was determined that a distant cousin still resided in the village. Later that day, we were able to track down this charming octogenarian and her husband, and spent an hour at their home piecing together missing data, swapping photos and often understanding each other. By dinner time additional family, one of whom was conversant in a common language, had been reached and more blanks filled-in. An unusually productive experience!

Today we plan to fill the day exploring the town of Schleswig. Then back to Hamburg to join other friends and begin a river cruise down the Elbe.