July 16- 17, 2012 Wernigerode to Frankfurt Germany.

Wernigerode is a town in the foothills of the Harz mountains, which have been a region of forest for centuries. It has long been a popular gateway to Northern Germanys most mountainous area.

Woke up to partly cloudy and sun but unfortunately  turned to more heavy rain.

Decided to take the Steam Train up to Brocken Mountain. Caught the 9.00am train as you only had to wait one hour for the return. If you got the later one couldn't get back until 3.00pm. We didn't want to spend too much time up there as we still had the town of Wernigerode to see.

You wouldn't believe it, but the return train had broken down which never left Wernigerode. This meant that we were stuck up on the mountain until the next return train making that another one and half hours on the mountain. Two and half altogether. By now we were freezing. The mountain was under cloud, it was windy, couldn't see anything and it was so cold that we reckon it must have been about 5 degrees or less, that combined with the wind and no sun it was dam cold. We both had four layers on and still freezing. Can anyone believe that I was freezing........

There was an earlier train leaving but only going down half way, so decided to take that and then caught a bus back down to town. Still an hour quicker than waiting for the next train. Wouldn't have mattered if it was sunny and we could see the view and if it was warm enough to walk around.

Arrived back down about 2.00pm and then went straight into town for our walk around for about an hour before returning to the hotel to warm up.

The weather has been so unpredictable over the last week changing from rain, thunder, cloudy and a peep of the sun .

Back at the hotel had a walk up behind the hotel to the top of the ski jumps which warmed us up. Then I was Hot......

Back to the Apmnt had a drink then went down to dinner. We thought that we had ordered a small dinner of schnitzel and fries and one salad between us. Two large pieces of Schnitzel large amount of fries and the one salad was more than enough for two of us. We both couldn't eat it all as we have been having small meals in the heat, which we had got used to.

Had a bit of a sort out with our bags throwing out what we can. Getting ready for our trip to Frankfurt tomorrow, which will be our last night in Germany and Europe.

Looking back at our hotel with ski jump on left. Our Apmnt.is the top balcony facing the ski jump. We were lucky we were upgraded as the double rooms were a lot smaller than the photos shown in the Web site.

 We were comfortable in our room and rest of hotel is very nice.Nice position out of town a bit in the hills. Nice and quiet.

Looking down the ski jump from near the top. We weren't allowed right up to the top. Note the castle in the back ground up on the hill.

Looking into our top floor balcony from ski jump and castle in back ground again.

From our balcony looking over the bottom of the ski jump.

PT getting aboard the HSB (Harzer Schmalspurbahnen) steam train, which took us up to the Brocken mountain . A lot of fun with smoke going everywhere.

1. The steam engine. The HSB is the largest narrow-gauge railway network in Germany, which is 140.4Km (88miles) of meter- gauge track serving an estimate 1.1 million passengers a year. Including tourists and locals.

Looking out the back of the last carriage.

This is some of the country side that we went through. Trying to get a shot of the engine as we swung round but we were too far back from the engine.

Got it all in, in this one. Note all the smoke it makes.

Mainly went through all this forest land. Nice looking down all the valleys. Some were really deep.

Arrived at the top. The Brocken is  the tallest Peak in the Harz Mountains and the highest point in Northern or eastern Germany, 1142 meters. The summit offers spectacular views on a clear day and no view at all (as we had it) when fog,rain or snow blankets the mountain top or just low cloud as today.

PT at the stone monument at the top of Brocken Mountain.See all the cloud around us. Freezing. No view.

On Brocken's highest point is the old Listening Post that was used by the East Germans prior to the Reunification which was then out of bounds to all others. The dome over the shed in foreground is the old post. It was apparently just inside the GDR section of East Germany.

The building on the left is the hotel. Great view with a little cloud!!!

Now back down in town. A few shots around the old town. All so beautiful and so different to anything we see at home. So old....

The square. The lovely building is the council house. Look at the detail on it. Don't forget you can click on photo to enlarge it.

You could say that I have had horizon issues from time to time with the camera, but not this time. Its amazing that this building is still standing. Both these buildings are falling towards each other and are both extremely well maintained.

A street of houses. You would never get bored with all the patterns and colours.

In the town square looking the other way.

Another smaller square nearby.

Just saw the town before the rain came down again.

July 17

Just going to add today's blog onto this as we didn't do much except drive from Wernigerode to Frankfurt. Went through some very heavy rain at times. It was all Autobahn driving today,stopping off in a village for a bite to eat. 

Arrived in Frankfurt handed in our car, load of PT's shoulders, no dents or scratches.

Now have the task to get everything packed into two bags after half living out of several bags from the boot of the car. 

Tomorrow we leave at 12.30pm local time to catch our flight back to Auckland via KL.

To summarize our holiday we have had a great time and seeing so much. Our highlight would have to be, being part of Steffi and Torsten's wedding day and catching up with them and their families, meeting their friends and seeing their lovely house. And of cause meeting young Janne for the first time.

Everywhere else had their own highlights, all in their special different ways.

We have traveled 6490 km's

Petrol (when we had our rental) cost E112.83

Diesel in our Eurolease cost E400.00

Total on fuel E 512.83.  Not bad for seven weeks travelling.

Tolls on the French and Italian roads E239.70

Tolls for Switzerlands 12 month pass Sw.Fr. 40.

No tolls in Germany!!

Well that's all for this fantastic trip.

Another special thanks to Steffi, Torsten and little Janne for all they did for us. We really appreciate  everything. 

July 15, 2012 Goslar - Wernigerode Germany

Left Luneburg at 10.am thinking that we were only travelling 2 and half hours to Wernigerode so no hurry.... the weather didn't look too bad partly cloudy and sun. We then decided to go via Goslar a small town north West of Wernigerode. We were going back to do it tomorrow but by doing it today will save time. 

As we were getting further south the skies were looking increasingly black and we could see rain in the distance. Didn't want to walk Goslar in the rain but decided to go anyway and as it happened the skies partly cleared, sun came out which gave us time to walk the town. As soon as we started to leave heavy rain came down. So lucky.

Arrived at our hotel Schanzenhaus at 2.00pm and got upgraded to an apartment with kitchenette. A lot bigger than just a room. Thought that we could cook our meals for two nights but what they call a kitchenette was just a sink bench, frig and kettle. No cooking facilities at all. Strange....The hotel is a little out of town up in the hills a little, next to a ski jump which is right outside our balcony. Will show pictures tomorrow.

Went downtown for a meal and inquired about the steam train that goes up Mt Brocken. We hope to do that tomorrow weather permitting.

We were sorry to leave last nights accom. It was so nice and comfortable. Everything worked, no squeaks, top of the range bed linen, towels and decor. Beautifully presented.

When we left Luneburg we drove through countryside like this. Very pretty. Then nice rolling fields all different colours growing crops of some sort.

Now stopped at Goslar nice little old town. I have loaded these photos of shots around the town while walking through the streets.

Main street walking down to the square.

One of the beautiful churches we have seen on our travels.

In the town Square.

Square looking left of the above

Square looking the opposite side.

Look at this beautiful home with the little stream running in front of it.

Steam further on.

Back street looking back at the church steeple.

Look at the angle of these houses. I am sure that the one on the right is leaning on the other.

Just as we were leaving looked over and saw these black clouds coming up.

Parked the car just round the corner. Not a lot of room.

Our aptmnt room, rather nice, a lot more room than the double rooms. This one has desk couch and a chair and what they call a kitchenette, as I explained above.

Looking the other way showing sitting area desk on left. Kitchenette far right. We are on the top floor (4th) hence the sloping ceilings. Already knocked my head once. Will show the outside tomorrow.

Wernigerode Castle. Taken from outside our hotel. A little zoomed in. Building was commenced in the 12th century.

After travelling through heavy rain to get here it has cleared up this evening. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. 

July 14, Luneburg, Germany.

Ahlbeck, Baltic Sea  left at 8.45am after our final goodbyes with Steffi, Torsten and Janne. Very sad to be leaving them after our great nine days together.
It was raining when we left and stayed with us all the way to Luneburg after four hours driving couldn't leave it behind.
Checked into the Amethyst Hotel, Luneburg about 1.00pm. We were lucky that they let us check in early as we only have this afternoon to do Luneburg town. One night here.
Very nice hotel just out in the outskirts of town in a country setting. Very private and quiet. Very comfortable rooms.
Had a coffee while waiting to see if the rain was going to ease a little before we headed into town.
Still raining a little but we took off knowing that we were going to get wet.
Luneburg is a historic town on the river Ilmenau. 50km south east of Hamburg.
Luneburg was built on a salt dome which made the town wealthy in the middle ages until 1600 when it started to decline. Tradition has it that the salt was first discovered by a hunter who shot and killed a wild boar bathing in a pool of water. When he hung its skin up to dry, he discovered it was full of white crystals-salt.
Started walking around town to see the sights and sure enough the rain came down in buckets full. Kept walking and then just had to shelter for awhile before we continued on our way. Very wet for photos but still had to take them trying all the time to keep the rain off the camera.
When we finished our walk went into a pub for a beer and an early meal before returning to the hotel. As we came out of the pub the sun started to shine but too late for my photos.
Arrived back to the hotel still sunny, took a couple of photos of the lovely garden and in about half an hour the heavens opened again with very heavy rain.

Hotel room, very nice.

Looking out to the garden from the balcony

Looking along balcony. Our room on the left.

Taken down in the back garden where we look out over from balcony. Our room second from the left with the white railings. Note the thatched roof. 

Now in the town of Luneburg. Stopped raining for a little bit.

The oldest part of theTown Hall was built around 1230. During the following 600 years the building was gradually enlarged.

St Nikolat was built near the port during the 15th Century. This Church served as a religious centre for the river sailors, which is near the river. Stunning.

Underneath in the basement of the church.

Standing on the side of the river looking up at these great old buildings. PT is standing under one of those umbrellas. Soaked, sheltering from the rain.

Really raining now. Skinny building centre right is on a bit of a lean. (note the floor line) .Bad pictures with this heavy rain.

The warehouse and the old crane. Thanks to salt, the valuable herring of the Baltic Sea was an important trading commodity, hence the original name "Herring House". The wooden, copper-roofed Old Crane was first mentioned in official documents in 1346 and is today the landmark of Luneburg.

 

The oldest recorded house in Luneburg, built in 1446.

St.Johannis called the Baptism Church in 1297,St Johannis is one of the oldest churches in Lower Saxony. The steeple is on quite a lean.

Inside the church. We sat for awhile and listen to an orchestra practising for a festival tomorrow night. Sounded beautiful. 

Th other end of the square is the Chamber of Commerce one of the most impressive buildings of the square. The building was built in 1548 as a brewery. The square "AmSande" was the market place for Luneburg. The rich merchants of Luneburg built their homes around the square giving it its present appearance with the distinctive gables.

Close up of he Chamber of Commerce building at end of square.

Looking back the other end of the square towards the church. Note the distinctive gables on the buildings to the right.

It got down to 15degrees, probably not much different from home. We hope the sun returns for our last three days. Getting close to home now.