Berlin re-visited

Despite the terrorist dramas across Europe, we felt at ease in Berlin, and were able to show our Kiwi guests around this time with some local knowledge.  We also had time to look deeper into Berlin's turbulent past.

We find a city centre mooring in the shadow of the Reichstag

                                 A classic Berlin bridge carries the U bahn over the Spree river 

We take a balloon ride above the city (on the end of a long wire)

During the Cold War Glienicker Bridge was used to exchange spies, Antiope is moored on the 'Russian' side. The bridge is painted different colours on either side of the old border.

The Bridge of Spies, 'Glienicker Brucke' 

The Wall is preserved in places around Berlin

Checkpoint Charlie. Then and now, 

                                                    The Author poses by a remaining 
                                                            crumbling watch tower 



A more contemplative day was spent at Sachsenhausen concentration camp only a few kms north of Berlin. During the Nazi regime more than 200,000 people were held here, few survived. Followed by the Soviet era when 60,000 political prisoners were also held here.

                                The main camp gate with the ironic motto 'Work will set you free' 

                Barrack markers show where up to 200 prisoners were housed in each block

                                            What remains of the crematorium ovens. 
                                           Here thousands of bodies were disposed of.

         To finish on a brighter note, a lake anchorage at sunset, only 10 kms from the city centre 

Hamburg to Berlin

On a cold, wet, grey June day we left the Kiel canal and headed out onto the Elbe river.
On the plus side, it was calm, as this stretch of river up to Hamburg needs respect.

                                       Elbe locks at Brunsbuttle. We enter tidal waters.

                                                      Hamburg to Berlin, A week long journey

                                            Hamburg skyline, A very busy waterway

50 km up river from Hamburg is Lauenburg, 

A sleepy town on the banks of the Elbe. Here we left the river  

  Our route to Berlin took us up the Elbe, down the Elbe-Seiten canal, and along the Mittelland.
The Sieten canal was built during the cold war, on the Western side of the border to maintain an essential inland waterway route to Hamburg, Huge boat lifts and locks needed to be constructed.

Scharnebeck boat lift

The boat lift at Scharnebeck lifts this 100m by 12 m caisson by 38m 

At the top we look down 38m to the waterway behind us

This lock at Uelzen is 190m long by 12m wide and 23m deep

Wolfsburg, the home of VW 

We stop for the day in Wolfsburg, where 2/3 of the population work for VW, 

Another days run and we cruise into the lakes that surround Berlin, arriving on a rare Sunny day which brought out hundreds of sailors.

We arrive on a busy day on the Berlin Lakes

Berlin, Brandenburg Tor

Berlin will be our base for the next few weeks, before we start the cruise back to France and our winter berth in Corre.

German waters again

Having said goodbye to Sonderburg, our last port in Denmark, we cruised up the long Fiord to Flendsburg, in Germany. The port of Flendsburg has special meaning to me, having read 'The Riddle of the Sands' many years ago. That maritime spy story began here, and the historic seafaring town lived up to the image in my mind.
  

Flendsburg waterfront

Flendsburg. A contrast in boatbuilding

In the waterfront boatyard were restoration projects, alongside an authentic but scaled down 'Man of War' being built.

The current 'Braasch' generation, look after the family Rum business

Flensburg, was once in Demark with a History of bringing Rum from the once Danish Carribean islands. We visit the last remaining family owned rum suppliers in Flendsburg.   

We arrive in Kiel on a windyregatta day.

Our passage back South was to be via the Kiel canal, arriving during Kiel regatta week.

Traffic on the Kiel canal, the busiest man made waterway in the World

Wind farm towers on their way down the canal

Antiope in the shadow of ships entering the locks day and night.

In Brunsbuttle at the Western end of the canal, we join the Elbe river which will take us up through Hamburg and on our way Berlin, once more.

The colours of Denmark

12th June.
Our time in Baltic waters is nearly over, We have new waterways to explore. We have cruised through the archipelago of islands south from Copenhagen, and as I write this post in Sonderborg, our last Danish harbour, with the coastline of Germany across Flensburg Fiord,  a lasting memory of our time in Denmark will be the colours.

'Dannebrog' The oldest national flag in the world 

Crystal clear waters

Seafarers house

Svendborg

Praesto

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Aeroskobing

Faaborg

An experience, last night while at anchor in a sheltered inlet 'Dyvig', on the island of Als, was the sight of a rare 'Harbour Porpoise' hunting for fish. These small sub arctic mammals are on the endangered list, with only an estimated 1000 remaining in Danish waters.     

Our plan from here will take us into Flensburg Fiord before heading to Kiel, the North Sea canal and up the Elbe river. 

Smooth waters to Svendborg

June 1st. Following a few windy days in Preasto it is good to be underway again, and after
a careful passage across the notorious and shallow Bogestrom and we find a snug berth at Nyord for the night. an island barely a mile across.
Next port is Vordingborg, where we climb the hill a rare experience in Denmark and walk around the 'Goose tower' the only surviving remains of Denmarks' largest fortress dating back to 1200.

The Goose tower at Vordingborg

Taking advantage of calm weather we head further West towards Svendborg, stopping the night at the little island of Omo.

At Omo island, another snug little harbour

The summer sun sets around 11pm 

Omo island lighthouse

Typical thatched houses on Omo island

We reach Svendborg, gateway to the island archipelago, and home to many traditional Danish schooners and ketches.

A haven for the grand Baltic tall ships

Antiope alongside in Svendborg 

Recycling at a whole new level, 

We learn that empty cans are valuable, this machine checks, counts, and credits each can showing the recycling logo.