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| Running along the Ostsee (Baltic Sea) |
PART II: GERMANY
The second leg of our trip consisted of traveling to an island in Northern Germany where would vacation and... relax!
Fehmarn is known as the "Sonneninsel" of Germany. It has the most sunshine all year round. We did indeed enjoy the sun and the crisp, fresh air (which I prefer much more over the heat in Los Angeles - when the sun's out, it's almost impossible to be outside because it's too hot).
We spent a lot of time on the beach, in the swimming pool, on the various playgrounds. We went on a bike tour, saw the local aquarium, ate freshly caught fish almost every day,... It was wonderful! Moreover, since the island is so close to Denmark (only 45 minutes by ferry), Marcus and I went to Copenhagen for a short citytrip while the grandparents watched the children! I loved Fehmarn and would really recommend it for a holiday. Lots of people asked us:
What are you going to do for 10 days on Fehmarn? Won't you be bored? Well, we weren't! We loved the beauty and pureness of the island, the peace and quiet, and the kids loved all the children's attractions (the island is very child-friendly).
Sunday September 2: We flew from Brussels to
Hamburg and spent the night at Matze and Janneke's. Matze is one of Marcus' oldest friends (in the sense that they've known each for forever). Lily and Ennio immediately made friends with Teddy, Lucas, Margarethe and Caspar, their children. Tobi stopped by to drop off Mia, who was going to spend the entire holiday with us. Mia is Lily's and Ennio's cousin and the last time we saw her was when Lily was just 4 months old (and Mia 3 yrs old). It was great for the kids to get to know each other! Lily and Mia got along very well and Lily even started calling Mia
"my big sister". Very cute! The girls are now also old enough to remember this holiday and each other. I hope they will feel like "sisters" forever!
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| Lucas, Mia, Margarethe and Ennio on the trampoline. |
Monday September 3: We met up with Oma Eva who flew in from Stuttgart. We made a nice morning walk and had lunch along the Elb River.
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| Lunchtime! |
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| On the train |
In the afternoon, we took the train to Puttgarden and checked in at the
IFA Fehmarn Hotel, which would be our home for the next 10 days. Finally, no more struggling with suitcases!!! What a relief!
We were very excited to get to our apartment in Haus Vitamar... Our balcony looked out onto the dunes, the beach and the Ostsee. Beautiful!
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| Enjoying the view from Room 2105! We were right at the dunes and the beach! |
Tuesday September 4:
It is sooo nice that everything is so close-by and that we can
walk anywhere (how different than L.A.!) There's a fresh bakery and a small supermarket just a 2-minute walk away. After a delicious breakfast, we go and discover our new neighborhood: the
Südstrandpromenade.
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| Of course we have to have ice cream along the way! Lily is having a "Biene Maja" (Maja de bij) ice cream! |
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| The airplane... a success every single time we walked by! |
Marcus, Oma Eva, Lily
and Mia decide to go to the
Fehmare Badewelt (a true swimming paradise!) in the afternoon.
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| Showing off new bathing suits! |
I don't feel like swimming and walk to
Burg (the main city of Fehmarn) with Ennio. It is a 1-hour walk and I enjoy the sights. So does Ennio. He is awake most of the time and just looks and looks. The landscape here is indeed beautiful!
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| The sea... can't you just smell the fresh air??? |
Burg is a cute little town. By time we get there Ennio has fallen asleep and I can even do some uninterrupted shopping!
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| Ennio in front of Burg city hall! |
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| On our way back. Fehmarnsundbrücke in the background. This bridge connects the island to the mainland of Germany. |
At night, Ennio takes his very first steps all by himself! We were cheering so much that we forget to take pictures or make a movie...
Wednesday September 5: We feel like biking today! We rent bikes
and ride from Südstrand to Burgstaaken (the harbor). Ennio and Mia are cozying up in the Croozer. Lily wanted to sit on the childseat on the back of my bike. It's great to be on a bike again! In Burgstaaken we have coffee and cake in Cafe Kontor, then we ride on to Burg, Vitzdorf and Meeschesdorf, and then back to
Burgtiefe-Südstrand.
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| Fietstocht! |
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| In Burgstaaken - parked in front of Cafe Kontor |
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| So cute! |
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| Ennio is so happy he can finally walk!!! |
When we get back to our hotel later that afternoon, Oma and Opa from Belgium are there! They're visiting here to help look after the kids while Marcus and I will be in Copenhagen for the next 2 days. We walk to the "Yachthafen" and end up having dinner at
Haus am
Strand.
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| Kisses... |
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| ... and hugs! |
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| Handsome little fellow! |
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| Walking past "Fehmare". (In the background the enormous slide from the swimming pool. Lily had no fear going down the slide all by herself!) |
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| Yachthafen |
Thursday September 6: Our long anticipated city-trip to
Copenhagen!
We take the train from Puttgarden to Copenhagen. The train goes ON the ferry! A remarkable experience (very high tech!).
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| Beautiful weather, but very windy! |
Once we get to Copenhagen, we first check into our hotel, the
Radisson Blu Royal. Ideal location for us: next to the train station, across the Tivoli Gardens, and right smack in the city center! Moreover, it is beautifully designed by famed architect Arne Jacobsen. I love it!
We walk along Strøget, the main shopping street of Copenhagen, towards Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn. Of course, we have to have smørrebrød! Delicious!!!
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| Strøget - the Danes have an original way of portraying their fashion! |
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| Nyhavn |
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| Me, very excited about this citytrip!!! |
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| Smørrebrød in Huset Med Det Grønne Træ |
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| Danish canals along Strandgade in Christianshavn |
We cross the Knippelsbro to Christianshavn where we stroll along the Strandgade and even pass by Noma, the best restaurant in the world! (but we didn't eat there) We have a simple meal instead at Cafe Wilder on Skt. Annæ Gade. After dinner we walk back to our hotel and make sure to walk by Slotsholmen. We can't resist an "Old Fashioned" cocktail in Fortunen. Mmm...
Friday September 7: More sightseeing today! Rosenborg Slot - Kongens Have (royal gardens) - Statue H.C. Andersen - Dronningens Tværgade - Marmorkirken (Frederikskirken) - Alexander Newsky Kirken - Churchill Park and Kastellet - den lille Havfrue (the little mermaid) - Amalienborg Slotsplads (royal castle) - Nyhavn - Lunch at Gallionen.
Afternoon quest for a music scores shop, which is ultimately successful. We end up at Dan Fog Musikantikvariat and Marcus is in seventh heaven.
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| Alexander Newsky Church |
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| The little mermaid! |
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| Marcus in heaven! |
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| More Smørrebrød! |
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| A danish hero: Hans Christian Andersen! |
At night, we visit the
Tivoli Gardens, a magical experience!
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| The magic of Tivoli |
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| VERY cool ride! |
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| Danish flags! After this trip we can honestly say: we love Danes and Denmark! |
What struck me is that I've become so Americanized... There was a concert going on and everyone was just carrying (meters of) beer around. I am so not used to that anymore! The rides were
dangerously fun, and I mean that literally. I don't think some of these rides would even be allowed in the States. But again, the thrills were awesome and we had so much FUN!!!
Saturday September 8: Back to Fehmarn - Lunch with Oma and Opa who are leaving to continue their trip. Swimming in Fehmare.
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| Op de wipplank |
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| Mega laughs |
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| Dansen op het strand (in zelfgebouwd zandkasteel) |
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| Ennio stapt!!! |
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| I think I'll have my drink right here! |
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| Duinenmeid! |
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| German baywatch! |
Sunday September 9: Beach walk with Tobi.
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| On a great walk! |
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| Mia and Ennio in their boat! |
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| Crazy pic |
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| Serious pic |
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| ICECREAM!!! |
Monday September 10: Everyone is tired and naps! Later in the day, we take the bus to Burg auf Fehmarn and have more icecream ;-)
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| Lily and Oma on the bus! |
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| Nice pond! |
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| Italian ice-cream! |
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| Prosit! |
Tuesday September 11: Rainy day. Visit of the Aquarium in Fehmarn.
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| Beautiful, colorful fishies! |
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| Shark alert! |
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| Seahorsie! |
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| Ennio waving bye bye to the fish! |
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| In the "Kinderecke" |
At night we go swimming in Haus Vitamar's big indoor swimming pool!
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| First a shower! |
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| Hanging on tight! |
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| Lily knows how to relax! |
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| Fun times! |
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| Nice pool! |
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| Sunset over our holiday paradise :-) |
Wednesday September 12: Beautiful
day, but alas our last day. Last walk to the beach and then train to
Hamburg. Meeting up with Tobi at the Harbor of Hamburg (Hafen City) at
his work - Unilever. Dinner at Kaiser's. Then back to Hotel Cockpit.
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| Morning iPad activity! |
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| Bye bye beach! |
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| Bye bye sea! |
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| Bye bye dunes... |
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| Mia, Lily and Oma say goodbye too... |
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| Hopefully we will be back one day... |
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| Puttgarden Hauptbahnhof. |
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| Hamburg Hafen. |
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| Very modern! |
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| Family pic in Hamburger Hafen! |
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| Unilever and other modern buildings. |
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| Dinner with uncle Tobi! |
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| Big sisters forever!!! |
Thursday September 13: Flight Hamburg - over Zurich - to Los Angeles. We so impressed with the children's facilities in Zurich Airport. Sad the holiday is over... but all the same glad to be home again! Bye bye and see you again next year!!!
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| Family room in the airport! |
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| Lily and Marcus on board Swiss Air plane! |
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| Captain Ennio and his stewardess Ilse! |
