Train travel in Germany

Train Travel in Germany

I don’t know Michael Portillo,but he sure keeps me entertained on Saturday night SBS TV,with his train travels through Europe.From Dresden in the south to Hamburg in the north,with his colourful range of jackets from lime green to scarlet red this man would have to be an extravert.

My last visit to Germany was in 1960 cycling through Lower Saxony with three rugby mates,on our summer trip from London to Oslo. We left Delfzijl in Holland and passed through Wilmshaven, Bremerhaven,Hamburg and Lubeck,battling headwinds on our second hand British bikes,staying at Youth Hostels and living on a diet of brot and strube.

This time it could be quite different,following Michaels’s model most of the travel could be by Deutsch Bahn,sitting in a comfortable seat being propelled at speed,enjoying a beer and possably chatting to other travelers.

My planned trip could start in Hamburg,visiting the sights and calling on Horst and Evelyn,old woolclassing mates in Balmstedt,

I have discovered an antropoligical site at Schoningen,where four ancient wooden spears found in an opencut mine are about 400,000 years old,this Saxon settlement is thought to date back to 737AD. I can get there by train to Helmstedt and possably by bus to the site,where a museum opened in 2013. Its called the Palaon,,the rear of the building overlooks the existing coal mine.

I am heading in a southeasterly direction,hoping to meet son Josh and partner Lin at Wartburg Castle in Luther country.near the town of Eisenach.

This UNESCO listed castle,founded by Ludwig der springer,and first mentioned in 1080, commands a hilltop view.

Martin Luther arrived in May 1521,excommunicated by the Roman Catholic church and declared a  heretic,he spent  14 months translating the  new testament from Greek to German vernacular for Protestants .After exploring the town the plan is to head south to the Thuringia Forest where there is a 168 km historic path wending its way through pine,birch and larch forests  called Rennsteig  it receives heavy snow falls in winter.There a several small villages to explore, Horschel ,Schmalkalden and Baumkronenpfad.

Heading further south east we should explore Leipzig,where Michael got a tour of the railway station.This city was controlled by the GDR till 1989 so is now casting off the communist regime . There are opera house Museums and Markets to explore.

We are now heading north east to Wittenberg or as it is now known as Lutherstadt,on the banks of the Elbe river,where  in 1508 the Augustinian monk Martin Luther arrived to study at the university. There is a marketplatz with a statue of Luther,a Lutherhaus ,and a collection of treasures including Luther’s desk,pulpit,first editions of his books and paintings.

Its now back on the train for a 90 ks ride to Berlin.Where we will have to organize accomadation,possibly Airbnb,tours of the city,cycle hire and visits to the Reichstag,

Brandenburg Gate, and the remains of the Berlin Wall,not forgetting to sample the Bratworst.

High on my list of things to see are some of Albert Speer’s architecture,the 1936  Olympic stadium,where my uncle David visited for the Olympic games.Also the inner suburbs of Schonberg, Mitte,Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain..The Horshoe Estate built in 1925 ,designed in the shape of a horseshoe by architect Bruno Taut holds some fascination.How do the Germans design and build such innovative architecture,whereas we conform to the same rectangular shapes.

Could we also experience a swim in the River Spree ? but by this time the weather could be getting colder, also a visit to Tiergarten and Potsdam are essential    If time allows I would like to see Haus am Bogensee Villa  ,located on 17 hectares of forested land located near Wandlitz  15ks north of Berlin and once the home of Dr Gobbles.                             .Auf Wiedersehen  !!!