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Road Trippin' in the Far East
2008.10.07
Yes, the 'Far East' is what parts of former Eastern Germany still feel like. Nineteen years of reunification are not enough to re-heal the cultural, social and infrastructural wounds of over four decades of communism. In late July, my beau and I vacationed in the part of Germany that gives one the impression that one is discovering an entirely new world: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
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Yes, the 'Far East' is what parts of former Eastern Germany still feel like. Nineteen years of reunification are not enough to re-heal the cultural, social and infrastructural wounds of over four decades of communism. In late July, my beau and I vacationed in the part of Germany that gives one the impression that one is discovering an entirely new world: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
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We began our vacation with a visit with good friends in Kiel, who were so kind as to loan us the means of our transportation and accommodation for the duration of our vacation...
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We began our vacation with a visit with good friends in Kiel, who were so kind as to loan us the means of our transportation and accommodation for the duration of our vacation...
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...The Van!
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...The Van!
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Complete with everything one needs for a most relaxing, most delightful road trip.
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Complete with everything one needs for a most relaxing, most delightful road trip.
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Cycling through beautiful countryside and swimming in unbelievably clear waters, the two staple activities of our vacation.
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Cycling through beautiful countryside and swimming in unbelievably clear waters, the two staple activities of our vacation.
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Difficult to make out, but this was one of the most amusing happenings of our bicycle tours: whilst rolling through a luscious forest, we encountered a young woman trotting through the foliage upon her horse. Nothing odd about that. As we rolled on, however, we spied a large...dog? No, goat! Galloping along the path, in our direction. It stopped briefly at our side, giving us a sideways glance as if to say, "What are you looking at?", and then continued on after its mistress, panting heavily in a 'wait-for-me' sort of fashion.
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Difficult to make out, but this was one of the most amusing happenings of our bicycle tours: whilst rolling through a luscious forest, we encountered a young woman trotting through the foliage upon her horse. Nothing odd about that. As we rolled on, however, we spied a large...dog? No, goat! Galloping along the path, in our direction. It stopped briefly at our side, giving us a sideways glance as if to say, "What are you looking at?", and then continued on after its mistress, panting heavily in a 'wait-for-me' sort of fashion.
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Utter contentment is: driving a loud, rickety and slightly rusty old VW van.
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Utter contentment is: driving a loud, rickety and slightly rusty old VW van.
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We mostly traveled via country roads. One of the clear benefits of driving your bed around with you, is that, when you're tired, you can stop at the side of any wooded roadway and sleep, as we did here.
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We mostly traveled via country roads. One of the clear benefits of driving your bed around with you, is that, when you're tired, you can stop at the side of any wooded roadway and sleep, as we did here.
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We spent two days in Usedom, a half-island and former secret vacation spot of notable politicians of the DDR, now a popular vacation destination for many, many Germans. One of the cultural traditions of the former East is still quite present here: nude beaches.
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We spent two days in Usedom, a half-island and former secret vacation spot of notable politicians of the DDR, now a popular vacation destination for many, many Germans. One of the cultural traditions of the former East is still quite present here: nude beaches.
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Here it is. You've seen it pictured in a few of the pictures above. The best surprise birthday gift a girl could receive: a road bike, built together, single-handedly, by her beau, lacquered in the most fitting color and branded with her nickname. Few can boast of such a marvelous gift.
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Here it is. You've seen it pictured in a few of the pictures above. The best surprise birthday gift a girl could receive: a road bike, built together, single-handedly, by her beau, lacquered in the most fitting color and branded with her nickname. Few can boast of such a marvelous gift.
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See gull?
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See gull?
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"Sneaking" across a border that was once sealed. On the left, Germany, on the right, Poland.
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"Sneaking" across a border that was once sealed. On the left, Germany, on the right, Poland.
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No Man's Land.
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No Man's Land.
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The Polish side does not look much different than the former East Germany side. Both bear the architectural scars of Communism.
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The Polish side does not look much different than the former East Germany side. Both bear the architectural scars of Communism.
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When looking at the neighborhoods of this part of Poland, with its appearance of poverty and low quality of life for its citizens, it is difficult to imagine that the average unemployment rate in this country is lower than that of many parts of Germany just across the border.
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When looking at the neighborhoods of this part of Poland, with its appearance of poverty and low quality of life for its citizens, it is difficult to imagine that the average unemployment rate in this country is lower than that of many parts of Germany just across the border.
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During a slight period of disorientation whilst looking for our final camping site, we found ourselves on this sandy road leading to nowhere. The only indication that we were somewhere was this state boundary sign. We could not tarry to inspect the road further as a thunderstorm, whose rains would have left us stranded on this sandy avenue, was brewing in the East. We later found out that this was a "Panzerstrasse" used by the Russians, which led all the way to Berlin.
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During a slight period of disorientation whilst looking for our final camping site, we found ourselves on this sandy road leading to nowhere. The only indication that we were somewhere was this state boundary sign. We could not tarry to inspect the road further as a thunderstorm, whose rains would have left us stranded on this sandy avenue, was brewing in the East. We later found out that this was a "Panzerstrasse" used by the Russians, which led all the way to Berlin.
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The final day of our trip was the only day into which we ventured into a city. This is Neubrandenburg, one of the few cities in Germany which has a completely intact city wall surrounding the town core.
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The final day of our trip was the only day into which we ventured into a city. This is Neubrandenburg, one of the few cities in Germany which has a completely intact city wall surrounding the town core.
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"Wiekhaeuser", watch and armory houses, are placed in 100 meter intervals along the wall. What is unusual about this city wall is that it lacks battlements and pathways along the wall's top, thus, the high frequencies of watch houses, which could only be accessed by climbing up and down ladders on the inside of the wall. Somewhat impractical for speedily passing the word of attacking ruffians along, in my opinion.
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"Wiekhaeuser", watch and armory houses, are placed in 100 meter intervals along the wall. What is unusual about this city wall is that it lacks battlements and pathways along the wall's top, thus, the high frequencies of watch houses, which could only be accessed by climbing up and down ladders on the inside of the wall. Somewhat impractical for speedily passing the word of attacking ruffians along, in my opinion.
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The ultimate example of a city hall from a communistic era, just outside the walls of Neubrandenburg.
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The ultimate example of a city hall from a communistic era, just outside the walls of Neubrandenburg.
