Is there anywhere a place on
earth where we can
relax, do nothing and take a dog with us? And have a swim in the sea
and consume fish as much as we want? Of course there is one and we know
it well. At first some more members of our family wanted to come with
us, but finally we are three: Heidi, Otto and I.
At first let us introduce Otto:
"My name is Otto and I am a Beagle.
Beagles tend to be difficult to be educated so I will try to behave as
well. In spite of that I like to have holidays either. Surely I will
meet lots of other dogs. I like them if they are female but at male
dogs I mostly get excited. At our destination there is a male dog, a
mixture from Chow-Chow and Spitz. His name is Paul. Moreover he is
black. So I see black as well."
 Hallo, I am Otto... |
 ...and I am Paul |
So we three sit in our car on Saturday morning and start at 8.30 am, two bicycles on the roof and Otto behind the back seat. We reach Berlin without problems and then go north with many construction sites at the Autobahn. As it is absolutely impossible to stop with the car Otto undertakes an expedition towards the driver and I hardly can avoid that he keeps the lordship of the steering-wheel. At last I feel a hot breath behind my neck until we can stop at the next rest place. It would be better to install a solid grid at the backseat similar to those of the vehicles of prisons.
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 Kirche in Usedom |
 Anklamer Tor in Usedom |
After we got lost on side roads for a
while and mastered a traffic jam
at the
uncompleted bridge in Anklam we reach the island Usedom as usual at the
village Usedom and traditionally stop at this place for a walk. The
attractions of this village are a big brickstone church, a city gate
(Anklamer Tor), the market place and the narrow lanes and houses,
finally the
harbour. It is to be read that they have big plans to build up a
"Marina". This is a support center for sailors with restaurant, shops,
toilettes and lavatories.
So we enjoy the (still) scenic atmosphere and then let us pull back to
the car by Otto. Now it is only a short distance to Stubbenfelde and
Koelpinsee where we leave the main road at the campground which is
alive again. We have made the 500 km in about 6 hours. At the
Teufelsberg we get out of the car and Otto can use the next birch tree
to lift up his leg.
There is a saga about the Teufelsberg:
A clubfooted shoemaker once was
federated with the devil and lived near the beach. At night he strolled
around to meet his companions. Nobody knew what they did there, only
some noise was to be heard. At one night there were strange flashes and
loud thunderbolts. Since then the shoemaker and all his belongings have
disappeared. Only the Teufelsberg and the Teufelskuhle are
reminiscences
of these activities.
May be there were similar phenomenons in the skies some time ago - but
we think this was at Peenemünde...
 Der 99 cm Aal |
 Dekoration |
Now we must ring the bell to meet Anke who
is somewhat sleepy because
her work starts at 4 am in the night at the campground of
Ückeritz. So we all stand on a good cup of coffee. Achim soon
comes back from some soccer activities. So after seven years we are
happy to meet again and convince each other that he just look like at
that time. Meanwhile Otto sits in the garden until we hear noisy fight
sounds. The dog Paul has detected the stranger in his garden and now
things must be rearranged. All the other dogs in the neighbourhood seem
to applaude by barking so we must interrupt this festival as fast as we
can. Let us tell you in advance: we will keep a security distance
of at least 20 m between the dogs in the future.
We then settle in our apartment with refrigerator, cooking facilities,
toilet and showers - all built in during the last 7 years. So we feel
quite comfortable. But then we must go out immediately and look for the
beach. As a protection for the shores they have splashed some dunes and
planted certain grass on them. The once somewhat breezy house looks
solid again.
In the village of Kölpinsee one can see that money has come over
it. There are a lot of new houses, restaurants and shops. The most
accommodations are still booked. The old baker's shop still exists
(that is for tomorrow). We have our dinner in the Stranddistel and I
start with Matjes, let us see what fish-meals will await us. Heidi
starts with a bacon and potato ommelette.
 Steilufer, Strand und See |
At last I have a nice evening walk with Otto above the cliff, which is about 40-50 m high. The highest cliff with 60 m is at the nearby Streckelsberg. Otto doesn't suffer from acrophobia. But at the airy stairs with transparent grids which lead just down to the dog's beach he is not willing to overcome. So we will have to climb down the cliff in the future.
 Strandpanorama |
Sunday
Now let us introduce the early-morning duties: get the rolls from the
baker (later campground) and go out with Otto for his
morning-bush-activity. Thereafter we have breakfast. Today we go to the
beach because the weather is fine. As I have told we have to climb down
the cliff and the stairs are not convenient. It is strongly forbidden
to
climb at other areas of the cliff because they would be damaged
contrary to any coast protection. We look for a nice sink in the sand
where there is not so much wind, aside a trunk to fix the dog-lead.
This is necessary because Otto vituperates (stänkert) towards
every dog passing by.
So it is recommended to take a longer walk. This ends at the next
stairs at the Reha Klinik "Ostseeblick" near Ückeritz. Then there
are too many dogs ahead and we better go back. After one hour we are
back at our beach nest and are somewhat more even.tempered now. We
twinkle in the sun and find the beginning of our holidays just as we
have imagined to be. There is one disadvantage of this section of the
beach under the cliff: the sun disappears about 2 pm. behind the trees
above, and then it gets cool. We go back and eat some meatballs with
potatoes and vegetables. Otto goes asleep and we look for a still sunny
spot on the beach. This is to be found between the beach-baskets. For
the evening we buy a portion of Butterfish at the smokehouse.
 Fang |
 Fischer |
 Fang |
Back in the garden Otto is allowed by the
host to stroll around at the
land surrounded by a fence. "He cannot escape here" he says. One minute
later we hear a woman yelling at the street. "What's about this dog?"
she cries and we are running to the fence. And we just see the high
lifted white tail of Otto disappearing around the next corner.
Immediately I run behind him and soon catch him. May be he has crawled
out to the world of freedom under the garden-gate. The evening-walk is
cancelled today. In the TV there is a Pilcher film (as usual unclear
heritage, untrue lovers, broken engagements, at last misunderstandings
but two of the actors find their love to each other - sniff).
Monday
Since now we get the rolls from the shop at the campground because it
is nearer. The rolls should be ordered one day before. A woman in front
of me orders: "Two double rolls and two rolls with mixed corn". "OK,
two twins two corns" the grocer cuts short. As it is my turn I say "Two
twins two corns" and so feel like an old stager (alter Hase).
We
go back across the campground
where the nomads commute
between the shop, toilets and their mobile
home, carrying the toilet box in one hand and the bag with rolls in the
other.
We go to the beach as yesterday, have a walk and the lie lazy in the
sun. After some time a big black dog comes along and Otto is very
excited. And just a hard jerk and the dog-lead breaks. Now Otto runs as
fast as he can towards this black beast. I have never jumped
into
my bathing suit as rapid (this is usually not necessary hereabout). As
I arrive at the cockpit things have completely settled. Otto
immediately has recognized his limits and now stands by the sea. If he
could he surely inconspicously would
whistle a melody. As we go back the risen heads of the neighbours sink
down again - we soon will be well known around here - we think.
Fortunately we have a spare-lead and from now on have peace
except as the ice-car arrives, which seems to be a strange appearance
too. We leave with the sun and in the afternoon cower among the
beach-baskets. We get some sprats from the fish-shop and chewing we
observe a group of kids uniformed by equal bathing caps. A big man
gives
the Bay-Watcher with a megaphone. "Do not approach the groynes
(Buhnen)" he shouts. At last they all must come out because they have
blue lips or the jitters (Tatterich).
As we come home we find out that Otto prefers as his favourite place
the red sofa and we will have some work to remove the hair of his fur.
In the evening we continue our exploration along the cliff and succeed
to reach the campground Ückeritz. There we can go to the beach and
return at the seaside. At last - it is nearly dark - we climb up the
cliff and as we jump up the edge there stands like a phantom a huge
boarhound (Dogge). And what is Otto's turn? He looks aside and
inconspicously looks for some interesting smells in the bushes.
Tuesday
The weather stays to be fine. Before we start for the beach we have to
admire Achim's yielded catch of fish. There is a big eel, 99 cm long
they say. Moreover a very big Zander - bigger than ever. So the
obligatory hunter's photographs are shot. We order two smoked eels and
a flounder which will wait at the evening for us.
At the beach there is not so much new. We get known to a small dog
named Sally. This is so kind to anyone and barks and waggs its tail in
highest delight. The couple belonging to Sally live at the campground
and soon we involuntarily hear this and that about diseases and
surgeries. The man doesn't care to jump around without clothes in spite
of various cannulas and bags sticked on his skin. Let us be thankful
that we don't have such problems.
 Knüppelweg um den Kölpinsee |
In the afternoon Otto and I start an attempt to explore the mysterious path around the Kölpinsee. This begins at a meadow and then is paved by rotten planks and a fence. We better return as we observe two deers and group of ladies from Saxony, which is to be heard by their slang. So it was somehow exciting again for Otto and me.
 Knüppelweg um den Kölpinsee |
In the evening we enjoy the eel and the flounder - with toast and butter, so finally we cannot do anything more, esp. eating some more eel.
 Kölpinsee Panorama |
Wednesday
Today we have rain. This would be fine for our garden at home but
during your holidays you think in a different way of it. As we come
back with the rolls Otto and I are completely soaked and have to be
dried with a towel. After breakfast we ride to Wolgast by car. We have
three things to do: a new necklace for Otto, money from the bankomat
and one-way-shavers. After some traffic jams we arrive at the bridge
over the Peene at 12.37 am. From a signpost is to be read that the
bridge will be closed at 12.40. Then the carriage way will be
pulled up to let some ships pass. Some people under umbrellas wait
already for this spectaculum. We just succeed to slip through before
the traffic light turns to be red.
The cost-free parking place is a t the Fischmarkt. The old town of
Anklam with its narrow streets is not so romantic if it is raining. We
ask for a pet shop and then buy a steel necklace for Otto to ensure,
that at future bungee-attempts no accident occurs. The old necklace
would soon break - we think.
 Am Achterwasser in Loddin |
 Tretboote |
The bankomat does not work - the Server is
down. We must ask for a
difficult route to another bank office. In the afternoon we go to the
Achterwasser once again and take some photos of the pedal boats
disguised as plastic swans. In the evening the sun shines for a while
and we even observe a sunset at the Kölpinsee.
Thursday
Some rain yet so will go to the Polenmarkt at Swinemünde resp
Swinoujscie. Now we cannot find the identity card of Heidi. Perhaps we
can pass the border with a provisional permit? As usual there is a
traffic jam until we reach the parkingsite at the border. Then we enter
the passport control. "My wife has no identity card with her" I say
anxiously. The answer is short and lapidary: "Then you cannot pass".
"So you cannot pass" I say to Heidi. In consequence of this fact she
resigns and enters the imbiss restaurant nearby, toilets 50 cents.
I myself cross the border to get some cigarettes. And now all people
look
at the other side of the street - so do I. There is just a couple
clothed in hunter's costume and with the beard of the chamois at their
hats coming back from Poland. The man carries a bulky bag on his
shoulder and something black looks out of the bag. Did they shot any
game or something like that? Really, it is the head of a tusker
(Keiler) - but, be careful, it is made of plastic and it's destination
may be the front garden of those people. So everyone around has his fun.
The Polish market is not far from the border. I have a quick look to
the products like textiles, sport suits, jackets, shoes, CDs or goods
and drinks. At the side of the street someone just buys the complete
amount of marone mushrooms. This could have been a deal for me but I am
too late. 20 minutes later I am back with the cigarettes where Heidi
with horror stares to the chicken meal opposite of her table in the
imbiss restaurant.
 Uhr an der Seebrücke in Ahlbeck |
 Seebrücke Ahlbeck |
We soon are out of this etablissement and
ride back
to Ahlbeck. Here they have built and rebuilt lots of elegant estates.
We look for some typical names of hotels, pensions or restaurants and
find some which would be difficult to find out with a constricted
phantasy: Sea-Terrace, Hotel Baltic Sea, Hotel starfish (Seestern),
Sea-View, Sea-Castle, Villa Aquamarina. The best of all is : "House by
the Sea".
Back home we have no beach weather today. So we all make the expedition
around the Kölpinsee on the
planked path. We succeed to come through without broken ankles or feet.
As we return Anke has given a surprise to us. She comes along with
Bärbel who has come for a visit from Berlin. "We won't see us
otherwise" she says. So at last we have to go shopping to ensure a
festive evening. And we have it and are so happy to meet again after
those years.
 Drei Grazien |
 Eine Grazie |
 Zwei Grazien |
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So there are some ups and downs until we reach Heringsdorf. We ride
along the promenade with some "lakes" due to the rain last night. It is
recommended to be on good terms with the other promenaders to avoid to
educate them to cycle-haters. We end at the Seebrücke (pier)
Heringsdorf which is said to be the longest of the European continent
(so you can argue that there is a longer one in Great Britain). During
the next days there will be the Russian sailing ship MIR (so this is
not only a space station). You can purchase a round trip then and even
climb up to the riggings (Takelage). "Stilettoes are not appropiate" is
to be read so this is a valuable information for the visitors.
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