Tick's Tricks: The Baltic Sea and more, May 2025

On a Saturday in May, Norbert and I took off on a road trip to the former East Germany. His radio hobby group was having its annual get-together near Berlin, and we decided to combine it with visits to the Baltic Sea, which neither of us had ever visited, and the Meckleburgische Seenplatte (lake district), which we had long thought about visiting.

It was 7 hours or so to the sea, so we decided to cut the trip in half. Our firat night was at an Autobahn hotel just south of Hamburg. It was adequate, had everything one needed, even if it was an experience we probably won't repeat if it can be avoided,

The next day we continued on to the northeast. As we approached Wismar, with signs of its historic Old Town, we decided to take a look. We bumbled our way right to the town square, and easily found a parking place (Sunday morning made that easy.)

History lesson: Wismar is a Hanseatic city, a major trading center of the Hanseatic League in the 14th and 15th centuries.

This building may look like a ruin, but it isn't. It was, however, built in 1380. It is called the "Alte Schwede" (Old Swede), in reference to the 17th and 18th centuries, when Wismar belonged to Sweden. There is now a restaurant in the building, bearing that name.

Onward,

We soon arrive in our destination of Graal-Müritz, directly on the Baltic. It took us several tries to find out hotel, and frankly we never did figure out the direct way to get around in the town.

We stayed at the Hotel & Restaurant Kähler, which I can highly recommend. Great location, adequate parking, very nice room, and a great restaurant, Dinner and breakfasts there were wonderful,

It was right on a street which led not only to the beach but also directly to the pier, or "Seebrücke". The road is of course lined with shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and apartments. An easy walk and fun stuff to look at, like this giant waffle.