Lübeck

Hooray!  Yesterday was our last day of language class and for the next two weeks we will be traveling to several locations in the Hamburg area.  This weekend we are in Lübeck, about 60 miles east of Hamburg.  Founded in 1143 as a port near the Baltic Sea, it was a member of the Hanseatic League.  The city was heavily damaged in 1942 by RAF bombers, and rebuild following the war using much of the same original architechture.

Holsten Gate (Holstentor)

The old town is framed by the Holstentor, one of the original city gates.  Inside the gates are the primary shopping areas, many already decorated for Christmas.  Construction for the Lübeck Christmas market is underway with large Christmas trees being assembled and food booths moving in

We toured St. Mary‘s Cathedral (Marienkirche) which has the tallest brick vault in the world.  The bell tower was destroyed by a bomb and ensuring fire and today the bells remain as they fell.

Marienkirche

We also took a boat tour around the old town and got to see all of the old sailing ships and yachts moored in the harbor.  One of the products being shipped out were gigantic bases for the wind turbines that you see all over Germany.  There were lots of people out in shells and canoes, even though the temperature is only in the low 40s.

Last night I tried a new drink - Marzipan liquor.  It‘s tastes strongly of almonds as you would expect, but with an alcoholic kick.  It‘s like drinking an almond flavored Baileys.  We had dinner at the Ratskeller and were extremely pleased that the waitress could understand our German!

Sailing ships in Lübeck harbor