This week I’m going back in time to 1995, the year we went to Wismar, Germany.
The dotted red line between Schwerin and Wismar marks the autobahn Germany was building to connect the coastal towns to Berlin.
From the end of WWII until 1989, Wismar was behind the Iron Curtain, making travel there almost impossible. Even six years after the Berlin Wall had fallen, the rustic two lane road from Lubeck to Wismar catered more to donkey carts and tractors than cars and thus resulted in a frustrating three hour drive. Before the war, the towns along the southern Baltic were popular vacation destinations and the thought is evidently to revive them. However, in 1995 Germany still had a long way to go.
Aside from the lack of easy access, many of the coastal towns were heavily bombed by the Allies in 1945. Instead of rebuilding them, the Soviets simply moved the residents to cheaply-built, concrete-block apartments outside the city walls leaving their centers to sit in ruins for decades. When we were there construction cranes hung over the town as buildings that could not be renovated were destroyed.
Our bed and breakfast was one of the more modern buildings.
Another challenge for Germany, the locals seemed to think making money off tourism was a tawdry business indeed. Certainly anyone caught speaking English on the streets was given the evil eye.
The town center – note the Hanseatic design of the building facades.
Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures. We didn’t have the best camera and it rained the whole time we were there.
I believe this is St. Nicholas Cathedral but, because it was under repair, we couldn’t get near.
In case you’re wondering why we made a difficult journey to an obscure town on the Baltic, well, here goes: In 1663 (or around that time) a Swedish general conquered this important trade route and until 1717 it remained under Swedish rule. In return the general attained the noble title “Conqueror of Wismar.” According to a bit of family lore spawned by a Mormon missionary’s trip to the Swedish History Museum, my husband is one of his descendants. Didn’t know I was married to royalty, did you?
Check out other doors at Norm Frampton’s fun (and often challenging) #ThursdayDoors event.
I think the photos are amazing, as is your family history.
Thanks – the family history cannot be collaborated but my husband loves to tell the story!
The first set of doors are so handsome, I hope that somehow that building been has been repaired and that those doors are opening again.
It was still standing so there’s hope!
Beautiful door!
I did NOT know you’d married royalty! *curtsies*
Please don’t let my royal status intimidate you! At heart I’m just a down home gal!
🙂
Excellent post your Highness *bowing*
I love the look of the old printed photos. It reminds me that I have many old vacation photos to scan…one of these days 🙂
Thank you Norm! The task of capturing all those printed photos can be overwhelming!
Great story to go along with your photos. I remember by joy when the wall came down, something I wasn’t sure I’d see in my lifetime.
janet
Thanks Janet – it was a great moment in history!
lol – every comment going through my head as I was reading this has showed up in the comments by others. What a great bunch! 🙂
I was really taken with the 1st photo and all the broken windows and the blue bottomed doors. As Dan said, I really hope that building survived!
Thanks Joanne! Yes, the ThursdayDoors folks are a wonderful group!
I am not a particular lover of royalty, but in your case I will make an exception. :)))
Thanks Glyn! I’m glad you’re willing to lower your standards on my behalf!
I think we all recognise class Jan
Aww, thanks!
Travel is such a wonderful gift to ourselves and the memories captured by photos bring it all back vividly. Second best is to read of other people’s experiences, especially if it’s about places I’ve not seen. Thanks for sharing. X
You’re so right – there are so many interesting nooks and crannies of the globe to share with others!
Fascinating, so informative and beautifully succinct. But I’m just wondering. Do you really have to curtsy every time Joel comes into the room?
Thanks Colm. Yup, he insists!
It is amazing! I love family history and celebrate each find. Your find is awesome 🙂 Keep digging! Wishing you many new discoveries!
Thank you!
Very nice photos this week, your Majesty. 😉
Call me Jan! (unless of course you’re Swedish!)
There seems to be such a divide between the newer and older buildings. Does the town lean one way more then the other?
The idea was to try to recreate the older town and promote tourism – it has a lovely bay and temperate waters.
Your royal highness, Jan, I thought the photos were great. It’s a shame those wonderful old building were so badly damaged during the war, though.
The Nazis used a large cathedral in the center of town as an ammunitions plant thinking the Allies wouldn’t bomb a church. At least that’s the story we heard!
That’s a shame.
Congratulations on being married to royalty. My friend used to have a dog called Prince. That’s got to count for something.
I’d say it would make you a Count alright!
Hey, that’s cool! I’ve never been a count before. Actually, now that I’m a count, I guess I should no longer use colloquialisms like “cool.”. Hmm… Hey, that’s splendiferous!
Yes, counts must understand that “cool” is only used by the commoners! Unless you’d like to be known as Count of Cool. Then we’ll have to get the permission of the great, great, great, great, great grandson of the Conquerer of Wismar. ; )
Love the story and photos. Thank you.