On the Beach with Meggie at Okercabana.

We discovered "Okercabana" by accident on our boat trip yesterday, so today, as the weather was warm, we spent the morning on the artificial beach.  Watching the world and boaters go by from our deckchairs, whilst eating ice cream, was a very nice way to spend the morning.  The schools in BS have now closed for the summer holidays, so plenty of children were enjoying building sand castles and having much fun.    www.okercabana.de

We made a move at 1.30pm and walked to the Altstadtrathausmuseum to see the historical films about old Braunschweig.  One film I had not seen before, the history of the old railway station that closed in 1960 when a new one was opened.   The original facade has been incorporated into a new building that now houses a savings bank.

The musician below is one of many who play in the market squares.  This clarinetist was playing some "Haendel" when we first heard him, then Meggie requested some Bach for me, and he kindly obliged with some music that made me cry. (Bach always makes me cry.)  He was a Russian clarinetist and a really talented player.

The bottom photo shows a view of the "Quadriga" on top of Schloss Akaden, viewed from the rooftop car park of the Karstadt.  Meggie wanted a view over the city, but I think a better view will be had from one of the church towers that are open at Sundays.

A Tripboat on the River Oker.

Meggie folds her unused brolley.

The sky became slate black and heavy rain threatened, so before our river trip, Meggie decided to buy an umbrella.   The photo shows her trying to refold it, because no sooner had she bought it, then out came the sun again in a cloudless, blue sky.  I suggested she request a refund!

The 1.5 hour trip was lovely, in a boat made for 20 people + driver.   We viewed Braunschweig's parks and beautiful houses from duck level, it was cool and fascinating.   The photo below shows some passing canoeists, and gives you some idea of how tranquil and green was the water.

The bottom photo shows the boat station and blue canoes waiting to be hired.  I have to admit that we both had fish and chips again, with a pint of beer each.   This is getting to be a habit.   Tomorrow we visit the Altstadtmuseum to see some historical films of old Braunschweig.   I'm not sure that this evening I can manage to eat another plate of fish and chips, although the beer will be no problem.

Passing canoeists.

The boat station.

Meggie Visits me from Hamburg

These pumpkins have nothing to do with Meggie, they are growing at the bottom of Janet's garden and the plant is becoming so big, she doesn't know what to do with it.

Meggie arrived at 12.45pm from Hamburg today, and I was so pleased to see her again.  We did our usual galloping act along the station platform, me as a reindeer and she as a rabbit. (we are both a touch mad.) She is staying in a lovely hotel, and after settling in we wandered into town, did a bit of sightseeing and shopping and then tonight had a meal and a beer.   I had "Fish and chips" for the first time in three months, and it tasted so nice, although not quite as good as the "chippie" in Devizes Market Place.    I am so tired tonight, all I want to do is get horizontal.

Tomorrow Meggie comes to Timmerlah for lunch, and then we will have another wander around the city, another meal and more beer!   Below is another lion, this time on a small trailer carrying  "Wolters Pilsener," which is brewed in their Braunschweig brewery.     More tomorrow, I must sleep.   Gute Nacht!

Nussberg and Franzsches Feld. (continued from yesterday),

Staircase down to the bunker in the ampthitheatre.

This stone staircase leading down to the bunker and dais at Nussberg,  is all that remains of the once huge ampthitheater seating 15,000 people and used for Nazi rallies.  It was a hot day, and to walk in the dappled sunlight and  imagine what these stones had witnessed,  was so very interesting.

Below, Janet and I are standing on the platform in Franzsches Feld, another place used to address Nazi rallies and troups.  I wonder if "He" stood here?   Goering certainly did when he visited Braunschweig and Nussberg.  A special road had to be  built here to  take him to his overnight accommodation.

Two attractive ladies on the platform at Franzsches Field.

Prinz Albrecht Park/Franzsches Feld/and the National Socialists.

Gun emplacement and bunker.

A really interesting day today, a visit to a park that once housed the "Thingplatz" an ampthitheatre that seated 15,000 people and was built by the National Socialists in 1935 for rallies.  There is also a platform for addressing troups and a bunker with an anti-aircraft gun emplacement on the top, looking out over the city.  It is so interesting to touch recent history, Hitler visited Braunschweig on several occasions and addressed a rally from here.  Nothing now remains of the huge ampthitheatre except a staircase that leads down to the bunker and dais.    

Wikipedia "Nussberg" has further reading about this place, or click  on the  links  below  for  more information. The park itself is lovely and  very popular with dog walkers, weekend strollers and sunbathers.   It has a huge monument to Prince Albrecht of Prussia who established the park in 1850.

I saw so much today, it is difficult to know where to start, but it is better to read online all the information.   The day was hot, I am tired and I will return tomorrow to finish this story.   I must make another cuppa.

 http://www.hitlerpages.com/pagina54a.html 
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingbewegung
http://www.vernetztes-gedaechtnis.de/franz.htm   
http://www.vernetztes-gedaechtnis.de/nussberg.htm

Janet and Guenter at the platform for addressing Nazi rallies.

The bunker in the ampthitheatre.

Platform in Franzches Feld for addressing Nazi rallies.

My Lovely Lion Bench is Back.

Lions are everywhere in Braunschweig and I wrote, with sorrow, a couple of weeks ago about the disappearance of my favourite lion seat outside Braunschweig Cathedral.  Well it is back, not quite in its same little alcove,  but just on the other side of the great portal.  How superior is my favourite lion, with his nose snootily in the air and with a great smerk on his face.  It is no wonder that children (and me) rub his nose everytime we sit near him.   I try to sit on this seat whenever I visit the Cathedral, and I get a little miffed with people who get there before me!

Below, with my seat in the background,  is a photo of a little bronze model of old Braunschweig, with the Domplatz in the centre, and the Lion Monument in the middle.  This too had disappeared for a time, and I thought metal thieves had been at work.  But no, the removal had been to allow for the building of easy access for the disabled into the Cathedral.   With the new ramp, it is all looking very smart once again.

I had a hot chocolate with Janet this afternoon in the "Graff" bookshop coffee shop.  It is nice to have a good chat in English sometimes after attempting to speak German all the time.   It is a wonderful bookshop, where you can hide, undisturbed in a corner, reading for days on end.

Mrs Sherlock Holmes and Family History.

I came across this indolent lion today whilst wandering from the City Residents' Office (it was closed) back to the city centre.  Braunschweig was established by "Henry the Lion" in 1129-1195 and lion statues are much in evidence around the city.  Henry and his English wife Matilda are buried in the cathedral, were my favourite "pondering the meaning of life"    bench outside the main portal was supported by two lions.   (It is still missing.)

I returned to the city centre and visited the Archive, searching for information for Mark in Oregon about his family named Buehrig.   A very helpful young lady showed me the tome relating to the names and dates for which I am searching, but I had no luck.  She referred me to the Archive in Wolfenbuettel, which  Mark has already contacted in an online  search.   This certain Herr H Buehrig must have his birth registered somewhere in the locale.

The bottom photo shows the new bridge being built at Fellersleber Strasse Tore.  Work was started some years back but the original builder went bust, so all work stopped  and only now is it finally being finished.   I remember the site from last year when there was just piling on both sides of the River Oker.   It should have been finished last year but it provides a good place for watching men at work.