Walking along the Baltic

The trip was special because I was in company of the dogs. The organization was a little more difficult, mainly because I had to find an accommodation, that welcomes pets. I was pleasantly surprised by the German hostels, as they usually accept pets in the north of the country. I found the first hostel (Jugendherberge) in the pleasant town Griefswald. The harbour was flourishing in the days of Hanseatic League. Luxurious medieval houses in the old town centre testify to the wealth in the past. The main square is surrounded by the most beautiful medieval houses and here I even found a vegetarian restaurant. Only a hundred metres away, along the water canal, which extends all the way to the sea, there are even more restaurants, which mainly offer fried fish, or they only serve drinks. The riverbanks have comfortable chairs and even loungers, so it is always lively here, especially during the evenings when some shop owners host music events. In the first evening, I was impressed by tango music. Some even danced to it. They danced in authentic clothes, which looked like they are from the beginning of the last century.

I, unfortunately, also remember Greifswald by visiting the veterinarian. Lia got bladder inflammation. A nice receptionist at the hostel provided me with an address of the clinic, and, luckily, the veterinary clinic was not far away. My knowledge of German was enough that we could communicate about the problem. The final analysis and instructions for medication were given to me in English by the main vet. Her diagnosis was correct, since after several days of taking antibiotics, Lia was cured.

Hostel is in a quiet part of town, just a short walk from the historic city centre. Once again, I was proved that Germany has really high standards: the room was spacious, more than enough for three people and two dogs. A basket of fruits and mineral water awaited us at the table to welcome us. There was a joined bathroom and a washbasin in the room. Wireless Internet was working perfectly and is available for a fee (3 EUR/day). Guests also have a restaurant available, as well as common areas and a bar in the new building extension. I was convinced by the quality of the hostel during dinner. There is a buffet and there is a big selection of food. There were several vegetarian and vegan dishes available. The breakfast was also equally varied, and I was pleasantly surprised that soy milk was available. We did not spend much time in the hostel. With a large park and several sports fields, it was easy to have an active day. The park close by was perfect for walks with the dogs.

The largest German island

We got to know the next town on the coast only during the morning walk. Stralsund has even more medieval houses than Griefswald, and it was also worth to visit Maritime Museum and a large aquarium. In the port, I was impressed by the view of the old sailboat and the nearby bridge, which led us to the largest German island of Rugen. The landscape on the island is not much different than on the continent. There are no major cities. I was particularly impressed by the long sandy beaches. I also saw the large sun loungers, which are typical for the German coast for the first time. They have been manufactured since the end of the 19th century, when the most eminent ladies wanted to sunbathe on the coast. For protection against strong sun and wind, the deck chairs were also equipped with a wicker roof, while the lower part was able to store some snack and drinks. The island has been a popular visiting point by aristocrats; during the time of East Germany, numerous resorts were built here. One of the most popular was Sellin. In the cosmopolitan town, there are many old renovated villas, the promenade ends with a long pier, which is magical in the evening hours. In its widest part, there is a wooden restaurant that looks like a real palace. Before the pier, there is a several kilometres long sandy beach, the more distant part of which also welcomes dogs. Tewi and Lia were happy to paddle in the water.

In Sellin, we also enjoy the hospitality of a youth hostel. In the room we were also surprised by the basket of fruits and gummy bears. The hostel is located a kilometre away from the picturesque pier, surrounded by a large park with a picnic area and sports fields. We also had a large bathroom in the spacious bunk bed room. Tewi was sleeping in a dog cage, and Lia squeezed under the bed. Breakfast in an attractively decorated dining room left me impressed by a great choice of dishes. Among them I was especially impressed by the local vegetable spreads and marmalades, which are being prepared at the hostel. They also grow their own herbs in their own hotbed.

A part of the island's coastline is characterized by cretaceous cliffs. Unfortunately, I did not have time to see them more closely. I could only admire them from the ferry. We continued our journey to the Danish island of Bornholm, which lies halfway between Germany and Sweden.