Sunday 13th April catching up in Templin

Breakfast at 8.00am a luxury. Eggs, ham fresh rolls, fruit bowls, cheese, in the downstairs kitchen.

There were 6 for breakfast.  Some then left on push bikes to explore the countryside.  We met our host Sven, he and Stephie have been here for 3 years, the home was built by Engineer Schneider in 1925 and been the family home for some generations.   Originally from South Africa, they preferred the quiet environment to raise their children.

And quiet it is.  Lovely gardens, tucked away in a narrow road, with a sawmill a couple of houses away.

Armed with a map we set out to explore Templin. The day was fine but with a bit of a stiff breeze.  Sven told us the people were very disciplined,  and not easy to get to know.   Part of their background?   We are after all in East Germany,  not far from the Polish border.  These people were attacked by the Russians during the war.

It is a walled city with 4 gates as the photo shows.  Around the perimeter of the wall are the fertile river flats where the farmers would have grown crops, then returned inside at night. The wall dates to mid 1200.  Today farming is carried out with dairy farms and contented cows. Horse riding is popular.

We walked around some of the wall which is pretty solid with slots for shooting arrows.  The streets are all stone cobbled, and behind the wall there is housing.  Some modern and quite a lot of what must have been public housing before the wall came down.

I wonder what these people felt at the time of unifercartion.   They had a simple life, on the land, in a world so far removed from their neighbours.   

Looking towards the river

St Mary Magdalene church, 

Water Pump besides the well

The town like most olden towns has a square, and memorial to the dead in the 1800 wars.  Around are small shops and coffee houses and a few restaurants, being Sunday not many were open.  We decided to have a hot lunch, and for me hot chocolate.   

The two waiters spoke English and helped with the schnitzel choice. We nearly fell over at the size of the meal. I forgot that servings were large in Germany.  Delicious but.

We then drove outside the walls to have a look at the surrounding farmland.

Looking back to Templin

We drove for a little way and passed a few very large abandoned compounds that may have been Army quarters in the past.  Boat trips are available up the river.

An unflattering statue

Then back home and an afternoon writing blogs until my battery ran out.  No TV, cause it is all in German,  apple for tea, and games on my phone.  John got to spend time on his notes and video.