Author: Stefan

IT architect at Kassel, from Göttingen, Germany. Addicted on travelling out of pure curiosity. Holder of a seasonal ticket of SV Werder Bremen; airbase Frankfurt (FRA). Collector of city maps, tourist guides, fridge magnets and coffee mugs.
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The Edersee

Edersee, Edertal, Germany

The second largest water reservoir in Germany with a water surface of 11.8 squarekilometers can be found in the federal state of Hesse. The river Eder is stopped by a 48 meters high dam built between 1908 and 1914. It is used to supply the Mittellandkanal with water to assure that ships can transport goods from the Ruhrgebiet to Berlin, Germany. The area around the Edersee belongs to the natural reserve Kellerwald-Edersee which offers different opportunities to have a nice time. Continue reading “The Edersee”

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Köhlerhütte

Grillplatz an der Köhlerhütte, Speele, Staufenberg

If you’re looking for a place where you can have a barbecue with family, friends or an organization, every village seems to have a location for that – often maintained honorary by the local community. One of the nicest places I’ve seen is located in the remote village Speele, belonging to Staufenberg, Germany. You can reach it by car on the one and only road connecting this place to the outside world or by regional train from Kassel or Eichenberg. Continue reading “Köhlerhütte”

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Schienenersatzverkehr

Railway track restauration works, Hann. Münden

There are some words which you really dislike if you’re a frequent user of trains in Germany: “Weichenstörung” (switch point failure), “Stellwerksausfall” (railway control center failure), “Personenschaden” (damage to persons), “Signalstörung” (signal failure), “geänderte Wagenreihung” (changed order of rail cars) and of course “Schienenersatzverkehr“. It means that you’ll have to go by bus – usually with a longer travel time and missed connections. Continue reading “Schienenersatzverkehr”

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A journey through desert and ice

Klimahaus, Bremerhaven

If you’ve got no time or money for travelling around the globe – try the Klimahaus in Bremerhaven, Germany. It is a museum located in a futuristic building within the Havenwelten complex educating about the impact of humans on the planet. It was opened in 2009 by the Irish musician Bob Geldof. The biggest section is a journey along the 8th degree of longitude east, the other two areas are called perspectives and chances. Here you can for example learn how to reduce your personal carbon footprint. Continue reading “A journey through desert and ice”

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Watching ships

Schiffsansagedienst, Cuxhaven

In earlier days the families and friends of seamen went to the “Alte Liebe” (old love) near the harbour of Cuxhaven, Germany to welcome or say farewell to ships passing the rivermouth of the Elbe. Today this area – marked by the old lighthouse – is still a good place to watch ships. From 10 am to 7 pm the “Schiffsansagedienst” (ship announcement service) also tells you which ship is passing, where it comes from and where it is going to. Continue reading “Watching ships”

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Windstärke 10

Windstärke 10, Cuxhaven

The “Windstärke 10” is a maritime museum in Cuxhaven, Germany – telling stories about the fishing industry and ship wrecks. It is located in a nice building close to the harbour but doesn’t contain too many exhibits. It has been created in 2013 as a combination of two former museums. The museum shows the problems of seafaring, you can learn about quotas for fishermen and their nets and knots. Continue reading “Windstärke 10”

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The Kugelbake

Kugelbake, Cuxhaven

At the most northern part of Lower Saxony you can find the Kugelbake, the town’s landmark of Cuxhaven, Germany. It is a maritime sign marking the point where river Elbe floats into the sea. It is 28 meters high and was first built there in 1703 when a flood destroyed a group of trees marking the area. As it is built of wood it had to be repaired every 30 years. Continue reading “The Kugelbake”