Monday, October 5th - Saturday, October 10th

[Sybille Weber]

We returned from a holiday on the German Northsea coast on the weekend and had a good time despite the cold weather and a day of rain. It started off mild at 14°C gradually becoming colder each day until the temperature had dropped to 6°C on our last day. Fortunately the wind was not too strong and hardly any sign of the storms and flooding of the weekend before. I actually regretted we missed the high seas but on the other hand, due to my heart complaint, I easily get problems in extreme weather conditions by the sea, so it was just right for me. Funny thing was that the cold temperatures only seemed to have affected the northern parts of Germany. Here at Essen, just three hours' drive away from the coast, temperatures went up to a nice 22°C as my friend told me, and the south of Germany was under a heatwave with temperatures going up to 31°C! Really crazy. It's normal to have temperature differences between the north and south of Germany but this great difference was quite unusual. We experienced part of the difference on the way back home. We had left the seaside with the thermometer at 6°C and after just 1 1/2 hours' journey south the outside temperature had already climbed to 16°C.
It's now (12th October) rather cold all over Germany, and snow is forecast for the higher reaches and for the south, while the north and the west (where we are) is going to be just a little milder, but with groundfrost possible at night. - Very early in the year when most trees are still green, although some already wear a beautiful autumn dress.

[gloria townsin]

Amazing such changes in temperature in one country, although Germany is a big place!! Glad you enjoyed your holiday Sybille and hope it's given your health a boost in the right direction.

[jane jackson]

Temperatures have gone down here at night too - 4.6c last night but for the moment we are having wonderful warm sunny days.

There are German visitors over in Penzance this week from Cuxhaven which is twinned with Penwith. Is this near where you holidayed Sybille? We were looking at a calendar from there and it showed the very large container ships going up the Elbe to Hamburg, with them being very close to the shore ~ looked amazing.

[Sybille Weber]

It is funny you should have visitors from Cuxhaven, Jane, as this is where we first planned to spend our holiday, but as I was still a bit weak after my hospital stay and suffer from heart problems at times, too, we decided on a place which is a little nearer and not as exposed to the winds and the open sea as Cuxhaven.
We stayed at Dangast on the shores of Jadebusen Bay. Cuxhaven is a little further north than Dangast, approx. an hour longer to travel.
My plans for next year are to go to Hamburg for a few days, then travel from Hamburg along the river Elbe to Cuxhaven visiting a few places along the river on the way, something I have wanted to do for a long time.
My sister spent a holiday at Cuxhaven earlier in the year and also was there a year or two ago. So I have seen plenty of photographs from that area.

The twin-town of Essen, by the way, is Sunderland in the northeast of England, but I have never been there.

Very cold here now, and frost forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning. The northeast of Germany and the east have already had the first snow with a lot of accidents happening.

[Janet Swan]

I've had a couple of holidays in Hamburg, Sybille, when I met up with my friend who lives in Husum. I remember a beautiful Japanese Garden and also walking by a lake/river and finding (yet another!) wonderful teashop.

Janet

[Sybille Weber]

So you know more about Hamburg than I do, Janet. Have never been there before and only know it from books and TV although I have wanted to go for a long time. In previous years I never had a chance to go as England was more important to me, and we spent our holidays there whenever possible. Now that we usually do not travel that far because of my health problems I must make a point of visiting Hamburg and travel on from there along the Elbe to the coast. Haven't been to Husum either but Rolf has.

[Linda]

Hi Sybille
I too am glad you enjoyed your holiday...we say a break is as good as a rest...so I too hope that it has given you a boost to your health.......

:):)

[Sybille Weber]

It has been a busy time lately, so I'm only just catching up with the latest posts now. Yes, Linda, it was good to get away for a shortbreak and especially to be by the sea again, even though it was only the German seaside. - To avoid any misunderstanding, when I said 'England was more important to me ....' in my previous post, this does of course not mean that it isn't anymore now as you have probably guessed. It's just circumstances that have prevented me from going so that I have to put up with the second best alternative possible. :blink: :ohwell:

[Kath Mulligan]

I think we all know that, given the choice and good health, you would be in England with us, Sybille. Hope you are feeling better again now after your seaside break.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

We'll be waiting for the time you can journey here again Sybille.