Stralsund

I really enjoyed my days in Poland. There was lots to see but no rush, great company and amazing weather. The trip to Stralsund was onky 8 hours in total but seemed to take ages as I did not meet any interesting travellers and apart from very occasional rivers and lakes this was the scenery!

 

So, as you can imagine, it was great to arrive and have plenty of time to amble around the town of Stralsund, a very clean, quiet and sleepy place with its big harbour area and a huge aquarium, which I hope to visit next week. Looks incredible. 

The main old market place is pretty typical for this area. I love these spacious squares surrounded by restaurants. The pace of life seems so slow and restful compared to Switzerland or England. 

 

Here the port area and in the distance the bridge linking Insel Rugen with the mainland. This is the route Ute, a friend I met on the Inlandsbanen in Sweden, and I will take tomorrow.

 

After walking kilometres along the various promenades and around the three largish ponds outside the city walls, I stopped to write my diary, which I am keeping as well as the blog. They keep me very busy, but I find writing very relaxing. It was a fantastic place in a garden overlooking one of the ponds and with a view of three of the main churches. This with the largest of the three.

 

It does not make for the most memorablehoto, but  perhaps you can imagine how calm and beautiful it was there. Now the church clocks are striking four. Time to go back to town and wander down to the port for a pre- dinner drink! A very relaxing day but plenty of walking. Temperatures perfect, mid twenties I guess. 

I really enjoyed the handcraft market. I could have bought masses but I was well- behaved, knowing I had two long train trips and several changes ahead. I would love to have bought one of these gorgeous brushes!

 

The light caught them and they glowed in the rays. 

The brick town hall looked magical with the sun shining through the fabulous facade and it was all even more special because of the fantastic powder puff cloud formations above it.

It was a very good stay, very restful, with some delicious fish dishes. I even found a bar near the hotel selling on of the best Marlborough Sauvignons I have ever tasted. Needless to say I was there in the bar for a while!