They are still all over the German coast line. And just by looking at one, you can distinguish between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea varieties (angular vs rounded, at the top and at the sides).
Oh, that's but one aspect--my grandfather kept a detailed log of all his travels from c. 1937 through the 1980s, incl. his service with the Reichsarbeitsdienst and the Wehrmacht: what I learned is that the amount of anthill-like, permanent going back and forth is certainly under-appreciated: at the height of the fighting, German soldiers were routinely criss-crossing the virtually all of Europe…
There’s always been that part of society that misery doesn’t touch, even in war.
I tend to think you’d have to be teflon or oblivious to holiday while people die, but that’s not reality. Life goes on.
The movement of soldiers makes sense to avoid despair. If they stayed in one place too long without obvious progress they’d give up. I know that some killed themselves in the foxholes
Yes I too think the wicker chairs are still used, wonderful. The northern coast of Poland is (again) on my fantasy travel list. I was told by a friend it is rather expensive though so I might opt for similar on the Dutch coast for a nostalgic touch…
I would think that the Netherlands aren't cheaper than northern Poland, methinks…?
Speaking of the Dutch, by the way, here's a bit more from Wikipedia:
"The town had broad, unpaved streets and one-story houses built in the Dutch style, which gave it an almost rustic appearance. Its industries, beyond some fishing, were entirely connected with its shipping. The river mouth, which was the entrance to the harbor and regarded as the best on the Prussian Baltic coast, was then protected by two curving long breakwaters, and was strongly fortified. On the island of Wolin, on the other side of the narrow Świna, a great lighthouse was erected. In 1897 the canal of the Kaiserfahrt was opened to navigation, and this waterway between the Stettin harbour and the Baltic Sea was deepened between 1900 and 1901."
Yes - Baltic coast it is, I would love to see it and the architecture. Maybe I can become a beachcomber and try to find some amber to sponsor my travels :)
Cheered me up, seeing happy days! I think they may still have the wicker shelters in some places on that coast line.
Oh, the wicker shelters are still there--just google "Strand" (beach) and "Sylt" (an island in the North Sea)…
They are still all over the German coast line. And just by looking at one, you can distinguish between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea varieties (angular vs rounded, at the top and at the sides).
https://www.t-online.de/leben/reisen/deutschland/id_100058560/nordsee-oder-ostseestrandkorb-daran-erkennen-sie-den-unterschied.html
Very cool!
I even sat in one in Zurich in a café by the name of 'Kleine Freiheit' a few years ago…
It amazes me that tourism continued for a part of the population all through the war
Oh, that's but one aspect--my grandfather kept a detailed log of all his travels from c. 1937 through the 1980s, incl. his service with the Reichsarbeitsdienst and the Wehrmacht: what I learned is that the amount of anthill-like, permanent going back and forth is certainly under-appreciated: at the height of the fighting, German soldiers were routinely criss-crossing the virtually all of Europe…
There’s always been that part of society that misery doesn’t touch, even in war.
I tend to think you’d have to be teflon or oblivious to holiday while people die, but that’s not reality. Life goes on.
The movement of soldiers makes sense to avoid despair. If they stayed in one place too long without obvious progress they’d give up. I know that some killed themselves in the foxholes
It's also, likely, to avoid having the supply trains running back empty…
That would make sense
Yes I too think the wicker chairs are still used, wonderful. The northern coast of Poland is (again) on my fantasy travel list. I was told by a friend it is rather expensive though so I might opt for similar on the Dutch coast for a nostalgic touch…
I would think that the Netherlands aren't cheaper than northern Poland, methinks…?
Speaking of the Dutch, by the way, here's a bit more from Wikipedia:
"The town had broad, unpaved streets and one-story houses built in the Dutch style, which gave it an almost rustic appearance. Its industries, beyond some fishing, were entirely connected with its shipping. The river mouth, which was the entrance to the harbor and regarded as the best on the Prussian Baltic coast, was then protected by two curving long breakwaters, and was strongly fortified. On the island of Wolin, on the other side of the narrow Świna, a great lighthouse was erected. In 1897 the canal of the Kaiserfahrt was opened to navigation, and this waterway between the Stettin harbour and the Baltic Sea was deepened between 1900 and 1901."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Świnoujście
Yes - Baltic coast it is, I would love to see it and the architecture. Maybe I can become a beachcomber and try to find some amber to sponsor my travels :)
I'm supposed to attend a conference in Vilnius in April--and I'm quite excited as I've never been to that part of Europe!
I'll have to prepare accordingly (think: the Maribor trip)!
Happy New Year, and I am glad you are feeling better.
Cheers!
Great article - hope you're feeling better.
You will appreciate these: Brighton bathing boxes https://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/brighton-bathing-boxes
Ah, these bathing boxes, they look suspiciously close!
Thanks for enquiring: I'm baaaaack, and more postcards are on their way!
I don't know if you've seen these from Königsberg:
https://espc.substack.com/p/then-and-now-konigsbergkaliningrad
I'm glad you enjoyed them!