BUCHOLZ in der NORDHEIDE TO WISMAR - 103 miles

Weds 20^th

We left around 10.15 am and did battle with the traffic around Hamburg, but once past that it was a beautiful drive along a motorway marked as a scenic route, to Wismar, Wohnmobilplatz Westhafen arriving about 12.45. It was a lovely sunny day but quite hot, so we had some lunch and relaxed for a while before heading off for a meander around the old harbour with its colourful boats.  There were a number just moored up and acting as fish stalls, some smoked, some fresh. All of them were doing good business with their filled rolls, there were people all over the place sitting eating them. We stopped for an ice-cream and then carried on in to the old town, past the last remaining town gate which was also a water town in a previous life. Many of the buildings were from the Hanseatic era and really picturesque with their painted walls and wonky windows and doors. We came across The Church Tower of St. Mary, once one of the most beautiful red brick churches in Germany until it was damaged in WW2 and subsequently demolished in 1960.  Now only the tower remains, but you can go to a viewing platform at the top by lift and look out over the whole area. We also went in to the Church of the Holy Ghost which is a rectangular naveless church with an incredible painted wooden ceiling dating back to the 15^th century.  The whole time we were there we had chanting music playing, rather like being in a monastery. We toiled up and down the cobbled streets to the market place and the newer shops, sat on a bench and listened to 3 people playing an accordion and 2 xylophones, they were very good. On the way back to the van we found Gottfrieds restaurant  around 5.30 so decided to stop and eat then and there, it was an excellent meal (38 euros with drinks). Back at the van it was 32’ inside, so we put our chairs out on the gravel along with everyone else and got out the brandy/whisky bottles and celebrated my birthday. This is not a very inspiring wohnmobilplatz, 75 spaces all taken soon after lunch. We will probably not stay another night, but head off along the coast tomorrow.