The colourful fishes of Stralsund
Stralsund is the pearl on the doorstep of Rügen. With its historical centre, the well preserved city wall and the ocean museum Ozeaneum the Hanseatic city is really attractive. Even though the weather is quite rainy and windy today, we still enjoyed the guided city tour. A visit to the ocean museum might be a must. However my recommendation is not to do it on a weekend or a holiday.
The day is windy and cold. One of those days on which you can hardly out of bed until you have a really nice excursion on your mind, such as Stralsund. Arriving in the city I am amazed by the medieval aged ensemble and the well preserved city wall. Instantly my explorer heart wakes up. Theoretically I think back myself into that „dark“ age. We manage to be at the guided city tour’s meeting point.
We start on the market square of the Hanseatic City and from there we go to the former cloister. We outdare the nasty weather and pass by some brick buildings until we reach the city wall and walk towards the harbour. Back towards the city centre we stop at the theatre and the Olaf Palme square. The place belongs to the UNESCO world heritage of the historical old cities of Stralsund and Wismar.
A town hall of Roman style
Back at the city gate we walk back to the market of the city. From this perspective the facade of the secular building can be recognized best. A secular building describes the imaginary facade of the brick stone building. Actually I like the town hall best. Why? Because the arched cellar hall with its purple paint reminded me on a Roman villa like I saw them at Pompeji. This lets my heart beat faster and for a while I ignore the cold weather.
Looking for a warm place
Just next to the town hall is the Nikolaikirche. The aisle can only the photographed from the town hall. After more than 1.5 hours in the cold the group is not that attentive any more. We have almost reach the end of the history lesson. Once again we have a nice view onto the Nikolaikirche from a backyard. Afterwards we move on to the ocean museum Ozeaneum. But before that we have to warm up at a café.
We plunder into the Café Gumpfer. Upon entering the warm and cosy place we realize two things: a) in the face of the attendance the place seems to be popular and b) diabetics should stay away from this place, to much sinful stuff in one place. After a hot drink we feel much better and are ready to plan the rest of the day. Should be take the bridge to Rügen oder should be visit the Ozeaneum? We decide on the museum.
Octopus’s Garden
The round course inside the building is predetermined and painted in orange on the floor. Already the amount of visitors in the first room makes it clear: this place is not only crowded, no, today is family day and the corresponding noise level and scramble is nerveracking. It is not possible to take a look around calmly that’s why I move on to the fish tanks quite quickly. Being there I have to think of the Beatles’ song „Octopus’s Garden“.
I do not envy the poor creatures that are photographed all the time, plus the audience is smacking its hands against the glass. I must admit, it is a really nice and interesting museum but by far too much information and too many people for my taste.
