WHERE ARE WE ANNE?: ANCIENT CASTLES, ANCIENT WOHNWAGENS

WHEN THE ROAD GETS TO WEARIN' THIN

SOMETIMES TRAVEL GETS TO WEARIN' THIN, OR AT LEAST 4KMS FROM IT.

Jan and Bea recommended a great place to stay for our next night from their place. They came across it when Jan was doing a two week canoe camping trip through the inter-connecting lakes. A grand old knights Manor built in 1906. Charming, spacious rooms, great location and lovely host. The sort of out of the way place someone has to tip you about. They hadn't even heard of airbnb. A little on the expensive side but 'what the heck' we said. Jan rang them to book for us, they said they were full although they did have a "wohnwagen" if we wanted for somewhat less. We said ok in the same 'what the heck' spirit, whatever a 'wohnwagen' was.

We waved bye bye to Jan and Bea after two nights and drove to Schwerin for some sightseeing on our way to the wohnwagen in Alt Necheln.

Schwerin Castle dates back to 1160 but was remodelled to what we see today in 1857. After unification the regional parliament decided to make it their parliamentary seat. Why not? It houses a museum and some other bits.

FIRST THING, BOOT UP THE GPS. THE GIRL POWERED SYSTEM AND BRING UP THE MAP DISPLAY

SCHWERIN CASTLE

ON TO THE WOHNWAGEN! (THROUGH FIELDS OF GOLD)

We motored our way in our groovy polo to Necheln and then Alt Necheln (old Necheln) to pull up at a very fine old manor where we were shown to our accommodation out the back and down through the garden. It was a very cute circa 1960's tiny caravan that as a ten year old I would love to have slept in. As a ten year old I would also have just comfortably fittted on the bed too. There is no doubt about it, it was totally cute even if it had no fly screens, electricity or lights. We were welcome to use the toilet in the house but there was no shower. Oh well, the tariff of 40 Euros included breakfast which was nominally worth 12 Euros each, so it was a cheap bed for the night.

We drove around to Rotter See, the Red lake, for dinner at another location that only the locals ever get to. Definitely off the beaten track. It was a summer camping phenomena with many swimming in the lake at 9.00pm while it was still light and everyone else chowing down at the restaurant and drinking beers.

We drove back to our little 'wohnwagen' which means caravan and settled down for the night. Ok, my feet stuck out over the bed and yes, the mossies were annoying but it was all a bit of fun, just for one night mind you. The breakfast made up for things, it was good and they had an espresso coffee machine so not all was lost. It fortified us for the next leg as we closed in on Berlin.