A Walk Through The Town Of Lubeck - #9

We ducked into the back lane alley to discover the difference with the main streets. Would not do that in just any city but Lubeck is a very safe town so should be alright, we hope.

We were delighted to find that the alleys are just as well maintained and clean as the main street. They are just narrower and we can find more personal effects such as bicycles but they are not crowded or cluttered with useless wares of the inhabitants that you will find in the alleys of many cities. We do not feel threatened in any way taking a leisurely stroll down the Lubeck alleys.

Even here we found flowers to be a common feature lending aesthetic to the place. Here is a glorious rose plant in bloom.

Or this pot of beautiful red flowers and dark green leaves placed in the recess of the white pillar and wall. A striking contrast that would not fail to attract the eyes of any passerby. I imagined the owner opening the door to go out pausing for a moment to appreciate his flowers before departing.

At the end of one alley, we came to a brick wall that hides a garden. How mystical – a hidden garden. We peeped in to a well kept sanctuary. We would like to admire it but worry that the owner may not take kindly to trespassing so we followed the wall to look elsewhere.

After some time, we came out into the main street again. We saw a man pushing a wheelbarrow in which sat his happy young daughter. I wanted to take a picture but worried they may think me rude so I took this picture after they have passed me. What a delightful sight.

I passed by this shop (not even sure what it sell) and quickly snapped a shot. Hendrik asked if I shot that picture because I’m captivated by the picture of the girl or the building. Guessed it is both for the lovely picture of the dreamy eye girl looking out from the window compelled me to make that shot before I lost it to memory.


Hendrik asked me more than once whether I wanted be in, in any of the photos I took and I said no. I’m not an interesting subject, I said. He said I’m different from 99% of Asian photographers who wanted their mug in every shot. I laughed. I’m not interested to tell others where I had been, I’m interested to share especially with friends about the places I had been. At the time of this trip, I’ve not even started blogging yet or I may have taken more photos and some maybe a bit differently to allow me to tell my story better.

Our wandering took us to this old church with a lovely green lawn in front of it which together with the luxuriant trees gave a very soothing feel. There was a couple dressed in black in front of the church. My first shot caught them standing with their backs facing each other.

My next shot caught them in a deep long embrace.

My third shot saw them drawing apart – all these within a few minutes. There must a story somewhere in there. Write your own tale and ending. Xi xi.

This is a shot of the side of the church.

Inside, was this several storey tall stained glass that stood imposingly above the altar. The design is quite modern and departed from the regular themes we observed in other stained glasses. The church interior is rather dim making this structure even more impressive.

There were a lot of very old structures, furniture and constructions like this very old clok that formed part of the structure itself. However the dim interior did not allow good photos to be taken on the go. I did not want to take up too much of Hendrik’s time and hurried with just a few shots which did not do this place any justice at all.

The layout of the church is a little confusing for one who is not familiar with the Catholic cathedral. There seems to be more than one place the chairs seem to be facing and there seemed to be more than one altar. We did not have the time to slowly take it all in and did some research. I would like to go back to this church again. It is unlikely I’ll ever be back there. Wonder if a prayer will help?

As we walked in silence through the church, we looked out one of the arched window and saw the skeleton of a whale in a glass house adjacent to one of the church building. “What is the skeleton of a whale doing in a church?” Hendrik asked a little sarcastically. Good question. I also wondered.

Remembered in an earlier post, I asked whether any of you know what these Da Vinci numbers meant? Well, we found these numbers also posted in this church but a different set. Hendrik was also curious so he went over to a lady who was sitting alone with her own thoughts. She brightened up when asked the question and found the two clueless ones amusing. They refer to the hymns that will be sung in the service. The numbers refer to the pages of the song book so there is no need for any announcement. They are found on all strategic pillars. Well, what are taken for granted in one culture can be pretty mysterious and daunting for another. At least, we made her day and gave her some cheers.

To be continued...

A Walk Through The Town Of Lubeck - #8

Our walk took us to this interestingly designed building. The door and the steps leading up to it are sunken into the building. Also the lower windows are built low as like basement windows. The ground floor is painted a more subdued color while the first floor is painted a bright yellow. Then, there is that huge climbing rose which is trained to curve around the window and over the front steps. It was quite a spectacular view.

Not everyone went for roses. Here is one who chose a plant with delicate purple flowers with rich green leaves against a very light blue wall and door.

I tried but just could not get this fat cat to look at me. It treated me coolly totally disregarding my many attempts to attract it. It must be very well fed from its size and truly pampered. Give me a dog with its waging tail any day. A cat chose to bestow or withhold its affection according to its fancy very much like a…..

We came out of the street a short distance away from the Hospital of the Holy Spirits.

And meet the Seaman’s Guild Building from the other end.

We then decided to take a smaller street and took that street along the Seaman’s Guild building attracted by the overhanging arches.

As we walked along that street, we looked up and saw this lovely façade outlined against a blue sky and white clouds.

We now decided to be even more adventurous in our walk. We turned into a small alley to see what we can find in less traveled places.

A Walk Through The Town Of Lubeck - #5

We continue our leisurely walk down the street, chatting about everything under the sun or it should be clouds wondering when it will dump its load on us. The air is wet, cool and fresh – ideal weather for walking if it does not rain. We came to a particular beautiful stretch of street. What made it even lovelier was that there are no one around, just the two of us. Kind of selfish isn’t it? To want this whole scene for ourselves and we have it that day.

The street would be the same but I know the feeling would be different had I been walking around. Not necessarily worse but different. Walking alone and walking with someone you enjoyed gives you different pleasures.

Flowers with the window sills, white walls with black borders, contrasted with blue lines of the window frame. Color perfect, picture perfect. Silent except the sound of our steps on the cobbled street. No one around to disrupt the harmony. Street walking could not be more ideal.

A yellow house with luxurious green wandering vines that know where to go. “I am different” and “I am beautiful”, it seems to say. And it is both.

Roses are the most popular flowers and I love them. They graced the door of many doors and sprinkled the steps with their colored tears.

White roses against light blue, a subdue tone. Can you guess the character of the owner No. 61?

Red roses climbing up to the upstairs window to declare “I bloom for you”.

A Walk Through The Town Of Lubeck - #3

It was noon and we were a little hungry. Hendrik suggested we had lunch in the “oldest pub in the world” – the famous Schiffer Gesellschaft restaurant in this building of the Seaman’s Guild.

It had a majestic interior that spoke heavily of the past. The dark solid wood contrasted beautifully with the white table top. I had a wonderful dish of giant white asparagus, to read more click on this - The Unique Flavor of the Giant White Asparagus.

When we exited the restaurant, we were surprised that the road has been wet with rain. With our stomach full, we took a leisurely walk and chat down the street. We met fellow walkers and cyclists along the way usually in pair doing what we did.

There are some beautiful pubs along the way.

It would be very pleasant to sit outside in this cool summer weather having a pint.

There are beautifully manicured lawn and flowers. These types of lovely quiet spots are what is missing in most Asian countries especially in the city.

Two white benches among nature’s green and blooming roses. Wished I was sitting there on one bench with my love sitting in the next having a quiet shared moment. It was so easy to day dream in beautiful country.

There were many types of roses everywhere. Here is a purple climbing rose plant against the wall.

From small streets we would come out to main street and would then took other small streets in random. We were making leisurely discoveries and just taking them all in slowly. After so many years of travel, I am finding that I recalled the quiet moments more fondly.