Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts

Baltic Cruise - Day 3, Germany

On Day 3 of the cruise our ship docked in Warnemünde, near Rostock, Germany. We rented a van, and we were planning to drive to Wittenberg where Luther was a monk. When we got there, we were confused because we couldn't find anything, but when we talked to the woman at the information desk, we found out we were actually at Wittenberge, a town ~150km away from Wittenberg. They are both even on the same river, and have a college in them.
Examining a map
A bell tower of the Protestant Church
While at Wittenberge, we visited the Stadtmuseum(City Museum). The museum was mostly about the Singer sewing machine manufacturing plant in the town, operational from 1905-1991. There were also exhibits about the history of other industries, as well as the shutdown of plants during the Marxist rule.
A museum about the history of Wittenberge
From there we drove to Putlitz where we ate lunch at a bakery (rolls and donuts.) We went to an old tower, which was part of the town's wall at one point, but we could not go inside.
A tower which used to be part of the Putlitz town wall
On our way back to the port, we stopped at Wittstock, a fortified town which was sieged during the 30 year's war.
A church in Wittstock
At the end of the fortified town, there was a castle, the keep of which now houses a museum on the 30 Year's War. The museum had some really nice exhibits.
A model of what Wittstock looked like at the time of the 30 Years War
The keep of Wittstock
A firearm of the type used in the 30 Years War
A Plague Doctor. The beak was filled with aromatic items to ward off the "bad smell" thought to have caused the plague
A sword hilt of the era
A view from the top of the keep
The Castle Wall
 After the museum closed, we drove back to Warnemünde. Since we had time before the cruise ship left, we took a walk along the beach and through part of the town.
A view of the Baltic
A lighthouse on the Warnemünde beach

Beach

Two weeks ago we went to Duck, NC, which is near Kitty Hawk on the Outer Banks. We arrived Thursday afternoon. Friday morning we went to the Wright Brothers Memorial. It is on the hill from which they conducted glider tests, which was next to where they lived while they were down there and where they first flew. There was also a museum about the history of the Wright Brothers before and after they invented and flew the first airplane. After that we went to Jockey's Ridge, which is a bunch of sand dunes. It was fun to walk on and climb and roll down the dunes. Jockey's Ridge is also where people fly hang-gliders, but we did not do that. After that, we went to where the first colony, Roanoke, was located. There we saw a recreation of the earthworks which they had there. Finally, we went to a used book store. We could not stay very long because it was closing time.

On Saturday, Mommy and Rachel went shopping while Joshua and I played Axis & Allies and Daddy started writing Communion of Christ's Body. After lunch we went down to the beach. Even though the water was cold, Joshua and I swam in it while Mommy, Daddy, and Rachel took a walk on the beach. After that we packed up and came home.
A model of the Wright brother's plane while they were preparing it for take-off
Joshua and I at the Wright Memorial
The stone marking where the first flight was made from
In this photo you can see the markers for the distance of each flight. If you zoom in you can see how far the fourth marker is
Daddy, Mommy, and Rachel climbing a dune at Jockey's Ridge
Joshua and I racing down one of the dunes
A sand dune

A recreation of the earthworks at Roanoke

Sunset at our Condo

A Model of one of the Wright Flyers

Hilton Head


On the week of January 1st, we went to Hilton Head Island with my paternal grandparents. They rented bikes for us, and we rode them on the beach and the bike paths. The ocean was very cold, but we waded in it for a little while. We visited the lighthouse, and Daddy, Stephen and I climbed to the top. We also visited a historic plantation. One thing we learned is that Hilton Head is where they got the live oak trees that they used to build the U.S.S. Constitution (aka Old Ironsides) during the war of 1812. Live oak trees are very hard, which is why cannon balls bounced off the Constitution's side during battle, earning it the title Old Ironsides. Here are some pictures:


Rachel and Stephen wading in the ocean


The Lighthouse


Stephen and Daddy on the top of the lighthouse


Mommy, Grandma and Rachel from the top of the Lighthouse



Here we are at Honey Horn Plantation


Stephen and I are in a Live Oak Tree


Stephen throwing the Frisbee on the beach

Beach Trip

This weekend we went to the beach. We had not been for a long time, but Daddy finally took us this week. Mommy, Rachel, Stephen and I drove with Mammaw (our maternal grandmother) to Myrtle Beach Thursday. We arrived there, and went to the ocean, but as soon as we got in, it started thundering, so we went in the lazy river that was there, but then after a little while the security guard said that we had to get out until the storm passed! We went to Walmart, and got some food there. We had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, and then Daddy arrived. That night we started playing a game called Empire Builder. It is a game that is about building railroads, and delivering loads from place to place. It is a lot of fun and requires a lot of thinking. We would play it more, but it takes a long time.


The next day we went swimming in the beach, and then we went in the lazy river again. It was fun. We tried to go as fast as we could, and pass each other.








We went out to eat at a seafood restaurant with Mammaw, and then she went back home.

We went swimming again, and had sandwiches for dinner. That night we played Empire Builder some more, but we were not able to finish. Stephen or Daddy would probably have won.

On Saturday morning we had to leave, so we got up early and swam in the ocean. Here are some pictures.