The Priwall Peninsula

Today we took our usual Sunday walk along the Baltic Sea at Travemunde. This time, we took a small ferry to reach the Priwall Peninsula, across the Trave River from town.

We braved the cold wind and walked out along the beach, which is much more wild than the beach near the west side of the river at Travemunde. The reason for this is because the Priwall was a military zone and was off limits until 1989; it was the northern end of the border between East and West Germany.

(I read that in 1975, a nudist beach was opened on the Western side here, within sight of an East German watchtower. It was apparently popular among a certain set to have one's nude photo taken with the watchtower in the background. I think that is a very appropriate response, and also I think it was probably a much-sought after military post.)

Before heading back across the river, we stopped in a little cafe for a hot drink, and found that they offered not only gluhwein but also grog. I’d never seen grog on a menu before, and would have ordered one, but it was too early in the day. I really have no idea what grog is, and still don’t know, sadly, but next time I see it on a menu, I’m ordering it. It's twice as expensive as gluhwein so it must be twice as good, right?

This photo is the watchtower I mentioned earlier. Fortunately, it no longer exists, but apparently the nude beach is still there. Not today, though -- much too windy and cold!