Teufelssee

We went for a visit to Ökowerk Berlin again . It was a beautiful sunshine day, sunglasses all around, winter suits as well. Sunny but cold

The middle of the forest is the perfect place to tell you have to pee. For our oldest at least, who somehow likes to pee outdoors. One more reason we hope for summer to start asap

First we took a walk around the lake, Teufelsberg in the background. There still is some ice on and around the lake. Afterwards of course a walk around the premises of the Ökowerk, concluding with some elderberry lemonade and seabuckthorn cheesecake

Ökowerk Berlin

Today we went to Teufelssee (translates as Devil’s Lake) I have no idea why it’s called this, but the lake and the surrounding forest are very nice and quiet

The big surprise of this visit was the ecological and educational center placed next to the lake: Ökowerk Berlin. I didn't know it was here, but it truly is a great place to visit. My aunt and uncle run a comparable center in the Netherlands, but this one is at least four times as big and well maintained

We didn’t get to see the whole center because it was pretty cold, but we had a look at the vegetable garden and bee hives. We saw enough to definitely return in other seasons. If not for educational purposes then for their hot elderberry lemonade and seabuckthorn cheesecake

Beach

Something we try to do every time we’re in the Netherlands: Go to the beach. We used to go there quite often, walking the dog. I’m not really the laying on the beach, tanning type. Beach walks is what it’s about. What I love most about beaches is the feeling of freedom. With the sea as far as the eye can see on your side 

Today we visited Wijk aan Zee. The the sea on one side, the Tata steel factory on the other. Some find the factory rather disturbing. It never really troubled me. It’s a quiet beach, mostly people with dogs or surfboards. There are two beach bars with a very relaxed atmosphere: Aloha and Timboektoe. Including some live music on this Sunday afternoon.

Holzhaus am See

Friends from Holland are visiting with their three small children. It is still burning hot in Berlin, so after three days of walking the city looking for some cooling we decide to flee the city and rent a house near one of the lakes. With a party of ten, in the middle of vacation time, it is kind of hard but we manage to find a great house overlooking the Zerndorfer Lanken See: Holzhaus am See. A small beach just 500 meters through the forest away – or five minutes by boat – where we can swim have beers from the neighboring campsite. A surrounding garden with swing and a small scaffolding down at the lake. Four days of swimming, playing outside, boating and late night barbecues. There even is a small fish shop 'fischerei Aurora' down the lake where we can buy fresh trout from the lake. Renting this house was one of the best decisions we could have made.

Sacrower See

Last time we were at Slachten See with our kids a lady came up to us to tell us there are other lakes in the area where the water is much cleaner and brighter. She told us to next time go to the Sacrower See, a lake she used to go when she was a kid herself. So we did today.

We parked the car at Landleben, a restaurant along the lake. Behind their terrace is a small beach. Indeed the water here is crispy cold and clear. It’s perfect for a swim on this very hot summer day. Sitting in the shadow of the surrounding trees, taking a swim every now and then, get warm again in the sun and getting some beers, apfelschorle and flammkuchen at the kiosk.

Bye Frankrijk Noord

It’s our last day again in Zeeland. Last bulky breakfast made by Lille. Last time playing and rolling on the meadow after this breakfast. Last time taking the wagon full of girls for a walk on the beach. Last time watching the chickens in the orchard. 

Oma and Opa came down, with our sweet little niece, to join us for this last beautiful day abd a last quiet walk on the silent beach.

Until we meet again :-)

Warm Welcome

We’re staying a couple of days in our favorite Bed & Breakfast ever: Frankrijk Noord in Westkapelle. Arriving and finding homemade ice cold Elderflower Lemonade, we immediately feel at home again at Lille and Edith’s magnificent place.

Frankrijk Noord is situated in the barn of an old farm. Four beautifully renovated apartments and a huge common room, with a fully equipped kitchen, where a delicious breakfast is served every morning with among others fresh eggs from their own chickens. What is so perfect for our family is that there is a huge enclosed garden surrounding the farm, so both girls and the dog can run around freely.

Cooling Down in summertime

Berlin gets quite hot during the summer. Since we do not have a garden or balcony and our place gets really, really hot, we have made it our mission to find spots to cool down. One of our first city getaways was Wannsee. We went here quite often during fall and winter, so were curious if it would also be a great place to spent summer days. 

A bit surprised how amazingly busy it apparently is here on hot weekend days we decided to leave Strandbad Wannsee be – not the right place for energetic dogs. We walked a bit alongside the lake till we found a small beach that was still available and spend our day swimming and playing in the sand. Just a couple of meters away we later found a small green oasis with picnic benches and a sand pit for the children to play.

Even though we had the best day at the Wannsee we later found out that there are a lot of lakes surrounding Berlin where the water is much cleaner and brighter. For winter walks or spring picnics it is a perfect place, but summer days are better spend somewhere else.

Hundeauslaufgebiet

Today we discovered a new part of the woods in the South West side of Berlin. In Grunewald there is a part where dogs can run freely. Great on one hand, on the other there really are a whole lot of very big dogs. For Jacques it’s fantastic, especially because there are all kinds of little beaches around the Grunewald See where he can swim. Luckily we later find some quieter paths so the girls have a chance to run around as well.

Wannsee

 

Fischerhütte

After a long stroll we don’t want to send Opa and Oma back on the road with empty stomachs. Since Strandbad is not open yet we decide to drive by Fischerhütte am Slachtensee for some decent German food: Pea soup, Potato soup and of course some sausages. 

It still is a bit cold of sitting outside, bur the soups definitely keep us warm enough. They also have a playground to entertain the little ones, but as our little ones are clearly a bit too little for this playground we in turns keep guard at the gate. Keeps you warm enough alright

Wannsee

Grandma and Grandpa are leaving again. What better way to escort them for the first bit of their journey back than to drive to Wannsee together for a stroll along the lake and throwing some sticks into the water.

Strandbad Wannsee

Since we live in Berlin our car is mostly standing parked somewhere being forgotten in between trips to Amsterdam. Back in the Netherlands he was like our second home, especially in the weekends driving up to friends or family, the forest or the beach for walking the dog. Here we do everything by foot or bike and since we don’t know anyone living outside of Berlin we don’t need the car for visits either.

This weekend we found a great new destination for using the car: Wannsee. Strandbad Wannsee. We’re so happy we packed up the gang this morning to check out this place. The forest was really quiet, both kids and dog can run around freely, throwing sticks in the lake and see a deer run past just a few meters away. (our dog is a city guy, don’t think he even noticed)

I know in summer it will probably be crowded, but we will certainly enjoy the lovely quietness as much as possible before this time.