If you know me well, you probably know that I am really good at ruining surprises. I always seem to figure them out before I can actually be surprised for once. Well, this time was the exception. Matt planned a trip for our 4-year anniversary in August, and I had no idea up until it was packing time. We packed our 2 bike saddle bags (as lightly as possible) and set off for a weekend adventure. We started by riding our bikes to Ostbahnhof, the largest train station nearest to our apartment, and hopped on a regional bahn -- bikes and all. We rode about 40 minutes north and got off in "Bernau", the last station in Berlin (and the last stop where, conveniently, our monthly train passes were still valid). With a few good bike maps, lots of water, and an abundance trail mix that I had prepared the night before, we set off on our biking adventure. Most of the time we were on a relatively flat bike path called the Berlin-Copenhagen path, which would eventually take us to Demark (with a ferry over the Baltic of course!). We quickly found ourselves immersed in fairytale-esque scenery and it only improved as we continued north. Many trees, several lakes, beautiful landscapes and typical German houses....a bike rider's delight! It wasn't until we stumbled upon it (30 miles later) that I learned of Matt's surprise destination:
Kloster Chorin - an old Monestary in tiny German town of Chorin. This amazing architectural gem took 60 years to build and was completed in the year 1334! We arrived just in time for one of the monestery's summer concerts. After parking our bikes, checking in to our small hotel, and taking a quick (but much needed) shower, we walked along the lake back to the monastery. We entered the courtyard and found a small place to lay down in the soft green grass amongst many picnickers, and within moments the music began. The live classical music was just what we needed after our long haul and it felt so incredible to doze off in the warm sun. It amazed me how quiet and respectful the large audience was during the concert. It wasn't until the intermission that I realized how many babies and young children were amongst us. Once given the green light, "die kinder" immediately began running around and screaming just like kids do. We got up and decided to explore some of the grounds. Surprisingly, all of the doors and cellars of the monastery were open and unguarded. We took advantage of this and lurked around in the cavernous basement while trying to imagine what went on there hundreds of years ago.
That evening we had dinner near our hotel at a restaurant famous for its honey -- all entrees, deserts, and even beverages contained the sweet goodness of honey. We enjoyed the lakeside views and the warmth of the summer evening. The next morning we woke up early and headed further north on our bikes. We rode about 10 miles north of Chorin to a beautiful lake called the Grimnitzsee, near the town of Joachimsthal. This lake was crystal clear and we encountered only a handful of people during our visit there. Paradise! We even took advantage of our secluded location and took a spontaneous swim minus swimgear. Great fun!! As we dried off in the sun, we picked some wild blackberries in the bushes nearby and soaked in the views across the lake. What a perfect end to a great summer!
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