TravelsthroughGermany

Inspiration for travel can come from many sources. This year's road trip was inspired by an online newspaper article I read in August 2024, which described the 'fairytale peaks' of an area of Germany called Saxon Switzerland, centred around the town of Bad Schandau on the banks of the Elbe river. At that time I'd never heard of Saxon Switzerland and my knowledge of German geography was a bit limited. After consulting a map I discovered it was a scenic region on the eastern border of Germany just south of Leipzig, bordering the Czech Republic. I mentally filed this new knowledge away for future reference. Earlier this year my thoughts returned to Saxon Switzerland as I considered options for a road trip later in the year. Armed with a few guidebooks, maps and a web browser I started to look at the logistics of driving from the UK across Europe to Eastern Germany. I eventually settled on a route that will take us through Northern Germany from west to east, passing through...

The start of our journey through Germany started at what can only be described as leisurely. We left Shropshire on a showery morning and made our way to Egham, a commuter town in Surrey. As a place to stay overnight it served it's purpose but the town itself made no lasting impression so we set off the next morning detouring to a place that is quintessentially English: Chartwell. This was the home of Winston Churchill and was transferred to the National Trust after his death. With views overlooking the Kent Weald the house and gardens are exceptionally beautiful. I confess to having conflicted views about Churchill. He was a complicated man, talented and energetic and a leader for his time, but I find his politics at odds with my own. Our visit was interesting..the house is rather lovely as are the gardens and the presentation of his artefacts including his clothes and his many paintings has been well curated. Some of his paintings are displayed in his studio, a converted estate co...