Weitere Reisegeschichten! (More Traveller Tales)

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 historic towns and cities and varied landscapes including the Harz mountains before we reach the border between Germany and Poland. From there will travel through Poland and the Czech Republic before returning to spend some time in Saxon Switzerland. Our return route will involve travelling from east to west taking in the city of Weimar and the Rhine valley. 

Once I settled on a route, it occurred to me that a large part of the journey I was planning would not have been possible when I was younger. Until 1990, Germany was divided between communist controlled East, Germany and West Germany. Travel from west to east was virtually impossible. A lot has changed in the past 35 years - East and West Germany have integrated. The government has moved to Berlin and a united Germany has grown to become an economic powerhouse. However look a bit deeper and you find that there are still divides - not physical or political but economic. The western half of Germany has grown properous but ecomonic growth hasn't spread evenly so people in the east still feel poorer . Like many western European countries populism and right wing nationalism has risen in recent years and parties like AFD have been performing well in federal elections - especially in the east where people feel left behind. As in the UK migration has become a useful tool for populists to use to apportion blame for economic woes. How much of his will be evident during our travels is not clear but I hope to return with a better understanding of what eastern germany is like in the 21st century whilst also marvelling at its historic heritage and natural beauty.

Some of the places we plan to visit will be a little off the beaten track, perhaps known to German tourists but less so to people from outside Germany. My German language skills are limited and the German language has some complicated compound words but I'm sure we'll be able to make ourselves understood - and if not technology will come to the rescue!

Our route to Eastern Europe (and back)

With acccommodation and crossings booked everything is in place for an interesting trip. All that remains is some packing and then the journey can start. As usual, I'll be capturing thoughts and impressions of places we visit or find by chance, and sharing them on this blog - so if you are interested keep watch - more traveller tales will be posted soon.