I’m glad I opted for the coat this morning as it has rained on and off all day and the wind has been bitter. After yesterday’s research I was able to head straight into the centre of the old town and to my delight it was market day.
I love looking at all the stalls. Two things featured at the fruit and veg stalls - strawberries and asparagus. It is definitely Spargelzeit (asparagus time). Apparently Germans consume about 1.3 kg of asparagus a year and the meal I had last night was the classic way it’s served, with hollandaise sauce, potatoes and ham.
The bread stall had an amazing variety of breads and I went back there to buy a Laugenbagel mit Käse for lunch. The man with the little coffee van was an artist in his trade and I visited him twice to warm up with a hot chocolate. Bremen has a special history with coffee. In 1673 the Bremen City Council allowed a Dutchman to establish the first coffee house in Germany and Bremen is a still a major importer of coffee.
Having had a good look at the market I set off to find the Bremen Town Musicians. They were surrounded by a crowd and later in the day they were still surrounded by a crowd. I think that most of the first crowd was waiting to set off on a walking tour, but people were taking turns to have their photos taken with the animals. Most people posed touching the donkey’s legs or nose and these were worn to a bright shine.
Böttcherstrasse was an interesting pedestrian arcade that had a decidedly Art Deco feel with a gilt relief called “Bringer of Light” and a carillon made from Meissen Porcelain. I arrived just in time to hear the carillon. From there it was a short walk to the River Weser. This was an important maritime connection as it goes all the way to the North Sea and is why Bremen became part of the Hanseatic League.
The Schnoor Quarter is Bremen’s oldest district. It has alleys of 15th and 16th century houses which are now mostly cafes and shops, packed with people but very pretty.
There is no HOHO bus in Bremen but there is a little sort of train with a couple of carriages. I decided not to be embarrassed about going on a city tour in something that looked like it was for children. The tour was very popular but I had booked a seat earlier in the day so off I went and listened to a German commentary of which I got very little. There was a bit about the war, a bit about Kelloggs cornflakes(?) and a lot of on your right and on your left.
I don’t know who Roland was but his large statue has UNESCO World Heritage status. … And that’s Bremen.
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