Exploring the Baltic countries OnBoard Azamara Quest: A cruise line known for an extraordinary focus on the destination. Thank you Azamara for inviting me to explore the Azamara way–in depth. Next post—St. Petersburg!
Tuesday Morning, August 3, 2015, sailing the Baltic Sea on the Azamara Quest from Wismar, Germany to Ronne, Denmark, we were “saluted” by a very low and loud fly by of US F-18s. Not really saluted, but the patrol screaming over us could not be missed. A loud reminder we were sailing in waters disputed throughout history that remain a focal point of “East/West” tensions today. (No I did not see the the reported Russian submarines also plying these waters, but I did keep looking.)
We had just finished a Land Discoveries tour to Berlin from the port of Wismar entitled “Berlin’s Turbulent History”. A sober (but excellent) excursion arranged by Azamara that focused on the Berlin of World War II and the Cold War. Berlin is a cultural mecca today, with an almost Roaring Twenties feel. But instead of museum hopping, I chose to see the actual locations where so much of our recent history was played out. And this day defined the very best of Destination Immersion.
Upon entering the city, I was surprised to see buildings and lampposts designed by the Nazi architect Albert Speer. They survived the sweeping Soviet destruction of Berlin and stand as stark reminders of the grandiose plans of the Third Reich. Our guide pointed out Herman Goering’s former Luftwaffe headquarters, now the present day Finance Ministry. The Reichstag revitalized by architect Norman Foster stands defiant that democracy has returned. Nearby is the parking lot that covers the bunker where Adolf Hitler committed suicide, now next to the most poignant memorial to the Holocaust.
The terrors of the Cold War were also remembered. Standing at Checkpoint Charlie, we knew this was the spot that many feared would see the start of World War III. We walked the path of the Berlin Wall and saw the heroism of those who flew planes into Berlin every 55 seconds to feed a starving population during the 1947-49 Berlin Airlift. We also learned about an airlift pilot I had not heard of, “Mr. WiggleWings”, who dropped candy for the children. During these hard months he would fly over and wiggle his wings before dropping small cloth parachutes with candy to the waiting children who looked out for his plane. A very intimate glimpse of life during the Berlin Airlift.
We saw the spots where President John F. Kennedy had delivered his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech and Ronald Reagan’s “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down this Wall.” We also learned that as a rebuke to President Kennedy, the East Germans installed curtains in the Brandenburg Gate, effectively obstructing views into the East as he delivered his speech. A move that is seemingly petty now, but not then.
Berlin is a large city, but most surprising to me was that all of the sites mentioned above are in very close proximity. The epicenter of much of the history of the 20th century is encompassed in a few miles in the city of Berlin. Thank you Azamara for showing me the not too distant past. My next post will be about another city that has not only witnessed but many argue, directed history: Gdansk, Poland.
Please note: Azamara Club Cruises invited me to join their Baltic Cruise as a guest. But as usual there was no promise of positive or any reviews. We both thought that Azamara’s focus on the destinations when cruising would be appealing to me and my readers. And it certainly was! More posts to come about how to cruise for the land discoveries.