Riemer Family Adventures: The Baltic Sea

We got up super early on Sunday morning. Our train left the station at 8 but we thought we might need to get there early in case we needed to get seats or there was some delay or missed bus or train on the way to the main train station. We haven't woken up to an alarm in 6 weeks so the 5:30 AM get up was rough. Marty was raring to go... the rest of us were dragging.
The kids had time for a quick "Froop." This is their new favorite yogurt. Normally it is expensive but it has been on sale lately so Marty and Benjamin stocked up. It is basically yogurt with fruit on the top - thus the name. But clearly someone didn't do their research because all we can think about is 'poop' The kids use it in sentences all the time. "did you just froop" "I'm going to froop my pants" "what is that froopy smell" you get the idea. So after a snack of one froop each we are on our way. We realize that since it is a Sunday and still quite early that the buses run really infrequently. We have time to quickly walk the nearly one mile to the Sbahn to catch the next train or miss it and wait for the bus. Even though tired the kids were all in. We alternated walking fast with jogging. Marty and I had full packs for our day long trip, the kids were bare backed but still impressed that we all kicked it in and made it to the Sbahn with just one minute to spare. Phew!
We take the Sbahn to the new and modern main Deutsche Bahn. Once here we have time for a quick coffee and rolls and then head to get on our 2 hour train to the Baltic Sea.

Right on time the train pulls in and we sit in the luxurious upper seats. It really feels like you are floating on air. Marty is going on and on about how cool the German trains are and how quiet and clean they are and how amazing it is to sit up high the entire way to

the beach. And not 10 minutes later the train slows and then comes to a full stop. In the middle of a corn field. Uh-oh. The conductor comes on and says that there is a problem with the engine. They are going to try to fix it but if they can't we will have to turn back. So much for the awesome German trains. Haha!

There is quite a bit of misunderstanding and chaos as the train gets pushed back to the nearest station, we deboard and follow the heard of people to another area of the platform to wait about 20 minutes for our train to arrive. This one is not nearly as nice. There is not upper seating but it doesn't matter we end up enjoying the view anyway. The kids really are amazing travelers. Marty and I decided that we would not bring screens on this trip mostly because we had to cart them around all day. The kids didn't even ask once for them.

They entertained themselves with coloring books and puzzle/logic books. We played quite a bit of cards (schafkopf) Within 2 hours we arrive in Warnemünde. We get off and are greeted by an adorable beachside town. We get something to eat and then head to the beach. It isn't all that warm (low 70's) with partly cloudy skies. This doesn't bother the kids at all. They immediately strip and put their suits on and are in the water up to their necks in no time.

There are others swimming too and then there are people walking the beach in puffer coats.
They play in the sand and water for several hours and then we realize the time and figure we probably should eat something before we head back on the 2+ hour train ride to Berlin. We fill up on Italian food and Danish ice cream (apparently this town's specialty) and then board the train back for Berlin. What a great, little weekend, day-long getaway.