With our class on Faust all wrapped up, it was time to go on Block Break. We set out to create our own European version of the classic CC tradition. Various members of our class planned out different adventures – including local excursions around the Niedersachsen area as well as a trip up to the Nordsee.

The trip I went on started as a discussion of about six different options – it seemed like there were simply too many beautiful places to see. Should we go see the mountains of Bavaria? Or try to visit other CC students in Denmark? Hmm…

We finally opted to take the train North to Timmendorfer Strand – a beautiful beach on the Baltic near Lübeck. It would be a quick and inexpensive train ride from Lüneburg, and it would provide us with a beautiful environment in which to finish up our final papers.

The plan got even sweeter when I realized that some of us could bike there. Google Maps claimed we could follow the Lübeck-Elbe canal all the way to Lübeck, and then take the road from there to Timmendorfer Strand. Meanwhile, those of us not biking could take some of our stuff up to Timmendorfer Strand on the train. Perfect. My host parents hooked us up with bikes, tools, and some incredibly helpful paper maps (Danke Fite und Sibylle!), and then we hit the road. Turner, Bella, and I biked, while Izzy, Ethan, and Kai took the train, planning on meeting us at our hotel in Timmendorfer Strand.

Google Maps said Timmendorfer Strand was about 100km (62 miles) away from Lüneburg. We initially thought this would be a mostly paved road. A combination of bad weather and navigational errors quickly turned the trip into over 70 miles of primarily muddy, rocky, and rutted dirt road, which slowed our skinny-tired touring bikes down a lot. It also didn’t help that it had suddenly started raining sideways at the exact moment when we were the most lost.

The good news was that the ride was still absolutely beautiful – consistently beautiful for an entire 70 miles, no less. We cruised for hours across farmland, past barges in the canal, and by forests and ponds. As we rode, we got to meet a few other people braving the weather and poor conditions while doing similar bike tours along the canal. There was something quite comforting about seeing other people attempting similarly ridiculous adventures.

About three hours into the ride, we hit that beautiful point that exists somewhere in the intersection of endorphin levels and calorie depravation. Everything is funny and your muscles don’t hurt anymore, but it’s also pretty hard to function well enough to read a map. Luckily, we somehow managed not to get lost more than a few more times. We got to Timmendorfer Strand a little before sunset and were greeted by wonderful friends and a beautiful beach glowing orange in the evening light.

Staying in Timmendorfer for the next few days was obviously a delight in itself, but I’ll leave that for another blog post.

A Few Thoughts on Germany and Bike Touring

In the US, bikes are typically viewed as toys. They exist for exercise and entertainment, and for the most part, nothing else. As a mountain bike racer, I’ve often fallen into this way of thought – the bicycle is either the catalyst of your adrenaline rush, or the equipment you use to beat your competitors. In Germany, bikes are appreciated much more as a utilitarian tool. Bikes are viewed as an efficient, useful, and economical way to travel. The culture of bike touring in Europe seems to stem directly from this attitude – you’re getting from point A to point B in the most energy-efficient, self-reliant way possible, and if you’re as lucky as us, you’re enjoying the journey as much as the destination.

Additionally, this trip was a great way for us to see Northern Germany on our own terms. The speed you go on a bike when cruising across rustic European farmland is the perfect for truly appreciating the landscape and your surroundings – you move fast enough to cover a lot of ground, but just slow enough to really take everything in. And relying solely on your own power to get to your destination just makes your eventual tired and soggy arrival all the more meaningful.

Most of the students of Colorado College arrived in Germany on Saturday August 22nd, 2015 and some others trickled in days after. Our host families greeted us warmly upon arrival. My host mom and sister picked me up from the airport, and showed me around town. During the car ride, my mom had asked me what I knew about Lüneburg, to which I answered: Not really anything. She gave me some guidebooks and I have since learned a lot about the “city built on salt.”

In the first couple of days, many of us students wondered what this city had to offer… and we found many avenues of interest after a bit of exploring. The first day after class I went on a walk through the woods, and then realized that this was my study abroad experience. It is not London, nor Paris. It is not crammed with tourists. In just a couple of days, we found the magic of this small city. The old town has houses from the 1500’s and the streets have cobblestone that invigorate our bike rides. The residents are very friendly, and they appreciate my limited German skills when trying to order ‘essen’ or asking for directions. There are plenty of ice cream shops, which we have discovered, too. Xan’s host family even has cows and a farm while others live closer to the downtown area. The diverse, yet cozy, atmosphere made Lüneburg’s charm grew on us quickly.

In our first week of classes we learned all about Faust. In class we discussed the historical background and literary significance of 3 versions of the Faust tale. Faust is an old legend that Germans are very proud of. My host mom was very excited to hear I was reading the story, and was shocked when she found out I had never read it before. Faust was a treasure to read, and Lüneburg is a treasure of a town.

Since walking through the woods on the first day, wondering why I chose to study abroad here, I have learned a lot. I am grateful to Colorado College for setting up a great program here, and I am enjoying getting to know locals, as well as my classmates whom I would not have had the chance to meet otherwise. All in all, this trip is going to be amazing and we will remember it forever.