Well I will give those Baltic Red-Brick Gothic architects’ one thing: they can certainly build a massive church. That was the main thing that struck me after my visit to Wismar on New Year’s Eve 2012/13.

My exploration took me through the affluent looking shopping streets from the heaving bulk of one massive church onto the next, and wandering through the giant remnants of St Marien Kirche. It was rather impressive. I can’t say I was particularly taken by the main square, much like Frederik my main impression was one of a giant car park surrounded by a few nice buildings. On my way towards the old Harbour I stopped into the Heiligengeistkirche as residents were arriving for Mass. I was really impressed by the painted ceiling and also thankful of somewhere to warm up.

As it was New Years eve I spent a lot of my time jumping at the sound of fireworks exploding next to me, but also covered an inordinate amount of miles trying to find an open restaurant or bar, they were all reserved for private parties later in the night, but after 20 or so establishments, I managed to have a pizza down by the waterfront (In case you are wondering I’m not exaggerating, even the Irish Pub was closed!), however the harbour side was a rather charming place to while away some time before heading off to my train.

Wismar was a late addition to my itinerary, it was there in part because of a rather sadistic decision to not get any accommodation and just stay awake until my plane left Hamburg the next morning. In the end it turned out to be a good idea, I got to see a new WHS, tick off another German Länder and also see in the New Year in some style in Hamburg. Wismar was a great reminder of why I find Baltic city’s so charming, combining the affluent shops of Malmo, the giant brick churches of Lübeck and the early industrial waterside of Gdansk, and I will happily head off to Stralsund in the future to see the other part of this WHS

[Site 4: Experience 5]