BARBARA GEIER COLUMN

Tips for a German summer

Imagine, you could zip all over a country in one day, irrespective of distance and time. Just zoom yourself from one place to the next without bothering about transport and how long it might take. In essence, you’d only have to snap your fingers, and bang, you’re there. If that was possible, here’s my list of places I’d cover in Germany on a summer’s day.

First of all, simply because I’ve never been, Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, or in English, Mecklenburg Lakeland, a kind of German Lake District in the country’s northeast. I’m imagining idyllic lakes, boating, swimming, unspoilt nature, all very peaceful and relaxing.

Then, with a snap of my fingers, I’d be in Berlin, sitting on one of the city’s cool rooftops for a cocktail with a view. After this aperitif, I’d then need to eat, obviously, and would, just like that, be transported to the very atmospheric surroundings of an old wine-growing estate on the German Wine Route in the country’s very west. Let’s say in the pretty village of Deidesheim, eating and drinking in a lovely courtyard surrounded by old trees.

I would then want to go for a nice walk, and I’d do that in Weimar’s beautiful Park on the Ilm river. Which is about 230 miles away, but hey, no worries. It’s all in the snap of the fingers. I’d saunter across the wide meadows and stop at Goethe’s Garden House, a very charming cottage with a garden planted by good old Johann Wolfgang in 1776. I would also take a lot of time to just sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of this enchanting park. Because it really is a very splendid place.

And then, oh yes, then, I’d do the most important thing of the day: I’d go to the Gelateria Giancarlo, right in the middle of Weimar, and get a huge portion of their delicious ice-cream. Bliss. Oh yes, unspoilt nature, cool rooftop bars, first-class wines and food, elegant parks and ice-cream to die for. It’s all in a day in Germany. As long as you get this instant-movement-viafinger-snapping-thing sorted…

Barbara Geier is a London-based freelance writer, translator and communications consultant. She is also the face behind www.germanyiswunderbar.com, a German travel and tourism guide and blog that was set up together with UK travel writer Andrew Eames in 2010.