"Let's stay in Germany for a few weeks!" "Yeah okay, how about California?"
It didn't turn out quite like that, but the travel wishes of our travel group did cause some confusion. But why a travel group? We are once again travelling with our PuPis. Perhaps I should briefly explain the term PuPi: Many years ago, after a publishing conference, we decided that we could go hiking privately. We wanted to swap our laptops for hiking boots for once, the view of the monitor for a view of nature. Publishing Pilgern, or PuPi for short, was born.
And so we have been travelling with a small group for over ten years now. Initially with ambitious hiking destinations and the romance of camping cookers, we now like to leave our hiking boots behind and luxurious mobile espresso machines and gourmet cooking are the order of the day.
But the best thing is still the time we spent together. We have been to the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, the Eifel, the North Sea, the Mecklenburg Lake District, Switzerland, the Black Forestin the Harz Mountains (and I've probably forgotten a few other regions).
This time we travelled to Preetz in Schleswig-Holstein. The sugar-sweet house (highly recommended!) was booked, we moved in and off we went with wonderful conversations, beautiful walks, paddling, SUP and beach walks on the Baltic Sea.
Beach? Yes, we travelled to the beaches of California and Brazil, which are actually located on the Baltic Sea beach in Schleswig-Holstein. My little research gene immediately spurred me on to find out why we find such far-fetched names here, right by my beloved Baltic Sea. And I found what I was looking for:
"Travelling to the USA, for example, can easily be done in Germany. At least to California. In the German state of California, you are practically right by the sea, but we can't guarantee you the sun. California is a district of the Baltic Sea resort of Schönberg in Schleswig-Holstein. But you can be in Brazil in just a few minutes from California. Because Brazil is right next to California.
How did these curious place names come about? Well, here too we have to rely on legend. It says that a fisherman found a rotten ship's plank in the sand near his hut with "California" written on it. He nailed it to his door. Because another fisherman was jealous of the sign, he also hung a wooden plank on his door. Guess the name of the country? That's right: Brazil!".
Since we were in California a few years ago, we have a direct comparison: no beach beauties à la Baywatch, no metre-high waves, no outdoor fitness à la Venice Beach. Instead, we've got gorgeous sunsets, white sandy beaches, heavenly Baltic Sea sundaes with fresh strawberries or eggnog and apple sauce. And best of all: in the middle of the high season, in the middle of the summer holidays, right at the weekend: hardly any people. We had really expected crowds and beach tourism: on the contrary, it's quiet, cosy, I almost want to say sleepy. And that suits us perfectly.
In the evening, we are allowed to give our Persia talk to our friends. In the living room of our cosy little house. Including an Iranian tea ceremony and Persian music. Culinary-wise, we are already at gourmet level, but hardly varied: usually we have risotto once, fondue once (in summer! you only do that abroad), barbecue once. It's on the Excel list that was prepared for us. From one of our PuPis, who unfortunately couldn't come along due to illness. Best wishes and get-well wishes at this point!
The quality of our dinners increases from year to year, as do all our dinners. We realise that we are all getting older, more interesting, wiser (?) and definitely quirkier.
Will I ever learn not to put knives in the dishwasher? Or do onions really need to be steamed for 20 minutes? There are still discussions about the quality of filter coffee and super-duper espresso. Of course, we have an accountant with us who scrutinises the figures we enter into the app. We notice who hangs out on Insta quite often and who knows every film and its characters. We learn (or maybe not) that we need to give very precise instructions. "Can you pass the butter?" doesn't mean we'll get the fat we want. "That depends." This is one of the sentences we have to learn to love. "Wrong again!" is one of the reactions that come in unison from the whole group if you don't give clear instructions.
The best thing (at least for us): the mobile phones and laptops usually stay closed. We value our time together and live in the now. Even if this collection of nerds (yes, we all are and even our accountant is starting to throw around technical terms from the world of publishing) utilises their concentrated knowledge and helps me with a MacOS problem. It's always great to be out and about with these friends. We feel welcome, cared for and liked. What could be better than that?
And the question of next year has also been answered, at least by the person responsible. So, there will be a PuPi 2025, that much is certain. Now we just have to let him know.
Source: https://kommunal.de/ortsnamen-weltreise-deutschland
Photos by Olaf Springorum, Klaas Posselt (thank you!) and us
Merci for "travelling with us
Here you can find our future lectures:
Our current and past lectures are listed here. You can register via the links next to the dates. There will probably be new ones every now and then, so make a note of the link!
Date: 14 September 2024
Location: Germany, in Zellerreit, Mühlthal 1, 83533 Edling, east of Munich
Registration: globetrotter-treffen.de (day passes are also available)
Date: 27 September 2024
Location: Switzerland, Basel, ELCH neighbourhood centre
Event: https://www.qtp-basel.ch/events/27-09-roadtrip-realitaeten/
Registration: Form
Date: 24 - 28 October 2024 (exact dates to come, but definitely on a weekend day!)
Location: Switzerland, two Vanlife lectures at the Suisse Caravan Salon Bern
Registration: not necessary, but you have to pay admission to the Caravan Salon
Date: 24 - 28 October 2024 (exact dates to come, but definitely on a weekend day!)
Location: Switzerland, two Persia lectures at the Suisse Caravan Salon Bern
Registration: not necessary, but you have to pay admission to the Caravan Salon
Date: 24 November 2024 4 pm (doors open at 3 pm)
Location: Germany, Landgasthof zum Mühlenteich 15345 Eggersdorf near Berlin
Registration: https://forms.gle/5XFgSz31NKzmCzmT8
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