Doesn't this look idyllic?
Travelling alone with a baby has its challenges. Long train rides are often boring, taking the bus is even more insufferable and taking the car often a no-go, since the baby has to sit in the back seat due to the air bag system in the front.
Especially in summer one also has to prepare for the heat. Luckily for me I have been blessed with a little one that is quite uncomplicated as long as he is able to socialize. Next question is:
Where to go?
Having spent this weekend on the countryside of East Germany I can say, much to my own surprise, that is has been perfect.
Friends of mine planned a bicycle tour from Germany to Sweden, but their baby had quite a different vacation in mind.
She decided she wanted to settle down instead of exploring the world on wheels.
After spending only five days in Denmark they decided to travel to their vacation home near the baltic sea.
Where I had the chance to visit them last week!
pictures are all taken by me, edited with prisma / baby friendly organic apples for endless entertainment and wheat fields around
There is nothing more relaxing than a place where you don't have to worry at all about the little things. Your baby is loud? Loves to make a mess? Eats all kind of weird things? Has trouble sleeping? Moving faster than expected?
Yeah, like every baby.. ever.
Well, all this didn't matter there. Shaded from the sun by a hugh oak tree the little ones were free to explore. There was nothing nearby that could be dangerous to them. No traffic, no water, hights ,etc.
Eating a little grass while having a big messy babypicnic? Sure.
We just get the garden hose.
With the baltic sea only ten kilometers away, that catered fresh, healthy air to make them sleep early enough we could also have some quality parents time sitting by the camp fire.
Sure, I love seeing pictures of jungles and rice fields and white beaches and I will likely travel there one day with my little one too, but for now I find it too exhausting.
Jungle and rice fields just contain way too many weird and hughe(!) insects and animals I am not prepared for. And while the beach is nice and nearby keeping your baby from eating the sand is annoying and impossible.
ruin of the manor of parchow
It is almost relieving that there are not many "must see" sights nearby. The manor which dates back to at least the year 1211 where ist was used as a monastery is a ruin. The house next to it was the house for carriages.
The general lack of infrastructure in the east of Germany shows itself by many empty houses and leftover ruins.
The house we lived in used to be the houses of the farmers that were connected to the manor.
During the communist regime the area inhabited a Landwirtschaftliche Produktionsgenossenschaft a community responsible for agricultural production until those houses were cleared for the use as vacation homes.
Living in the former GDR meant there were only limited options for its citizens to travel. The baltic sea was the main vacation destination for most of the population, which made these vacation homes quite attractive especially for the citizens of bigger cities such as Berlin.
The house was super comfy, with wooden beams and antique furniture. I can only recommend this kind of vacation to everyone with babies or toddlers.
They had so much fun!
It doesn't have to be extravagant, expensive or exotic. Even though this might sound conservative: Keep it simple!
