Hannah Claudia : The German Riviera: Warnemünde at Sunset

A former city in the Hanseatic League (a merchant guild during the Middle Ages), Warnemünde continues to be a center of international convergence as a cruise port today. Yet despite the volume of tourists, she remains a humble fishing village and seaside resort, embracing her unassuming charm while negotiating the changes that tourism inevitably bears.

Our exposure to Warnemünde was short because we took an excursion around the greater Mecklenburg area, but sweet nonetheless. Christian, our tour guide and a Warnemünde native, walked us around the town, making sure to narrate stories as he pointed out his personal favorites, "There's the American embassy on your left"(...McDonald's). Sometimes I feel like we, as tourists, intrude into a town and walk away with a superficial assumption of its authenticity. We take with us the narrative of an idyllic, provincial town tucked far away, neglecting the impacts of tourism, social issues, and universal challenges faced. While he loves his home, Christian made sure to disclose the realities that Germany faces. The ongoing refugee crisis and anti-immigration sentiments is polarizing the country, resurfacing deep pains from Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. (Prior to his current job with Dave, Christian taught kindergarten and spent time traveling and learning English in Australia. He now also mentors teenage Syrian boys.) Closer to his home in Warnemünde, tourism has inflated housing costs, making it harder for lifelong locals to stay. But amidst the issues, the spirit of celebration lives.

Before we left, we caught a glimpse of the Hanse Sail Rostock-Warnemunde, one of the world's largest maritime festivals. Every year, hundreds of ships sail into port, celebrating the anniversary of the sea border opening after German reunification. That night, just as the sun was setting, we caught the sound of loud music and cheering. "Party boat's here," Christian announced. The camaraderie we witnessed at sunset made our understanding of Warnemünde's beauty feel so raw and real. While I can't share their patriotism, I definitely left with a better understanding of German spirit.

Here's a look into how we started and ended our day in Warnemünde :

Karls Pier 7: the best place to buy souvenirs made in Germany. Here, you'll find the sanddorn berry lotion I mentioned previously, among many other nautical inspired souvenirs. Karls' specializes in strawberry-flavored and -scented goods (you'll never want to leave). Other things to buy? Grocery store chocolate - Christian says it's incredible and incredibly cheap: "all your crewmembers come here on their breaks to drink beer and then buy up chocolates to send home."