Rügen: Chalk cliffs, old beeches and waterfront

For Kathy's birthday in June 2017, we went to the island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea.

The chalk cliffs are famous. The picture directly above shows the formation known as the "King's Chair". Legend has it that the man who was elected king was required to climb to the top of the cliff and sit at the top in order to claim his throne.

Part of Rügen is a national park that consists of a beech forest. These trees escaped being harvested throughout the previous centuries as well as the exploitation that could have occurred during the GDR days. There is an amazing feeling of peace as you look into the forest. It's as if the trees are wise old beings calmly bearing witness to all that has passed.

Our hotel was as close to the water as you could get. Richard chose it because it included spa facilities. We each enjoyed a sauna and a massage. There was a pool that was partly indoors and partly outdoors. The wind made it hard to sit outside, and the pool water was cool but there was a jacuzzi tub that we sat in for a while as often as we could.

Above is the hotel's waterfront. Look familiar? All it would take is a bridge and it could be somewhere on the St. Lawrence!