Tönning – a perle of Schleswig-Holstein
“Switching off and Decelerating in the Profession with Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility” was the title of my this year’s educational holiday in Tönning on the Eider River. And right from my first walk through the “Pearl in Schleswig-Holstein,” I started to feel the deceleration. The town exudes such a pleasant – not boring – calm that I immediately felt comfortable. This feeling was reinforced throughout the week not only by the fantastic summer weather but also by the great group, the visit to St. Peter-Ording, and the good restaurants in Tönning. Overall, it was a well-rounded and absolutely successful package.
Travel by Train
After my previously quite disastrous experiences with Deutsche Bahn, I was pleasantly surprised this time during my journey. Everything went smoothly, and I arrived in Tönning on time at 7 p.m. However, I overheard at the Husum station that the trains to Hamburg are delayed. I immediately noted that for the return trip. In the morning, I started in Braunschweig in beautiful summer weather, and it also seems sunny in Tönning. However, a strong wind blows here, making the “feels like” temperature a bit lower. My accommodation makes a good impression, and I head straight into the “city center” to get a feel for the place. After about 5 minutes of walking, I arrive at the Historic Harbor. Here, I am right in the middle of the action and at one of Tönning’s most beautiful spots. Most of the restaurants are located here, and of course, fish is the specialty.
I continue following the streets through the town and eventually reach the marketplace. There, I treat myself to an Aperol Spritz at an Italian restaurant to mark my arrival. I let the sun shine on my face and enjoy the moment. What a great start to my educational holiday week!
Biking to the Eider Barrage
On the very first day, I meet a very nice woman from Potsdam. We discover that we share a passion for hiking. She tells me about the Eider Barrage and that she wants to cycle there. That’s exactly my thing. So, after the “lesson,” we rent bikes at the local gas station, and off we go. Through the town and along bike paths, we ride about 10 kilometers to the barrage. There isn’t much to see there, but there is a lovely kiosk with a viewpoint that invites us to take a longer drink break. Unfortunately, we have to return the bikes by 7:30 p.m., so we’re a bit pressed for time. Back in Tönning, I go to a restaurant: baked potato with spinach is on my menu to end this successful first day.
Yoga on the Beach in St. Peter-Ording
The second day begins just as beautifully as the first ended: with sunshine! Today’s highlight of the week is the trip to the beach in St. Peter-Ording. The weather forecast predicts very warm temperatures, so we start early. We cross the approximately one-kilometer-long bridge from the town to the beach. At this time of day, it’s still very pleasant at the sea due to the wind. The yoga session becomes an unforgettable experience. After a short break, we move on to the next workout: Chi Gong in the pine forest. Meanwhile, the heat has become quite intense. After the session, we walk back through the forest into town. We actually want to go to the beach again, but I notice a slight sunburn on my feet, so we finally decide on a cool drink at the stilt house restaurant “Strandbar 54° Nord.” Just before 6 p.m., we head back by train to Tönning, ending the day with a visit to the Historic Harbor.
Always discovering new things On the following days, we continue to discover new corners in Tönning. Whether it’s the majestic brick building of St. Laurentius Church, the town’s castle park, the Schottsche Karren, or the open-faced sandwiches at the Old Fishery Cooperative.
Unfortunately, the lovely time comes to an end on Friday. However, since the weather has also become more changeable towards the end of the week, the farewell is easier to bear. Both the program of the educational holiday and the town of Tönning itself were well worth the trip!
