Bremen, Germany

  As has often been said, "home Is where the heart is", well my heart is always pulling me towards the beautiful German city of Bremen. It Is Located in the North-West of the Germany roughly an hour and a half south of Hamburg. It is the setting of  "Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten", the plucky Grimm Brother's  tale of a group of animals that foiled the plans of a group of robbers evidenced by the proud placement of a statue, of said animals, next to the Rathaus (Town Hall)  in the city center.  Bremen has a story that shines deep into the recesses of history to the time of Ptolemy (Cir. 150 A.D.). Ptolemy includes, in his Fourth Map of Europe,  the area surrounding the Visurgis River (Modern day Wesser River) .  From this location Bremen, in the 9th century, would become the driving force for the expansion of the Christian faith in Northern Europe.  In the the early part of the 10th century Bremen would have its first stone walls built, and by the 11th century the oldest parts (the western Crypt) of the present day St. Petri Dom zu Bremen were in existence. World War II took its toll as allied bombers dropped 12,831 imperial tons of bombs on Bremen and its U-boat building yard. While I could continue to expound on the history of this grand city, I would like to simply mention some of the things to do and visit should you be planing a trip. 

1. Take The tour in the Rathaus (if for no other reason than to see the ships and rub the donkeys legs) 

2. Tour St. Petri Dom zu Bremen (and dont let Roland intimidate you)

3. Visit The Schnoor, enter Böttcherstraße under the "Bringer of Light" and continue at least to you get to the katzen-cafe.de for lunch.

4. Visit the Hauptbahnhof (the statues on the exterior are gorgeous)  

5. Visit The Übersee Museum

6. Enjoy the outdoors by walking in the 202 acre  Bürgerpark. 

7. Sundays at 4p.m. make sure you make it to the International Baptist Church Bremen (more info at www.ibc-bremen.de)