From Hildesheim to Duderstadt

Hildesheim, Bad Lauterberg and Duderstadt

The journey continues through the Harz Mountains, or rather along their edge. The views from my slightly elevated passenger seat are impressive. The landscape was as varied as the sky above the country. A few drops of rain here and there didn't do any harm, especially since the sun broke through the grey clouds again afterwards.

Hildesheim wasn't that far away, so it was a good break for us. In the city center there is the KLEINE RÖSTWERK. A charming little café with a very tasty selection of cakes and small dishes. These are available until 3 p.m. The different types of coffee are roasted in the small half-timbered house in front. There was no smell of it! In dry and warm weather it is possible to enjoy all of this outside - not today, that is.
Luckily for me, it was also market day, with local vegetables, regional meat and sausage products, and a few flower and herb stands. What couldn't be missing: a stand with Thuringian bratwurst. Recently at the market in Leipzig, the three-course meal was sausage, bread rolls, and mustard. Well fortified with sausage, espresso, and cake, we continued through the city. The city beach with lots of sand and several bars probably won't open until the evening.

Anyone who takes a break in Hildesheim will definitely look for the thousand-year-old rose bush. It is also signposted and botanically belongs to the dog rose family, climbing up one side of the cathedral choir. According to Wikipedia, it is actually possible for dog roses to live for many hundreds of years, as they regenerate from the rootstocks - genetically unchanged. Unfortunately, there were no flowers to be seen, just the impressive height of the plant.

We continued on to Bad Lauterberg via winding country roads. Here, business with spa guests still seems to be flourishing, which is rather unusual. Here, too, beautifully restored half-timbered houses, few chain stores, but small shops and cafés. One of these was our next stop: CHOCO CULT (two-master confectionery Mangold). Fantastic selection of cakes (apple on a walnut base with an almond sugar lid) and 22 different types of homemade pralines. A dream for praline fans. Plus a selection of chocolates with very interesting names and contents.
Time was moving on, so we headed to Duderstadt. Here you can find the Hasse family's gin factory, which five years ago designed GLÜCKSFALL NO.1, a gin that won second place at the World Gin Award. A good reason to stop here. The factory was unfortunately already closed, but we found what we were looking for in a hotel bar: as always, without ice, but with rosemary and a slice of dried lemon, as well as tonic from Thomas Henry.

Tomorrow we will try to buy the gin in a pharmacy bottle. We have already got the famous Eichsfelder Stracke in various degrees of maturity from the BORCHARDT&NEBEL butcher's. I would have happily eaten half of it straight away.

Our way back led us through the park with water features at the pond. A very beautifully landscaped green area.
Now a restful night in the quiet place and tomorrow the journey continues.

See you soon!