• We left the Baltic for a picturesque cruise up the River Trave to Lübeck, Germany. Lübeck is the first of four cities we visited on this tour that were part of the Hanseatic League, a group of cities that were trading partners around the Baltic from about the 12th through 16th centuries.

• On the River Trave enroute to Lübeck

• On the River Trave enroute to Lübeck

• On the River Trave enroute to Lübeck

• On the River Trave enroute to Lübeck

• The National Geographic Explorer docked in Lübeck. It seemed the crew painted the ship at every opportunity.

• A crew member paints the anchor

• Zodiacs readying to take us from our dock to the center of the old city.

• The old city of Lübeck is located on an island in the river. We began our tour with a river cruise around the island in a boat like this one.

• Bridge tower and gate to the old city

• Suzanne, our guide in Lübeck, Germany

• The Holstentor (Holsten Gate) at the south side of Lübeck. It was built in 1477 and efforts to save it from sinking into the ground were continued until 1871. Efforts to secure it in 1933/34 were successful and it was restored in 2005/6.

• Holstentor

• Inside the Holstentor passage way

• A view of Holstentor from outside the old city

• Sarah Culler, the tour videographer. We have a copy of the video she produced if you would like to see it.

• The gate

• One of the Salzspeicher's (salt storehouses) of Lübeck

• The central square of the old city

• Lübeck Town Hall

• Lübeck Town Hall

• St. Mary's Church

• St. Mary's Church interior

• St. Mary's Church interior

• St. Mary's Church ceiling

• St. Mary's Church interior

• St. Mary's Church interior

• St. Mary's Church interior

• St. Mary's Church interior

• The dark/black color of the bricks results from the use of ox blood in the clay mixture

• Looking down Lübeck's main street. The tower with the clock is the Church of St. Jacob.

• The tower of the church of St. Jacob

• The Holy Spirit Hospital served the poor, old, and infirm beginning in the 13th century.

• Wall and ceiling decorations in the Holy Spirit Hospital

• Inside the residence part of the Holy Spirit Hospital

• Recreated example of quarters for a person staying at the Holy Spirit Hospital.

• The main street with the Burgtor (city gate) at the north end of the old city. The Burgtor was originally built in the new Gothic style in 1444 and the Baroque helmet-like roof was added in 1685.

• Sisse Brimberg, the National Geographic Photographer on our tour, led several photo walks.

• I think this is a minor spire on Lübeck Cathedral. It was inside this cathedral that the next five photos of wood carvings attributed to Bernt Notke were captured.

• The Triumphal Cross wood carving attributed to Bernt Notke and his staff - 1472

• Wood carvings attributed to Bernt Notke and his staff - 1472

• Wood carving attributed to Bernt Notke and his staff - 1472. This is Bishop Krummedick, who commissioned the works.

• Wood carving attributed to Bernt Notke and his staff - 1472

• Wood carving attributed to Bernt Notke and his staff - 1472

• Lübeck is noted for its marzipan

• A very modern Radisson Blu Hotel is located across the river from the old city

• A new performing arts center is located across the river from the old city