Miriam Gordon-Stewart sings Tosca

Here is your reason to go to Bremerhaven. This trailer shows just what small opera houses can do.

Last October I drew Miriam in Bremerhaven during a performance of Peter Grimes. Miriam sang the role of  Ellen Orford.

Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven is half an hour by fast train or an hour by S-Bahn from Bremen and the Gasthof an der Karlstadt is in a quiet little side street right in the center of town, about a twenty minute walk from the station .

The Gasthof an der Karlstadt has the steepest set of stairs you ever saw...

which begin right outside (well almost inside) room #2. It wouldn't be much good for sleep walkers.

Around the corner is the river where people walk ...

and sit in the afternoon sun.

Watching a Lock

So what are these people in Bremerhaven watching?

They are watching this gate slowly open ...

to let the boats through.

The lighthouse that stands to one side was built in 1854 in brick north gothic style.

People stream across the bridge when the gates open again.

Art in Bremerhaven

The art gallery in Bremerhaven has a sign on the window saying: 'Art ... nothing else'.

The building is rather small but with an interesting collection. My favorite was Gerhardt Richter's Page Corner from 1967. It might look like a page turning up, but it is flat. A clever drawing.

Sculpture in the main square.

(Dear Sydney City Councillors. Please note that you don't have to fill every available space with flags and kiosks and other street eyesores.)

Bremerhaven boats

Bremerhaven (Bremer-harbour) is a city of waterways and boats.

Boats in the 'museum habour',

boats tied up in the river ...

...boats sailing past.

Oak piles 14m long were used to build the Bremerhaven wharf in 1928. When a new wharf was built in 2004 these oak piles were retained as a historical reminder.