Berlin – Part 2 – Ribbeck, Germany

From the Berlin Wall, Kerstin and Janine drove us to Ribbeck, a small village between Nauen and Paulinenaue (where Kerstin and Janine live), about 58 km from Berlin. Here we found a delightful “Alte Waschhaus”, called Cafe Hofladen where we enjoyed luscious German pastries under frilly lace underthings that were hanging everywhere throughout the surprisingly spacious restored old wash house. The cafe was a treasure trove of pear-themed jams, teas, soaps, oils and everything else imaginable, all strewn amidst delightful relics and knick-knacks, and most of all, old white lace. Lace bloomers, lace table runners, lace aprons and old lace children’s clothing draped, hung and graced almost every nook and cranny of the shop. The staff were friendly and funny, and we felt like we were lost in time there.

The cafe stands across the path from an old church with an interesting story. Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland [The Squire of Ribbeck] is a much-beloved poem by the German poet and novelist Theodor Fontane. This Squire of Ribbeck is portrayed as gentle and generous, often giving away pears from his pear-trees to children passing by. According to Wikipedia: “he knows his son and heir to be a scrooge; so when von Ribbeck feels his end near, he asks that a pear be put into his grave. This pear quickly grows into a pear-tree, which now provides free pears to the children, thus preserving the heritage of the late von Ribbeck…this legendary pear-tree on the grave of the von Ribbeck did in fact exist at Fontane’s time but was destroyed in a storm in 1911.”

However, the legend continues within this little church in Ribbeck, which still has on display part of the original pear tree.

We thoroughly enjoyed our cakes (and pear tea) at the cafe, then took a lovely meander through the church and museum before heading to Kerstin’s home in Paulinenaue.

The Cafe Hofladen in Ribbeck Germany

Our chairs and table were draped in lacy things. At the Cafe Hofladen in Ribbeck Germany

How to choose!!! Andre, Janine and Kerstin at the At the Cafe Hofladen in Ribbeck Germany

We’ll each take a piece of each cake and share!

All of the cakes include pear as one of the ingredients. I think mine was chocolate cappucino with pear. It was very tasty.

We really enjoyed our cake and company at the Cafe Hofladen in Ribbeck Germany

Innovative toilet paper holder at the Cafe Hofladen in Ribbeck Germany. The bathroom was beautifully decorated, but it was difficult to get a picture because of all of the towels and things hanging from the ceiling.

The banquet room at the Cafe Hofladen in Ribbeck Germany…I could have meandered around in here for a couple of hours, there was so much to see!

Lace and decor at the Cafe Hofladen in Ribbeck Germany

I love this “thing” (I think it might be a light) hanging over the table at the Cafe Hofladen in Ribbeck Germany

Lots of intriguing nostalgic decor at the Cafe Hofladen in Ribbeck Germany

The Church (where the legendary pear tree used to stand) in Ribbeck Germany

Janine inside the Church in Ribbeck, Germany

This is supposed to be a part (or perhaps an offspring) of the original legendary pear tree of the Squire of Ribbeck, in the Church in the village of Ribbeck Germany

The back of the Church in Ribbeck, Germany

Meandering through Ribbeck, not sure what this building is

Meandering through Ribbeck

Meandering through Ribbeck…the white building holds an old school room and museum

Janine and Andre contemplating the map inside the old school room, in Ribbeck Germany

Inside the old school room, Janine showing Andre where her grandfather lives

We often saw these, electrical boxes that had been beautifully decorated. This one is in Ribbeck, Germany

Decorated electrical box in Ribbeck, Germany

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Copyright © Sharon C. Matthies, Meanderings (blog), 2014. All rights reserved.
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