Fernweh... Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

The Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal) is the world's most busy artificial waterway, where an average of 117 ships per day travel the 98 kms (61 mi) through Schleswig-Holstein between the North Sea at Brunsbüttel and the Baltic Sea at Kiel-Holtenau or v.v. Thus saving them the 518 kms (322 mi) longer route over Skagerak and Kattegat around Skaw (Skagen) at the tip of the Danish peninsula Jutland (Jylland).

Below the Rendsburg high-bridge (Rendsburger Hochbrücke) with it's "hanging ferry" - where the railroad passes overhead the canal - is a small restaurant with a Ships Welcome Point. Passing ships are greeted with lowered flag and their national anthem is played together with information about the ship.

So this is an ideal place for some shipspotting, especially when there's a chance for a luxusliner. At other times you have to do with whatever comes along, like this young man looking longing for the container ship "Amalthea" sailing for the Maersk Line.

This was shot almost to the day (July 12, 1908) 100 years after a ship named "Amalthea" was sabotaged by socialists in the harbor of Malmö. On board were British strikebreakers and the bomb killed one and left 23 wounded. A memorial plaque over the act was unveiled at the centennial a couple of days earlier.

German is the only language I know of having a word opposing homesick (the longing for home): Fernweh. Longing for home - Heimweh; longing away from home - Fernweh.

And there's really only one cure for the Fernweh. Just go!

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Have a nine minutes transit tour of the canal here.

Kielia, Porteplume, xuaxo, fanni has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Kielia (8111) 2009-06-12 10:43

Hej Kaj,
this image caught my attention because I live in the region and the canal is of course a very popular subject for photographers. I would not capture this dull place, but this is a question of the photographer’s eye!
The impression however is cleverly composed. And your great note makes this image very worthwhile being posted here. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

[2]

xuaxo (5609) 2009-07-02 7:14

Hello Kaj,
Very good composition, with the man, the sign, the canal and the big ship.
I've crossed this waterway a few times. It's an amazing route.
Greetings,
Francisco

fanni (8675) 2009-08-18 13:24

Hej Kaj,
you post very few photos - which is a pity because your photos are always filled with emotions and mood. You don't capture merely the objects or the event; it's something more than that, and the scene always gives food for thought!
I find this an excellent photo, really VERY good. Perspective-wise and composition-wise, and, of course, colour-wise! the colour gamma is fantastic. I like it a lot.
Oh yes! also, the "hanging ferry" is a really curious thing!!
Hmm... what if you have a longing for home, and you feel your home is not where you physically live? :-/
warm greetings from Moscow,
Elena