Lübeck (II)—A green carpet of fragrance

Writing about Marienkirche, brought back memories of my trip to Lübeck.  I loved the visitor-friendly Old Town; the beautiful opera theater; the wide-stretched beach; the quaint old neighborhood built for wealthy merchants; and the greenery alongside the river banks.

Germans, like most Europeans, take long breaks after lunch. Instead of napping, they love to take long—very long—walks. This beloved tradition has been a frequent subject of poetry and music—which deserve a separate discussion. I visited Lübeck in early March. Winter had not relinquished its dominance over the land entirely. Yet, the weather was calm enough for casual walks. With the baby in the stroller and Lena, the Bearded Collie, holding her own leash in the mouth, our little parade went through the quiet neighborhood, toward the canal.

The path along the bank was quiet; the air was a little damp; scattering sunlight peeked through the treetops where new leaves started to grow. Underneath them, there was a light green carpet of small leafy plants. I thought that they were lily-of-the-valley. Looking a little closer, their leaves are longer in shape and they have slim white stem. When broken, they released a garlicky scent, not too sharp but plenty invigorating. Say hello to Bärlauch (translated directly as bear leek).^[1]

In early spring, the ground was turned by young plants poking their heads out toward the sun. The old leaves from the season before were still decomposing. The musty smell of the forest blending with the scent of Bärlauch created a unique fragrance, refreshing and comforting. And, it was the smell of spring for many Germans ^[2]

Bärlauch pesto is a common ingredient in Germany kitchen, used as a condiment and in cooking. Here, in the States, we can find its cousin ramp^[3] occasionally in greenmarkets and specialty stores. Unfortunately, they are hard to come by and, therefore, costly. Whenever I see tiny bunches of ramps at the stores, I think about the walk long ago. Next time, I will linger a while longer and allow myself to be surrounded by the beautiful scenery and the essence of spring.

^[1] Bärlauch_Wiki
^[2] Wild garlic in the forests.
^[3] Ramps_Wiki