We wake up early and I walk Birgitta and Sofie to the train station. They are on their way to catch a plane from Brussels and I will have the day on my own. Göran should arrive this evening and after cleaning the boat, I decide to visit the Atlantic wall museum outside Oostende. There should be a tram so I find the station and go. It was really a ambitious museum with information on the wall itself as well as the bunker complex where the museum was located. It was the private property of the Belgian Prince Charles where he lived there until his death. He was opposed to the normal demolition and decided to keep the complex as historic site. There were also an exhibition of Prince Charles house for people that is interested in things like that.

The Germans built the Atlantic Wall during WW2 along the Atlantic coast from Spain to Norway with some 5400 bunker complexes. To see one complex makes you understand the size of this construction undertaking. Along with the bunkers were many other installations like mines and tank obstacles. Not to mention all the equipment that was placed here. As expected – there are some Bofors cannons sitting around. Being a sales guy in the concrete or weapons industry at this time must have been pretty easy. Bring the large order form and a sharp pen.

The bunker complex

Inside the complex

An anti-aircraft gun in the complex

We swedes sold them

Display of everyday life in the bunkers

The beach outside the complex

I go back and have a late lunch and go back to the boat to wait for Göran who show up in the evening. We take a walk on the town and go for a dinner to do some planning of the next week.

New crew – Göran – arrives