Salzwedel, Satemin and Harry’s Farm

For the outdoor concert in the evening in Satemin, we stay two nights in Salzwedel which is 20 minutes south. On the way to Satemin we also visit Harry, an old friend of Ray’s, on his farm.

Salzwedel

The first picture shows the Hansehof B&B, also known as Bett & Bike. Salzwedel is a typical old East German town. Although the soviet era ended some 33 years ago, many still remember the old DDR. The area appears well looked after but it is still quite poor. Salzwedel was damaged extensively in air raids between 1942 and 1945. In the Middle Ages it was a main trading town and part of the Hanseatic League and is now known officially as Hansestadt Salzwedel. Many of the old buildings have been restored and it’s very hard to tell which is new but looks old and which really has withstood the ravages of many years.

The outside stairway of the main building. It narrows as it goes higher with a circular staircase leading into each floor.

The inner courtyard of the Hansehof.

On the Saturday morning we drive north to Satemin in the area of northern Germany known as Wendland. Satemin is a circular village (Rundling) which comes from old Slav settlements and were quite common from the 900’s onwards. Satemin is one of the best preserved. Many artists migrated to this area in the 1930’s and 1940’s and now every year there is a large craft fair in the centre area of the village. It’s called the Pflingstmarkt. This is organised by many local people including Sandra and Mark who run the Markthof hotel and restaurant in one of the main buildings in the circle.

Ray negotiating entry to the village centre so that we could drive to where the stage will be.

Ray is standing in front of the Markthof hotel and restaurant where he will play in the evening

The original village was destroyed by fire then completely rebuilt in 1850. The inhabitants were very far-sighted and their buildings were insured which allowed the re-building.

Harry’s Farm

On the way to Satemin, we stopped for a coffee with Harry, an old friend of Ray and Oysterband. Some years ago, when Harry had become a big fan of Irish music, travelling many times to Ireland, he went to the Tønder festival in Denmark and Oysterband were playing. Harry was down by the front row and John Jones came down to talk to the man standing next to Harry who then asked JJ if the band would come to play at his festival. JJ immediately said yes and the next day their agent, Rob Challice, rang Harry to arrange the show. The band have visited many times and spent evenings in Harry’s Irish pub that he created as part of his farm.

Harry’s Irish bar on his farm

Ray with Harry who is holding the album given to him as a gift which shows photographs from the many festivals he held on his farm.