Wow, that's gold

We've been pretty laid back regarding our return trip.  No research.  Just some hotels booked.  We browsed Google Maps for likely points of interest, and decided that Schaalsee seemed a good place to head as our first overnight.  It's only about 100km from Rostock as the crow flies - a bit further when you have to use roads, but we decided on a nice meandering route on minor roads.

Breakfast, at a little bakery/cafe just a few minutes drive from the hotel was lovely - freshly scrambled eggs with a large portion of bacon (for me) or smoked salmon (for W) and a lovely fresh bread roll, plus a mug of tea/coffee.  The total for both of us was just over €20.

Then we got in the car and meandered.  After a couple of hours, we were ready for a break.  And then we found ourselves in Schwerin!  I knew it was on a lake, and suggested we might find a coffee place with a view of the water.  Instead, we found a schloss!  With a cafe, where we had coffee and cake. 

After coffee, we walked on round the castle.  There's a more general view in extras.  

And then a short walk into the old town.  The town escaped Allied bombing and East German depradations, and is now a marvel of varied architecture - see other extras.

We've now arrived in Zarrentin am Schaalsee.  We had a pizza at a small local restaurant this evening, and rather embarrassingly found after the meal that they don't take plastic, and we didn't have enough ready cash!