Christmas in Sylt (2)

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By Sindy Chan (People's Daily Online) 14:51, November 28, 2013

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Slanting giant sculptures at Westerland Railway Station (Photo by Nam Nai Choi)

"Wind" is the magic word of welcome from the Island of Sylt. Outside Westerland railway station, a small platoon of slanting giants in sharp green colour with their heads blown to up-side-down position is perhaps remembrance of the 1436 severe storm that swallowed up Sylt's main village Eidum which resulted in building of a new settlement later to become Westerland.

Westerland is now the metropolis of the island but we chose to stay at the exclusive family-run Romantic Hotel Benen-Diken Hof in village Keitum on the eastern edge of Sylt by the Wadden Sea. Keitum, together with Tinnum, Munkmarsch, Archsum and Morsum form the most traditional villages of Sylt.

Original thatched roof houses in Keitum were done with beautiful craftsmanship. In the old days, thatched and reed were the only available materials to roof a house.

Back to the hotel with great contentment, I found my laptop was not cooperating.

"Is there a public computer I can use?" I asked at Reception.

Five minutes later, I was shown to a desktop computer at the rear of the hotel office.

There came Santa Claus!

Gentleman of red cheek, silver hair and big smile ran in. I stood up as if hit by electrical shock. I must have taken somebody's work desk, I thought.

"Ah! Don’t get up. You go on. I just take my jacket out of your way." Santa grabbed the coat on the chair back and walked out. Disappeared like wind.