Christmas in Sylt (5)

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Claas Johannsen received a Medal from NYFD (Photo by Nam Nai Choi)

Kampen has Sylt's first lighthouse since 1855 when seafaring such as herring fishery and whaling brought wealth to the islanders. Because of that, the herring has become the island’s heraldic animal.

As the coach reaching village List at the northern tip of the island, dune landscape is even more visible. List has two big shifting dunes, moved by about five and a half yards by the wind every year.

Heading back south to Rantum where there is the closest we can get to the sea. The surf on the west coast and the calm Wadden Sea in the east are just a few hundred yards apart. In 1993, a mineral water source in Rantum began to bubble up from the dunes below. The premium mineral water is available in the market under the brand name "Sylt-Quelle".

Wind and wave are constant agents of erosion of the island and coastline. In 18th century, grass is planted on the dunes to protect the land behind them from the sea. The Wattenmeer tidal mudflats around Sylt were recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Since its first construction in 1872, groynes and dykes are part of the island's eternal scenery.

Between Westerland and Kampen lies Wenningstedt where the Angles and Saxons are said to have set out from here to conquer England, if you like legend and history.

There is another picturesque lighthouse by Hörnum on the southern tip. Fine sandy beaches are all around the beautiful island.

Morsum's cliff boasts between three and eight million-year-old strata side by side, a geological formation unique in the whole of Europe.

Our guide said, if we stayed a little longer, we would be able to see the traditional Christmas swimming or join the New Year's Eve gala. Every year on 21 February, Sylt sky is most beautiful. People celebrate ancient local festival the Biikebrennen, the winter sky is lit up by miles of bonfires.

I can't believe Christmas is again at the doorstep when memory of last Christmas in Sylt is still like yesterday. How can I forget Keitum and the dreamy island, the very hospitable Johannsen family, "Santa" and his fire truck model collections?

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