Monday

We had to check out today,  which was really disappointing as we had really enjoyed staying in our lovely hotel.  After a lazy morning,  we met up around 10,  checked out and went back to the lovely cafe from the tour for breakfast.  We had sandwiches and I had more hot chocolate,   it was a great start to the day. 

The hot chocolate is served like this     From Berlin and Poland Trip

but after you stir it, this is what you get

After breakfast we decided to walk up to the Bundestag for a tour.  We made our way up there,  and waited in the queue.  While we were waiting, there was a puppet show to keep us entertained.  After about half an hour,  we hadn’t really moved,   so we gave up and decided to go shopping.  We walked over to the new train station, which is really impressive all glass and chrome.   We got the S Bahn to Zoo in the heart of what was West Germany and visited the K. W. Church.   This is a ruined church which has been left as  a memorial.    After visiting the church,  we walked down the Ku Damm to Ka De We,  which is the biggest dept store in Berlin.  We took a look around ,and had some lunch in a beautiful cafe on the top floor.  It was like a massive conservatory,  and the food was lovely.

After lunch and some shopping,  we walked through the streets and did some more shopping, and eventually decide to get the U-Bahn back to the hotel.  We got on the train ok,  and then I misread the map and thought we were going the wrong way so we got off the train  but we were right so we got on the next train and found our way back to our station,  StadtMitte.  We were a bit early to go to the hotel so we had a coffee in a cafe and then walked to the hotel to collect our cases and get a taxi up to the airport.

The taxi was a bit of a squash as we had a lot of cases,  so I ended up with a case on my lap which was not particularly comfortable.   The plan was to meet Bev H off her flight and then all get on a minibus to Poland.  But trying to explain to the taxi driver that we wanted to go to arrivals was challenging.  Obviously,  we had just come out of a hotel and all had cases,  so he presumed we didn’t understand each other and really wanted to take us to departures.  Eventually I decided to give my German a go and was able to tell him,  my friend is flying from Amsterdam and we want to meet her.  I was really rather proud of this as without it, I am not sure where we would have ended up.

We did find BevH off her flight,  and then found our minibus driver,  who took the 5 of us, plus a Polish guy who was coming home from Australia,  over to Poland.  It was really useful having the Polish guy in the bus as he was able to translate for the driver.   We had been driving for about an hour when the roads got really bad,   incredibly bumpy and we all assumed we had arrived in Poland,  but no,  the driver told us,  these were German roads and the roads would be better in poland,  and he was right.  I was quite surprised, as I assumed German roads would all be excellent but these were incredibly bumpy and they were motorways.

We stopped at the Polish border to change some currency (no passport checks),  and then dropped off the Polish traveller in Szcezin and drove onto Goleniow.  It was abotu 10pm when we finally arrived at our hotel,  and Magda & Magda were waiting to greet us,   it was lovely to see them and they showed us into the restaurant where a meal was waiting for us,  so we had some cold meats and pasta for dinner and then off to bed.

Sunday

I woke up far too early as the light was coming in the window, after a battle with a broken shower, I was up and out by 8:45. It was a really lovely morning, so I walked down to the U Bahn station and went to meet Penny. I came up out of the station and had no idea which way Penny’s house was. I’ve been there before but I was completely disoriented. As I was pondering which way to go Detmar came running pass. Hello, he shouted, I am late and Penny will be along shortly.
Now I knew the direction to walk, so I headed along to Penny and it started to look familiar. Penny;’s car appeared, so she picked me up and we went off to get breakfast. Unfortunately, breakfast didn’t open till 10 so we had to find something else to do. We went to a local park to feed the ducks with Sascha. It was lovely to see Sascha again, as she had changed loads since August. She was chatting away, telling me all sorts of news, unfortunately all in German so I missed most of it.

After feeding the ducks we went to the restaurant, but it was reservations only so we couldn’t be seated. Sashca had spotted watermelon and was very excited by it, so the waitress was lovely and gave her a piece before we left. We were now a bit stumped, but headed into town and found a really nice place in Kreuzberg. I had pancakes and syrup, not very german but really delicious. Penny had something with watermelon so Sascha was very happy.
After a leisurely breakfast, Penny took me back to my hotel to get some warmer clothes, as it was decidedly chilly. I phoned the others to try and meet up with them, but they were lost somewhere near the televison tower. Penny then took me over to the Brandenburg Gate where we were to meet our tour and I wondered if I would find the others when they suddenly appeared. They had taken the sensible option and got a taxi.

Holocaust Memorial

Berlin Wall

We were taking a tour so we stood around wondering how to join the tour,  it wasn’t particularly clear but we did end up heading off on a tour with Maria a Swedish Japanese actress who gave us a brilliant tour.  She showed us all around East Berlin,  covering the major sites and explaining the history of Berlin.  She was extremely interesting to listen to and the time passed quickly.   We were on the tour for 4 hours and it was rather chilly but other than the cold it was a great experience.  In the middle of the tour we stopped at a lovely cafe for hot chocolates made with real lumps of chocolate with hot frothy milk poured over the top – it was gorgeous.

Our tour finished on Unter Den Linden and just across the road was a gluwein stand,  so we had some gluwein,  and then wandered back through the streets to our hotel.
We were all a bit tired,  so we went swimming and recouperated for a while,  and then headed out for some dinner.   We found a lovely Italian restaurant and had a meal.   The waiter was very keen for us to try the special which was a truffle spaghetti,  Rob decided to try it with the rest of us opting  for the Pizza.  The waiter made the spaghetti at the table,  it was actually made on top of a parmesan cheese.  It was quite unusual,  and to be honest,  none of us particularly liked it,  but it was certainly unique,
After dinner we walked back to the hotel and sat in the lobby by a lovely fire.

Saturday

It’s 3am and I am lieing in bed waiting for the alarm to go off.  Eventually I decide the alarm is pointless and get up,  quick shower and dressed.  I am all ready to go by 3:30 and the taxi isn’t coming until 4.  I pace the floor, looking out of the window waiting for it to arrive.  After what seems like ages,  it arrives bang on time with Michelle about,  and we collect Rob and then head up to the airport.  When we arrive,  Dawn is already waiting in Starbucks.

We compare bags,  and whilst I had been worried abotu how much stuff I’d packed,  it appears I have nothing to worry about,  my bag is substantially smaller than everyone elses.

We are to check in at some electronic terminals,  but after Dawn has entered all teh details nothing happens,  so we head over to the desk and check in the old-fashioned way.   We collect our boarding passes and go upstairs and through security.  Its all fairly painless,  noone is frisked or has their bags searched.  Once in the terminal we discover it’s so early the coffee shop isn’t even open yet,  so we go into the bar for a round of coffees.  Amazingly there are people drinking pints at 5am….   A quick peruse of the shops and it’s time to find the gate and then board,   not too much waiting around which is nice.

The flight to Amsterdam is pretty mundane,we have a drink and some odd sandwiches which nobody eats,  it is a little bumpy coming into Amsterdam,   and whilst I am normally  a pretty nonchalant traveller I am a little nervous at one point.   We arrive in Amsterdam and trek to the center of the airport in search of pancakes or Pofitjires,  unfortunately there are none to be found so we end up with cake and coffee.  There are worse things to have for breakfast.   Around half past nine we decided to find the gate,  not realising that it’s quite far to that next gate.  We have to go through security again,  discarding all the water we had bought airside in Newcastle,   and then walk to the furthest point in the terminal,  but we get there just in time to board and are seated in the very very back row of the plane.    Fairly quickly we are coming into Berlin,  and we arrive at Tegal Airport on time or possibly even early.   We collect our bags and are out of the airport very quickly,  it’s the most unusual airport I’ve ever been in,  there are no long corridors to walk,  just straight off the plane and out the front door.  Nice and handy.

We pick up a taxi,  and head for the hotel.   It’s quite a nice drive, and we spot lots of landmarks on the way.  I desperately try and remember what things are and offer a running commentary.  Not sure if that’s a good thing or not!

On arrival at the hotel,  Rob & Bev get rooms, but Dawn and Michelle have to wait for there’s.  We all go up to check out the rooms we have and are very impressed,  they are lovely,  really big spacious apartments with seperate bedrooms and kitchen areas.  We have done well here!

We decide to go out and look for some food.  My Sister in law recommended a street called OranianStrasse and it’s just round the corner,  os off we go,  we find Oranian Strasse but it’s not very exciting,  lots of flats and really nothing very special.   We do find a nice restaurant and have some lunch, but I am wondering if we are at the wrong end of the street,  or I have got the wrong end of the stick.    After lunch we walk back to the hotel through some very Eastern European housing blocks.  It’s not very pretty but it’s quite interesting,  although I am a little disappointed that we didn’t see the excitement promised on OranianStrasse.

Michelle and Dawn check in and we all collapse for a while,  have a nap, swim etc,  and try and recover from the early start.  I update my blog and upload some photos.

We meet up around 8pm and sit in Michelle’s apartment for a few hours, putting the worlds to rights and discussing what we have seen off Berlin.   Later on we get hungry,  so we decide to head to FriedrichStrasse for some food.  We find FriedrichStrasse easily enough but everything is closed,  so we wander a little wondering where the restaurants are, and why Berlin seems so quiet.   I spot Pottsdammer Platz and we head over there.  It is a good call,  there is some life in the area,   food is available and Potsdammer Platz looks really impressive at night with mult coloured lights on the roof.   We are happy.  Our waitress is less happy,  but never mind,  eventually we get served and enjoy a healthy tea of chips and mayonaise.  Later,  much,  much later,   we get into a taxi and go back to the hotel,  only we don’t have the address for the hotel,  and we aren’t exactly sure where it is.  We are heading in the right general direction when the taxi driver cuts up another car,  and then the driver off that car gets out and shouts abuse at the taxi driver.  I am really wanting to get back to the hotel at this point!!

Fortunatly, we spot the correct street and find the hotel,   we head up to bed and get an early night (or not…..)

Last night we checked out the sights and sounds of Potsdammer Platz.  This is a very new modern area in what used to be no mans land.  It was very impressive and we had a good evening.  This morning,   I got up early and went to meet my sister in law and niece who live in Berlin,  and then met up with everyone else at lunchtime for a free walking tour of Berlin.  The tour was excellent,  our guide Maria showed us around Berlin and told us loads of history and stories and was extremely witty and entertaining.  It was an excellent way to see the city and we would all recommend it.   

I can’t begin to find the words to describe the day properly,  so I will just leave you with some photographs

HERE

My gorgeous hotel room

After a very early start,  we arrived at the hotel in Berlin just before lunchtime.  The hotel is beautiful,  it’s very new and very comfortable.  

Dawn testing out the kitchen

I could stay here for months,  it’s really really nice.  After we had settled in,  we decided to go for a walk and find some lunch.  We ended up at a nice restaurant where we had the biggest meals we have ever eaten.  Check out Robs burger!

Lunch

After lunch we walked back through the old East Berlin.  It was a real mixture of beautiful older buildings and less attractive blocks of flats.  

Buildings in Berlin

We saw lots of blocks of flats that looked like this

Blocks of Flats