A word of warning- Don't have a leaving do from work when you will be flying to Germany at 3am the next morning. I can only learn from my mistakes.
After a hazy first few minutes as my mother slapped me round the face and showered me with cold water in an initially unsuccessful bid to get me out from my bed, I eventually found my way to the car and then onto the plane. When the hangover began to kick in I retired to the bathroom- my holiday had begun.
In fairness, because I had slept pretty much all the wa from London Luton to the German capital, I ended up being not too short of sleep. Our taxi driver picked us up at Schonefeld, and then told crappy jokes and pointless anacdotes for the half hour into the centre.
The first day was spent waking up. A coffee was in dire need for us, and then on to the Checkpoint Charlie museum. A pokey museum in an old whouse adjacent to the notorious crossing from East to West. It was interesting, although I still felt there was better to come from this town.
A kip was in order for the afternoon, to save strength for the Berliner Kindl and sauerkraut at a Movenpick along the Kurfürstendamm, Berlin's premier street.
On Friday, we saw some of the bigger sights. The Brandenburger Tor was even more impressive in real life than it was on telly, the Reichstag held the imposing nature of an efficient ex-dictatorship, and the Holocaust Memorial was harrowing and interesting at the same time. Much thought was given to the meanings in it creation.
German food was brilliant in the evening in the old Nikolaiviertel area of Berlin, just off from the Spree. Meatballs, bratworst, goulash, venison, we tried it all! The ambience in the old Bavarian pub was a joy, also.
Halfway through now. Saturday was probably the most hectic but also the most enjoyable of the holiday. Up early for the Judische Museum, I was enthralled by the exhibits, and the architecture of the whole place is something that has to be seen. Some guy had designed it to be edgy and unforgiving, and the whole place wreaked of rememberence. After several hours strolling the museum, I was accosted by a strange woman demanding I get out. It turned out to be my mum, and we were then rushing to get back to the apartment to get on with the rest of the day.
A stroll with Sue to Alexanderplatz was followed by a mad rush to get to the Olympiastadion for the football (tickets I had given up hope of receiving). Onto the S-Bahn and changing to the U-Bahn, I hardly had any idea where I was going until I got there. The old place looked like it had been built in gladitorial times, and the atmosphere- even in a half full stadium- was the same. Viv and John joined me later, foolishly having followed the U-Bahn all the way, adding 20 minutes onto their journey. Hertha won 2-0, but sadly I didn't make the action in time to see any of the goals!
Another rush back to the apartment to get ready for the meal. The Dumpiches of Berlin came together with the Dumpiches of Geddington, and the grappa und weisse flowed! So did the food and it seemed that I had become a disposal bin for my sister as I polished off half her meal.
We went on to the town and experience salsa Berlin-style! Viv asked for some techno and The Hoff but her requests fell on deaf ears. Two gay Turks tried to talk jive with me and I was having none of it!(No, I don't care if you have 'got it on down' in Manchester, OK?)- The oldies (Viv and John) couldn't last the pace and I wasn't staying out by myself (makes a change) so we headed back.
Sunday was spent getting as much in as possible. I searched for another chiliworst (the one I had eaten at the football had been magical) to no avail, so made do with a Heisse Schokolade (Hot Chocolate) in a cafe in Potsdammer Platz. How in turned into a chocolate and milkshake sundae between me ordering it and receiving it is beyond me!
