Day18 - Thursday 26/09/2013 Leaving Berlin

An early start today - breakfast, pack suitcases, visit to ATM (at last we can use our euro), taxi to Tegel airport, and fly to London. It seems our tickets are still valid, unlike previous advice. It's raining again today.

Somehow 'we' have misplaced our tickets, but I have the email on the iPad, and this will suffice - thank heavens! Also, this is the first time I have passed through the metal detectors without a query or search of any kind. This makes a nice change!!! The whole process is stressful enough without being treated like a terrorist.

At Heathrow, we get our passports stamped again, hooray, collect our luggage, catch the courtesy bus around to the car rental terminal, and after some messing around, loaded up our car, and drove up the M1 to York.

After settling in to our room, we enjoy a counter meal at the adjoining pub, and have an early night, in anticipation of a big day in York tomorrow.

No photo opportunities today - too busy getting organised and navigating.

 

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Day 17 - Wednesday 25/09/2013 Discovering Berlin

There's no rain today - perfect for sightseeing and shopping. We buy a few souvenirs along Kurfurstendamm, come back to the hotel to check-in for our flights tomorrow, and then go to the train station for a trip to Alexanderplatz.

View of Berlin from Tower

Our first port of call is the Berliner Fernsehturm tower. There is a 360 degree view of Berlin, quite impressive. The views would also be impressive at night, with all the lights. Next we go shopping at the Galeria Kaufhof. They have a very cute Steiff bear sitting in a suitcase at a reduced price - right up my alley! Thanks for the tip, Audrey.

The card got a good workout there, and MOH says you're in big trouble when he gets back to work. Outside, they are setting up stalls for the Oktoberfest. Looks like fun, but we are leaving tomorrow.

View of Berlin from Tower

The Berliner tower, Alexanderplatz

From here we take the train back a few stations to get a closer look at the Brandenburg Gate. There are barriers and grandstands being erected along the main boulevard through the Tiergarten, so we can't get closeup pictures of the Victory Column.

We get some pictures of the Gate and continue walking back towards Alexanderplatz. There weren't too many people there, but when we moved aside to make room for a person in a wheelchair, I stepped on uneven paving and collapsed. In an effort to save the iPad, I injured my wrist, and one fingernail was bent in half and standing at a right angle to my finger.

Brandenburg Gate

Entrance to Galeria Kaufhof

Nothing appears broken, but I know my wrist is sprained. I purchase a wrist brace and analgesic cream from the Apotheke (chemist) and we head home, to the hotel, to get some ice. STS is worried that he will be called upon to assist with clothes changing, toileting and showering, now that I am one-handed. Only joking, STS!!

Setting up for Oktoberfest

Carousel at Oktoberfest

 

My new Steiff teddy bear

 

My new Steiff teddy bear

 

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Getting to Poland

So we arrived at Heathrow at 11:30pm, and needed to be checked in at British Airways by 12:30 for our flight to Berlin. Sounds easy, but by the time we did the passport thing and collected our bags, it was too late to get across to the other terminal. At Singapore airport we were assured that alternative arrangements would be made if we missed our flight, but the people at Heathrow were initially reluctant to help. We persuaded Singapore Airlines to arrange another flight to Berlin, but we have now been told by British Airways that we have had to forfeit our return flight to London later in the month. On top of that, we got our car in Berlin later than anticipated, and had to drive in the dark to Ciocia's (Auntie's) house.

MOH driving on the autobahn - very fast

MOH was marvellous with his driving, particularly since we had a manual car. He didn't brief his navigator (me) with the directions and maps, but found his way though Berlin and onto the correct freeway to get us to Poland and on to Szprotawa (Shpro-tova), where Ciocia (pronounced Cho-chu, short vowels) lives. I think he enjoyed the drive, especially driving at 140-160km/hr in Germany on the autobahn (freeway). No-one seems to observe the speed limits there. We had a few minor problems and hair-raising incidents- not being able to put the car in reverse, and driving down the wrong side of the road, forgetting to give way at roundabouts, bumping into curbs etc. I am still freaking out every time we drive around, especially with oncoming traffic, but will have to get used to it. We still have a few weeks to go. I'm just glad that I'm not doing the driving!

We were exhausted when we arrived at Ciocia's at about 9:30pm local time, so after a warm welcome and embrace, and a talk to Ciocia and her daughter, Wanda, who came to see us, we had showers, and a long overdue sleep.

 

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