Uploading picture files onto here is a doddle these days. Some time ago I was in despair at the time taken to put pictures on this blog. Sometimes it was impossible. Then, I called the company which provides t'internet access for me to complain. Then, a man came from BT and put in a new phone connection from the pole in my neighbours garden, and my account was moved to a new set-up. Blimey it took just over a minute to squirt these 27 pictures up the line
Philip and I went off to Berlin for a few days last week, to have a look-see, and try out our German. It was a good trip although the weather let us down badly. We flew Squeezy Jet and headed for town on the train from the airport, having bought a 3 day Berlin Welcome Card which gave us unlimited travel, and discounts at lots of places. This panel on the train couldn't be clearer, but please note that in Germany not all trains run to time. It's 12.55, the train was due at 12.53 and we're still a minute off
The Hotel Pension Kastanienhof was good, very welcoming and in a good quiet street not far from a surviving section of the wall, which we checked out that afternoon. This was the East side, from which many tried to escape
and this is the "no man's land" escapers needed to cross without being shot. It seems the space was completely clear then
During our walk we came across this little gem, complete with Carlos Fandango super wide wheels, a real memory jerker for Grandad, much to Philips amusement, tho' he did like the car
This is a typical street thereabouts, and young Philip noted that it was all very forbidding and austere looking, a sentiment I agreed with, even without the rain the architecture wasn't exactly light
One of our "must do's" was the Fernsehturm, but not, we thought, in weather like this. That ball towards the top is a restaurant and viewing gallery. Oh well, maybe tomorrow
We were amused by this Art Gallery, made of a stack of shipping containers. Imagine what UK planners and nimby's would make of that!
Graffiti and murals were everywhere too, this was one of the better ones we found
It was on our way to the German Technology Museum, superbly brilliant place, with a DC3 Dakota from the Berlin Airlift days parked on the roof.
http://sdtb.de/Home.623.0.html is the website for it
Inside we were fascinated by, among other exhibits, some reconstructions of early computers dating back to the mid - 1940's, worked on by Konrad Zuse. If only he and Alan Turing could have worked together. This is an early electro-mechanical device with about 6 trillion miles of wire to make it work
On the 3rd and 4th floors were real aeroplanes, including this MIG 15, an A A gun and, in the background, the remains of a crashed Lancaster bomber recovered from a lake
Philip was fascinated by it all, especially this lump of moon rock
Part of the museum complex is railway related in an old engine shed, or Lokschuppen, where blowing down was forbidden, according to this sign and my dictionary
Back out in the rain, here comes our underground train, becoming and overground train. We were glad it wasn't Henry from Thomas the Tank Engine (You remember, he's the one who stayed in the tunnel 'cos it was raining)
We also took in Checkpoint Charlie, a complete tourist trap. There was, however, a very evocative display of pictures and stories about the wall, including some quite harrowing scenes of would-be escapers being shot. Even though the wall came down 9 years before Philip was born, he'd heard enough about it to be interested
Sat in a nearby café enjoying Kaffe and Kuchen, or Diet Coke in Philip's case, this group of Trabants came by, leaving a nice blue fug behind as the lights went to green and they puttered off
Later we went to see the Currywurst Museum, advertised by this contraption
That afternoon was the only time the very top of the TV tower was out of the cloud. Fine weather was forecast for next day so we didn't go up then, doh! Should have known better
When we eventually did go up the tower, the ground was only just visible, but as it was the last morning we had little alternative. We were there at opening time and enjoyed a smashing breakfast while going round in the rotating restaurant, at 1 circuit an hour, which we managed.
He looks as though he's enjoying it, too
The Brandenburg gate had to be visited, and the resident Hooded Crows photographed
Best visit was to the Aquarium down by the zoo, where Philip spent ages trying to get a selfie with these huge Amazonian fish about to eat him
I can honestly say that Currywurst is not for me, but Philip enjoyed his very much. In this café the Wurst was chopped up and covered in Tomato Ketchup with a Chilli powder dusted over. You can also take it in a bread roll, if you must
Finally, on the way back to the airport, we looked out for and photographed this different apartment block first seen on the way in. As you can see the façade and windows are at an angle but the window styles are horizontal, must be weird to live in and look out of
Can't resist showing you the 4th batch of Father Christmasses made to sell at the village shop to raise cash for the Xmas lights - I decided to make some little helpers this time, too. They're selling well apparently - an idea bought back from another Germany Trip - to Trier a couple of years ago (See blog for 17/12/2012)
The New Moon was a bit special this evening, I did remember to turn over the few pence I had in my pocket
