Berlin

Monday night we arrived into Berlin, and stayed at a little apartment Nat had found. Up for breakfast, and a quick walk through the construction zones of Berlin, we finally made it to the bustling and happening Berlin that everyone raves about - in glorious sunshine.

Facinated by the East German chubby and animated Amplemann, we stopped off at the shop selling all the traffic-light-man gear. We then walked along Unter den Linden to the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of the divison of the city between East and West.

We lined up for the dome and rooftop veiws of the city from the Reichstag building, before walking through Tierpark to central Berlin, where we following the Berlin Wall remaining cobbled path to Checkpoint Charlie.

The Checkpoint Charlie Museum was a collection of stories and accounts, and artifacts from the experince of the city divided. A fairly confusing museum, with no distinct layout or chronology...I don't know if I understand what the wall was all about any more after this visit than before! Loads of accounts of attempts to break through, to escape, and reactions to the tearing down of the wall were powerful, nonetheless.

After this, and a look at the East Side Gallery, which is the longest portion of the not so well preserved wall, we treked over town to catch up with Nick, for a beer or two. Was lovely to see Nick, who I haven't seen his 30th in Sydney.

Another mad and stressful dash to an airport for a flight I came so close to missing, I was back in London late, late on Tuesday night.

Oktoberfest and German roadtrip

Sunday saw another day at Oktoberfest for Nat, Jess and Andrew, and I, with an early start to secure a good spot in one of the busiest beerhalls. The Hofbräu beerhall is known as the Aussie tent, and has to be done!

We got there just as the crowds were gathering, and thus took some time to walk through the amusement ride section of the sprawl that is the Fest (and to build up a 10am thirst for a stein!). The four of us then got down to business, selected our table, ordered our steins, and tipped our already grumpy beer wench.

As the hall started getting rowdier, and the beer kept flowing, the fun began. The band kicked off, and then my memory grows a little hazy!

A challenge was set for each of us, and after completing mine, I decided to help Andrew verify his. Setting him the challenge of finding someone in the hall, apart from the two of us, who was from Ballarat, he had returned after a misson stating success. We set off to confirm, and wandered among the Fanatics group - who claimed there were two Ballaratians with them...somewhere! And there in the middle of all the riotous beerhall were Melinda and Brad (Hi Marg, Murray and Craig!)!! Andrew was quite stunned that I knew the people from home, without knowing they were going to be there. But people from Ballarat are everywhere!! Hee hee.

The next day we checked out of Munich and loaded into our Merc (when in Germany...) for a roadtrip to Berlin, through countryside Germany. Our first stop was several hours down the road at Regensburg, for lunch. Walking around the medieval city to stretch our legs, before jumping back into the car to drive to Dresden.

A pretty city, with reconstructed architecture after WWII bombings destroyed much of the city, we walked though the Zwiger, past the Frauenkirche Church, and round to the city centre. A quick snack stop, and we were off again, gliding at 200km/hr on the autobahn to Berlin.

Oktoberfest and Dachau

Thursday afternoon I left work early and made the trek into town, and then out to Stanstead. Meeting the Wilsons on the train, the three of us flew to Munich, where we met Nat in the airport for our first beer.

We spent our first evening in the dorm at the Party People campsite, and chattered our way through a very cold night. Breakfast the next morning in the mist, before heading into town, checking into out hotel, Pension Margit, and then to Beerfest!

Walking along the main drag, taking in the sites of Bavarian garb and beerhalls aplenty, we begun the day with a rocket speed ride on the EuroStar rollarcoaster. Then it was straight to the beerhalls.

Soaking in the atmosphere, struggling with the weight of a steiner, we began our amber consumption. Tipping our wench to ensure ongoing service, we even inadvertently ordered a chicken. Walking around after our sitting at one of the long woodern tables, taking in the sunshine, many litres of beer heavier!

Today we wandered around central Munich, taking in the city streets and the Rathause. Watching the glockenspiel, before a German lunch, we then joined the walking tour to Dachau. A train and a bus took us out to the first Nazi concentration camp, where our guide, Ceasar, took us through the memorial.

Hearing about the forced work camp, the conditions, the horror...walking through the reconstructed barracks, the prison cells, and the crematoriam...the power of the place with Never Forget as the lasting words - yet the saddest part of this visit is that the world hasn't learnt, and these horrors are replicated - all over, over and over.

Time for more beer...

The longest Wednesday ever!

My Wednesday this week really started late Tuesday night, when I set out to Heathrow on the tube. After dinner with Jen and Jes, and finalising my packing (I think my smallest haul of all time!!), I had decided to go out on the train that night before the last tube, and wait for my 4.30am check-in time - instead of paying 25 quid for a minicab and getting up at 3am in the morning. Sleeping in the lounge in the airport was a much better option!! Hee, hee! Madness, but there were lots doing it, and it was only for 4 hours!

So, with maybe 20 minutes shut eye, if that, 4.30am come around soon enough, and I was checked into my flight to Frankfurt and San Francisco. A one hour flight to Germany, and the ridiculous security checks later, I was on the big jumbo to the other side of the globe.

Again, not much sleep there, for the 10 and a half hour flight - I just can never get comfortable enough to sustain getting off to sleep!! - but arriving in SFO at 12 noon on the ever going Wednesday! Would this day ever end!

A tad delirious, I am so proud that I know the way to go from the airport to Nicole's area. Nicole came to pick me up from the bus - how exciting!! We had been working it out, and the last time we saw each other was her last trip to Aus, back in 2002! It's so good to see her and catch up. Especially considering the next time I see her she will have transformed into an Aussie, and will be living the good life in Melbourne!

Catching up, and trading news, while I was shaking off the tiredness, I managed to get through the afternoon, and a yummy Mexican dinner - becoming a tradition when I visit - noone seems to do Mexican like the Americans! I made it to 8pm! Not bad! Finally put that day to bed!

Now we are ready to hang out in the sunny, and yet foggy, city, before I have to face my next 12 hour flight.....but where am I going??!! Shhhhh, it's a surprise!!!

(Written and saved as draft at correct time, but will be published when my secret is out on Saturday!!!! How exciting!! Hee, hee!)

Tokyo-Frankfurt-London

Big travel day yesterday - about 12 and a half hours flight time, plus transfers, train time, waiting in airports. But I am finally in London!

The end of my time in Japan, and it's cute, precise and efficient ways - the heated toilet seats, clean and safe streets, inforced recycling (the provisions for every possible type of waste, you can't not recycle), and picking out what you'll have to eat by pointing to the wax replica of the dish in the front window. I was quite surprised at the prevalence of smoking, and especially smoking in restaurants in Tokyo - bit of a shock compared to Aus, although here in London and through the airport in Germany, smoking was everywhere too, so perhaps I just need to get used to it.

I flew with Lutfhansa, and it was strange being around mainly caucasians again, and still not understanding what was going on! Lots of things and people seems "so European" - I guess I'll have to get over that too! Hee hee!

Met at the airport by Charles, which was great to see him. He also saved me from the luggage nightmare that I have managed to bring on for myself, which was very lucky. I think I am developing a complex about my damsel-in-distress propensity around Charles, especially after arriving into Bangkok sober this time and realising what he managed to organise when I was otherwise incapacitated...hmmmm. I am staying with Chucky for the weekend, so thanks heaps Charles! Looks like he will get to show me the ropes in London.

So, here I am. In old London town. I have no idea what I am doing, what I am going to do, and even have little clues about London itself - I don't even have a guide book. Talk about jumping without a parachute. Bring it on!