Week 4: Berlin

After battling with our luggage on the bus and stairs on the UBahn, we arrived at our hotel and checked in.  We went out exploring with Allison and had trouble finding a German restaurant.  Eventually we settled for Italian, of which there were many.  We walked home via the river after checking out a lot of places we would return to.

 On Saturday 9 June 2012, Allison arrived at our hotel and we went out to breakfast.  We walked down Fredrickstrasse to the Brandenburg Gates.  Unfortunately we could not walk through as fences and TV screens were up for the Euro Cup.

We got to the Reichstag, but could not go up the dome as you have to book online.  Marc made his first attempt at "this is a famous thing" pose, rather unconvincingly.  More oomph is required.

Notice Allison is wearing her "Dan" outfit which we had brought over from
Matt in Sydney.  It got three airings over the week.

We went on a river cruise down the Spree, which was lovely.

We met up with Allison's friend Jay from Liverpool and wandered around various stretches of the Wall.  We saw "the death strip" which shows the inner and outer wall, then went to the Eastside Gallery. Famous artists  painted a kilometre long stretch in 1989, and there was a small section that others could write on.  How could Allison resist?

We ate our only "German" meal at a hotel that night and it was very good.  Potato dumplings!  Mmmm!!

Sunday 10 June 2012:  We got the UBahn to a flea market a bit out of the city and had "Berlin's best waffles" for breakfast.

 
The photo below is out of sequence - it is the death strip mentioned before.

This is the World Clock in Alexanderplatz.  We met Ally here almost everyday after her German classes.

We walked down Unter Den Linden (Under the Trees) and spent hours at the Museum at Checkpoint Charlie.  Here, Marc and I are escaping to the West.  The museum was very interesting, with exhibits of people's attempts to escape to the West amongst other things.  We didn't leave until closing at 10pm.

Monday 11 June 2012:  Totally exhausted after our big day yesterday and just could not get going.  Had a lovely breakfast with Allison and had a tour of some graffiti highlights, although it is hard not to see them.  We went to Victoria Park, the highest natural peak in Berlin (at 60 m), which was lovely, but went to the hotel when Allison went to class to do some washing, sort out the internet and rest.

Tuesday 12 June 2012:
We went with Allison to the Australian Embassy to get a new passport, then after breakfast, went up the Berlin TV tower.

Checkpoint Charlie and museum from before.

View from TV Tower.

In the afternoon after Ally had gone to class, we went to Museum Island and got a three day pass to see the 5 museums.  this is the Old National Gallery, featuring an exhibit on Frederick the Great.

After this we looked at the Typography of Terror, and outdoor display of the rise of the Nazi's.  After dinner we went to a bar and listened to some jazz with some friends of Allison's.

Wednesday 13 June 2012:  This is inside the Berliner Dome, the cathedral.  Magnificent.

   The Jewish Synagogue.

 
A view of Tacheles, a favourite of Allison's, where many artists have studios.

Lunch at Princess Cheesecake with Jay who was leaving for England the next day.

When Ally went to class, we went to the Boda Museum and the Pergamon Museum and below is the Pergamon Altar.

The Ishtar Gates, made of tiles, which I think was my favourite part of any of the museums.  The photo does not do the colour justice.

A view of the Berliner Dome.  Great views from the dome.

Had Thai for dinner - again, very hard to find German food.  After this Ally and Marc escorted me to the hostel and they went off to watch Germany play in the Euro Cup and walked around Tiergarten.

Thursday 14 June 2012:
After bagels for Breakfast, we went to the Reichstag and walked up the spiral walkway to the top of the dome.  It had a great audio guide.

The mirrors reflect light into the Plenary Chamber below and the funnel lets out hot air.

We listened to an organ recital in the church in this square. The French and German domes are here.

We had Bratwurst for lunch, which was really good.  Notice the vendor carries his bbq strapped around him.

In the Neue Museum we saw these wonderful hieroglyphics on Egyptian tombs and Nefertiti's bust.  (No photo's allowed.

Room 77 for dinner and apparently the best burgers in town.  The "Plump and Juicy Boys" played and were very enjoyable.  Marc went to Ally's place and did the Dad thing (fixing the bike).

Friday 15 June 2012:  Had a lovely long wander after breakfast.

found our way to a beer bar by the river and had a cool beverage.

Farewell to Ally in the Ubahn before class.  Collected luggage and caught a taxi to Tegal Airport.  A few hours at Heathrow, then off home.  Thanks Ian for minding the car and picking us up.  Had a great week with Ally in Berlin.

Week 3; Newnham, Gloucestershire.

Week 3; Newnham, Gloucestershire.

On late Friday afternoon we arrived in Newnham to be met by Bev and Phil, who are now good friends after their two visits to us on the coast.  They had made a few changes to their lovely home since we were there two years ago.  We also went down to the church to peruse the 50's exhibition raised for the Queen's Jubilee.  It was fabulous, ranging from books to kitchenalia, and had the coronation playing on a large screen.

Saturday 2 June 2012:  After a lovely breakfast served on Bev's lovely china, we set off for Hay-on-Wye to the world famous literature festival.  Hay is filled with beautiful second hand books and antique shops and is a mecca for book enthusiasts.  Here is a beautiful book store, with Bev looking around.

As you can see below, it was a bit chilly!

This flower stall was fabulous and doing a roaring business.

A lovely touch outside a shop in Hay.

On our way home we had dinner at this lovely pub.

Steak and Ale pie!!!! Ahhhhhh!!!

On Sunday we watched the River Pageant on TV, then some friends of Bev and Phil's came to dinner.  Best sausages I have ever tasted.  Unlike anything we get in Australia.  Utterly superb.

Monday 4 June 2012:  Two other couples came to join us for Pimms and a light lunch before the street fare at 2pm.  It was rather cold, but we soldiered on.  Phil's paintings were on display in the village hall along with other's, but his really were up there with the best.

Following this, we drove to Upton-on-Severn and had a look around the town, before moving on to Tewkesbury.  We had afternoon tea (with scones of course), then went on to dinner at a pub.  Afterwards we went to the Roses Theatre to watch the Jubilee Concert on the big screen there.  Despite some of the big names being somewhat beyond their prime, it was a great experience.

Tuesday 5 June:  Stephen E J Holmes's birthday.  We drove to Gloucester where Marc had a swim and I looked around the shops.  From there we drove to Cheltenham, a beautiful city full of Georgian buildings and elegant streetscapes.  We had lunch at Tiffens cafe and looked around the up-market shops.

Wednesday 6 June 2012: We drove to Cirencester, which is south of Gloucester to see the Corinium Museum from 3500BC to Saxon times.  It was very interesting and the cafe was exceptional.  We went back to Cheltenham to check out some more shops and returned to Newnham.  We then went out to the Queen's Head at Longford for dinner.  Another great pub.

Thursday 7 June 2012:  We got up a little earlier than usual and drove to Northam, near Bidewell in Devon.  It took us about 2 and a half hours.  We met up with Hannah and Chris who are coming to visit us in October 2012, then we are spending a month there in 2014!.  We had a great time with them and are sure we will get on famously!

We returned to Newnham where Bev and Phil's daughter had arrived.  We met Hannah, Grant, Olivia and Grace and had a delightful meal together.  Now we have met all the family!

Friday 8 June 2012:  We got up early and after farewelling Bev and Phil, were on our way at 6:40am.  We really enjoying our stay.  Fabulous as always!

We arrived well ahead of our flight, and eventually found it was delayed for an hour and a half.  We had a good second (English) breakfast, and are glad we did with all the delays.  We spent the time catching up with Words With Friends, and finally took off for Berlin where we were met by an very excited Allison!!!