13th September

Shems:
Helle left us to sleep-in this morning. Its surprising how much Michael and Helle's has started to feel like home!

We still needed to work out where to go next - Italy would be good but the weather looks bad and the are having lots of storms. This weather is forecast to sweep across the Adriatic making us less keen on Bosnia and Croatia too. We spent the morning with two laptops on, furiously trying to think of somewhere to go and how to get there. Suddenly, Helle had an idea. Jacob, Michaels good friend (and also a pilot) was driving to Berlin for work so he might be able to give us a lift. A swift phone call, and it was all arranged!

Helle and I then went to the supermarket to get lunch. She treated us to a final typical Danish lunch, soused herrings. They were very interesting: salty, sour and sweet, and with a slighty sticky texture. One variety is in a mild curry sauce and eaten with boiled egg - it was really good to be able to try this dish before we left.

Helle then drove us to Roedby (pronouncing this placename correctly seperates the Danes from the chaff) via really beautiful and interesting sights. The journey was a little sad too, as we will miss the lovely people and friends we have made in Denmark. Jacob met us at the ferry and the sailing was quite short. It turned out the he was based in Newcastle for sometime, and well attuned to the fine - and not so fine - aspects of Geordie culture.

Once we arrived in Puttgarten, we got into Jacob's German car and drove to Berlin. We chatted all the way about the way about this and that, and it was a thoroughly pleasant trip. After five to six hours we arrived at Wedding, a Berlin suburb, where Jacobs apartment was. We were very grateful to Jacob for giving us this ride. Chris and I then headed towards the centre. It felt very strange to be in a city late at nght, after being in sleepy Lolland and the almost comatose Fejoe. I walked along the street, tightly clutching my valuables and simultaneously developing some sort of nervous tic. Thankfully the first hostel we found had a whole apartment available for the price of two dorm beds!

---

---