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Published: March 31st 2010
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Again, due to difficulty finding internet this is a tad late, but you will get used to this.
We have left Berlin and what a place…worthy of its own Travel Bob entry.
After leaving Cologne we ventured to Hannover and found the only campsite, which was as dodgy as one can imagine. It had about 10 campervan spots, the rest were permanents. After finding Lola a nice spot under a tree and next to the water ski lake, we headed for the bar (yes surprising it had one). On entering there was one group of local folk that stepped straight out of Deliverance. After the quickest beer imaginable we headed for the safety of Lola. After 1 night we were on our way again and after a drive through Hannover we headed for Berlin. Might I add here that Lola’s neck (steering) is getting a tad stiff.
So, we made it to Berlin and started the Vietnam tour (sorry, inside joke) of searching for a decent campsite. After 2 attempts, where at the second we were met by Warren from Something about Mary, we headed to Potsdam to a campsite with a good write up. On arrival, this
was a good one….bar, restaurant, unlimited hot water, shuttle bus to the station, on a lake etc etc.
So we settled in for a dinner in the restaurant before heading to Berlin on Monday. Found out that they have a connection with a mechanic so asked if Lola’s stiff neck could be looked at. This was then booked for Wednesday by the Manager of the campsite who assured me the mechanic could speak English.
Monday, we headed for Berlin, a 1 hour tram then train ride. We took the ‘free’ walking tour and were blown away by the history, or present, I think. It was incredible, amazing and sad to think what we were hearing happened when we were alive; usually the history stuff is reserved for grandparents and parents generation. After the tour we found a bier garten (beer garden) and had a beer whilst enjoying the first bit of sun for umpteen months. I got down to a t-shirt but Em would not let me display my pasty and still bare chest.
Tuesday we headed back to Berlin to undertake a tour of Sachsenhausen, the concentration camp outside Berlin with the same tour guide from
Monday. What a sobering and powerful day. A visit to a concentration camp is one we would recommend to anyone, and this was a supposedly a mild one. It was definitely a quiet beer after the tour.
Wednesday we had a relax day as we had to take Lola to the mechanic. After a sleep in we went to find the mechanics do not speak any English. Mmm…how do I explain stiff steering? Yes it did cross my mind but after some incredible charade manoeuvres the stiff neck was diagnosed and we had to return Thursday for the fitting of a new part. (How the London mechanics missed this is beyond me, but it was London I guess).
So Thursday and as the vertebrae (part) was not be available until the afternoon, we took the bikes on a tour of Sancoussi Park in Potsdam where we were threatened with being fined for riding the bikes in the park…fancy that. We did a tour of the Neiu Palace whilst wearing slippers over our shoes so as not to mark the marble floors, so effectively we ice skated through the Palace. Back to the mechanic in the afternoon where new
vertebrae was installed with remarkable results (I can turn left now without having to strain Tango and Cash).
Friday we headed back to Berlin for a full day off Domes, Museums, pubs and sights. First stop, the Reichstag. After lining up for 1.5 hours we finally got inside to be greeted by the security checkpoint. Usually, this would not be a problem, but enter Em and her handbag. I might add here that the Chancellor was in doing some presentation so security was tight. After I made my way through the checkpoint, I turned to see Em being asked by security if that was her bag and why was there a knife in there…..to cut the tomatoes for lunch of course. After some funny looks and exchanges and Em turning the colour of beetroot (I was standing 15 feet away mind you as I was not going to the slammer for her knife), the knife was confiscated to be picked up on our way out. After the Reichstag, we went to Topographie des Terrors (pretty graphic record of the Gestapo and SS), Checkpoint Charlie, the East Side Gallery (paintings on the Wall), walk around the Mitte district and then
to a crazy squatters pub before we headed for home.
We are now in the Black Forest. We will post a new entry in the coming days, however as a sneak peak it involves Lola getting a piggy back, a hotel for a night at no charge, and a ride in a Ford Focus RS (top of the range sporty car) at break neck speeds through Furtwagon.
Love to all,
Ben, Em & Lola.
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Nic & Mark
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Guten tag !
Hey guys - great to hear your news. Ben, your hair is getting as long as Noah's!! Berlin sounds amazing, but Italy will be much better.....not least the company!! We can't wait, hope there will be sun there for us. Poor Lola, sounds like she has had a rough ride!! Carry on enjoying, keep safe. We love hearing your news. Much love, Nix and Marky Mark xxxxxx