Wednesday 12th in Berlin

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Today is HOT and HUMID and we slept in to avoid the heat. But not for long as we went out so Peggy could have a last look at Nefertiti and the Neue National Gallery Museum’s Egyptian collection. While she was communing with the Egyptians, John rented a bike and went off to find a hat he could wear in the sun that was cool as in breezy. Both accomplished their respective objectives and met up to go to the Reichstag for lunch atop the dome. When we finally got in and up we were amazed at the combination of historic with modern. The dome over the parliamentary chambers is arranged with mirrors looking down so you can see the representatives in action. And there is a fine restaurant, Kafer Berlin, on the roof with views of the city (and a way to skip the lines coming into the building and going to the roof). After our excellent meal with beer and wine we walked through the Brandenburg Gate to pick up a cab.

On our way to the Reichstag we had a cab driver who was Turkish and a firm believer in Endogan despite 40 years living in Germany. Nice guy but we disagreed politely. And then when we were leaving to go back to the hotel we got into his cab again … and all was well at the end of the ride. He said that we all live on this planet together (not in countries) and we all need freedom and to get along. Great way to end our visit to the Reichstag and a walk through the Brandenburg Gate.

The temperature was over 90 with similar percent humidity so we stayed in the hotel room for a few hours before going out again for an evening stroll. Our plan was to go to one of the nice areas near the Spree River … but it began to rain and storm and thunder and lightning and we panicked … and ended up at a Japanese restaurant across the street. We started at the the Thai restaurants nearby but they were not truly hospitable and had to unlock the door to let us in against the wind.

We watched as trees blew wildly and rain poured down onto the cars and street. The Japanese restaurant itself was not the top of the line and the staff was not the happiest. We went to the closest door as the rain began and were motioned to go around the corner. As we scurried to the other door we saw a chair whipping down the sidewalk. Peggy tried desperately to get a waiter’s attention … finally by holding her hand up in front of his face and motioning toward the chair as it swept down the sidewalk. He didn’t seem to care … something that seemed to be common to the rest of the staff at the restaurant. They were not our experience of Japanese staff at restaurants but more likely angry that they weren’t home and cozy on the couch watching TV.

We had a nice version of gyoza and California rolls and two Asahi draughts and sat watching the rain and ind and lightning, waiting for the big tower to be hit. It has been abandoned (there is a restaurant on the top) in the face of the storm so we were approaching this scene as a disaster movie script. The tower (11^th highest building in Europe) gets hit and falls into the street. As the rain and wind died down we decided to scooted back to our hotel across the street.

This has been a nice day, slow and focused on food, beauty and calm. And then there was the storm. No matter what one thinks, climate change is here. To bed early as tomorrow we go to Potsdam and the palace on the 7:30 train.

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