I forward Chris’ photo and you will see that I finally got to eat my pigs knuckle. This is something you definitely can’t do alone so excellent to be able to share it on Chris’ last night. As I said before we had a weird booking for the Reichstag at 10pm, it being the absolutely only time we could get a booking. So off we went to dinner before. We went to another of the Schwabian (Munich) type places with the beer and the famous pork. I have to say it wasn’t my choice and I put up a bit of a fight but had to concede that it was absolutely delicious. The picture tells the story!
From there we made our way up to the Reichstag. Both of us were wondering if we were vaguely insane for doing it but having the booking we thought we’d better go. And it was absolutely and totally fantastically amazing. The dome itself is just such a beautiful structure and the view at night was amazing. Chris took the best photos (as always) and I’ll forward a couple to you. It was a grand finale for Chris’ time in Berlin and a very successful grande finale at that. We finally got home after 11pm and only then because we decided not to wait the 20 mins for the bus and jumped into a taxi.
It was a very early morning this morning with Chris leaving not too long after 6am. I couldn’t settle back to bed, being a bit twitchy, so I got up and do what I do when anxious and cleaned the apt. I then left far too early for my coffee and had a long day stretching before me. And a big day it was…very big. I thought when Chris left I’d slow down a bit but that certainly wasn’t the case today. I firstly decided to go to Treptower Park which Hammy had highly recommended and it was indeed quite splendid. Difficult to get to…it was a 3 bus manoeuvre and even then I didn’t get off when I should have and flew way past the park and had to walk back. Anyhow, a lovely park in it’s own right and gorgeous to walk through. Autumn leaves, lovely lakes and fields etc…really lovely. Then there was the Russian War Memorial. God is that ever a massive monument to Russian tragedy and nationalism. Quite a bit of walking involved there too!!
After that I headed back to town by fair means and foul…my little legs did a lot of the work along with 2 busses and a tram. I then had a bee in my bonnet to go to the Old Jewish quarter and explore that. But first I stopped and got some lunch…thank God for the break I must say. Then it was walk, walk again. I went to Haus Schwarzenberg where Anne Franks House memorial is and courtyards full of serious street art. Fascinating area. From there I went to Hackesche Hofe which was the centre of the Jewish Quarter. It is a beautiful area that is now full of gorgeous shops of all description, with wonderful 1920s buildings. It is endlessly interesting and therefore totally exhausting. After all this I was so tired but I had no idea how to get home…I walked and walked to find a suitable bus to take me somewhere/ anywhere. By this time it was dark so very hard to keep referring to my trusty map. I was also desperate to go to the loo. I finally got myself to Potsdamer Platz only to find that my bus from there was delayed indefinitely…shit!! So I went underground. But still one more mission before I could get home to the loo. I had to get wine and bread. You should have seen the queue in the supermarket….I was nearly beside myself. Anyway, alls well that end well…I’m home, Ive had a picky tea and after a good nights sleep I’ll be ready for another day tomorrow. I must say, however, that when I was out there in the dark and FREEZING cold tonight I was wishing I had my mate with me.
More tomorrow everyone.
