May the 23rd marked our seven year anniversary and two years since I proposed. The last two years have been particularly busy and to make sure our eighth year together started off on the same foot we flew to Berlin on the 24th to continue our 'May month of travel'!
We flew out from London city airport which was reported to be a bit posh because all the smaller private planes fly out of there (we flew from there 'cos it was cheap). Alarm bells rang when we checked in on-line only to find ourselves in row 10, only halfway back down the plane.... We had visions of being required to pedal or flap.
We are getting quite good at all of this travel now though. We have organised ourselves into little bottle (less than 100ml) and we can squeeze enough into a bag big enough to carry on with us. Along with checking in online we are now streamlined to the point where we can turn up and walk on to the plane. The added advantage is that British Airways doesn't get the chance to lose your bag for you.
On top of our organisational skills we seem very good at picking good weather. Berlin was no exception. With a bank holiday in England we managed to escape some pretty average weather in London. Shorts and t'shirts for three days straight.
I was in Berlin a few weeks after Sam and I started going out. The re-building following the fall of the wall was well underway and very evident. It is a very different city now. With the exception of the odd building the city feels far more complete. It was interesting that the locals had embraced 'The Wall' a lot more. When I was there last it was difficult to find any evidence of it at all.
All this re-building means there is a long list of architectural highlights. In order to make sure this entry doesn't deteriorate into an architectural rant I will restrict it to just that; a long list (in order of appearance):
Hauptbahnhof station, TV tower, Altes Museum, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Holocaust Memorial, Potsdamer Platz, Hotel Adalon (where Micheal Jackson dangled his kid out the window), site of Hitler's bunker, New National Gallery, Government Buildings, Nordic Embassies, Kaiser Wilhelm Church (which was bombed in WW2 and has not been repaired) and The Jewish Museum. Phew!
We flew out from London city airport which was reported to be a bit posh because all the smaller private planes fly out of there (we flew from there 'cos it was cheap). Alarm bells rang when we checked in on-line only to find ourselves in row 10, only halfway back down the plane.... We had visions of being required to pedal or flap.
We are getting quite good at all of this travel now though. We have organised ourselves into little bottle (less than 100ml) and we can squeeze enough into a bag big enough to carry on with us. Along with checking in online we are now streamlined to the point where we can turn up and walk on to the plane. The added advantage is that British Airways doesn't get the chance to lose your bag for you.
On top of our organisational skills we seem very good at picking good weather. Berlin was no exception. With a bank holiday in England we managed to escape some pretty average weather in London. Shorts and t'shirts for three days straight.
I was in Berlin a few weeks after Sam and I started going out. The re-building following the fall of the wall was well underway and very evident. It is a very different city now. With the exception of the odd building the city feels far more complete. It was interesting that the locals had embraced 'The Wall' a lot more. When I was there last it was difficult to find any evidence of it at all.
All this re-building means there is a long list of architectural highlights. In order to make sure this entry doesn't deteriorate into an architectural rant I will restrict it to just that; a long list (in order of appearance):
Hauptbahnhof station, TV tower, Altes Museum, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Holocaust Memorial, Potsdamer Platz, Hotel Adalon (where Micheal Jackson dangled his kid out the window), site of Hitler's bunker, New National Gallery, Government Buildings, Nordic Embassies, Kaiser Wilhelm Church (which was bombed in WW2 and has not been repaired) and The Jewish Museum. Phew!
All in all, the city was really nice. It was interesting to see that the city had found a new center of gravity in the Eastern side (cheaper rents!). The old western center felt a wee bit run down. We went on a walking tour which was really interesting. We didn't walk far but it's nice to be shown little spots you would never find otherwise – Hitler's bunker and the underground library for instance.
Our flight home was split into two and took what felt like an age. We seem to be making a habit of arriving home late at night only to get up again early and go to work. It's tough being an international jetsetter.
For now, that's all. Edinburgh next!
M&S
When Kiwis go to London they.....
Stand on the right, walk on the left.
The best meal we've had since our last update was.....
Dinner out in the Sony Center, Berlin.
Underground countdown
Our total so far is 64/321 and new entries include:
London City Airport
When Kiwis go to London they.....
Stand on the right, walk on the left.
The best meal we've had since our last update was.....
Dinner out in the Sony Center, Berlin.
Underground countdown
Our total so far is 64/321 and new entries include:
London City Airport
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