Day 21 (Tue): Willkommen in Berlin. Lassen Sie uns einen Irish Pub zu gehen.

There is plenty of time this morning to make our way to Kastrup airport.  We jump on the train and sit across from an older Danish guy talking to a younger guy.  It seems we have attracted the older guy's attention.  He starts talking at us in Danish, first pointing to Mum and then to me.  We have no idea what he's saying but then he laughs.  I apologise and explain that we don't speak Danish and he responds with, "Ah, English! Ok!  I see that you ran away from your husband and you ran away from your wife and now you are running away together!"  Mum and I are totally bemused and chuckle but the guy thinks we're laughing to agree with him.  We explain that we're mother and son and his face drops.  He pulls out the mini-bar size bottle of spirits from his jacket and takes a swig.  Now it all makes sense.  He continues on with some other crazy ideas about why we're travelling far from home and then the story becomes a little drab when he begins talking about an ancestor of his who moved to Texas and became a millionaire.  He takes another swig and he gets off at the next stop.  Random!

Finding our way from an airport to a hotel for the first time is always drudgery.  We wander around Tegel Airport, Berlin when we first arrive searching for a way out.  There is an info desk but the line is about fifteen people long.  We jump in line and wait.  The first person is served and leaves.  The second person is served and then the grumpy old man behind the counter puts a 'Closed' sign on the desk and with a fierce look on his face orders everyone to go to the outside counter that already has a line.  We're now about twenty people back.  One by one the queue shortens and it's my turn.  I explain where we need to go.  A different grumpy explains how to get there but at least he knows his stuff: "catch the X9 bus to Ernst Reuter Platz, catch an S train to Hackescher Markt, and walk."  Unfortunately, I don't realise there are two stops along Ernst Reuter Platz: a U train stop (underground) and an S train stop (above ground).  We get off the bus a stop too early and I ask some girls if the S train is downstairs.  They're a little coy and they say they think it is down there.  I spend the next ten minutes taking each suitcase down the stairs, asking for more directions down there, and then have to take them upstairs again.  The S train stop is the next bus stop along.  A short ten minute walk to that next stop turns into a twenty minute effort of dragging suitcases over cobblestones, as well as carrying them over really bumpy cobblestones to ensure the wheels don't break off.  Not the most welcoming arrival to Berlin.

The hotel looks wonderful but I'm shattered.  I have a little rest for a short time to catch my breath and then I'm dying to go outside to look around.  This is our first time in Germany.  Oon our way out, I see a sign for the Berlin card on the front desk of the hotel and I ask for more information.  The staff here are very friendly and helpful.  The Berlin card has a great deal for public transport: €22,90 for a 72-hour all-you-can-eat bus, train, and tram card.  Much better value than paying €2,90 per ride.  It will also get us back to the airport on Friday - bonus!

We don't have any definite plans this late in the afternoon except to become familiar with the local area and buy some food.  In fact, we're a little hungry now.  Mum still has a cold so she really needs some vegies.  She noticed an Irish pub with a good menu as we first arrived at Hackescher Markt staion and we drop in there for a meal. There's nothing like local cuisine.  We continue walking around after dinner through a busy cafe area and I turn to find a clown following me!  Mum is just laughing.  To our right we can see a huge tower not too far away at Alexanderplatz, one of the main shopping districts.  Since we have the freedom of using our transport card on any form of transport, we jump on a tram to go see the tower.  It's tall!  The shops are also open, some until 10pm.


Alexanderplatz has some major shops that I've never seen.  There's one that takes my eye: Saturn.  It is an electronics warehouse.  It would give Bangkok a run for its money!  There are also some Oktoberfest 'sets'/drinking houses that are being set up in the open square for Friday.  It's such a shame that we'll be leaving on Friday!  We look around for a while checking out the local shops and jump on a tram to go back home.  We're lucky it's only three stops.  It's time for a big sleep.

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