March 31: Ich bin kalt Berliner!

I may never be warm again! We slept in this morning and then headed to the Bode Museum -- we both found new art to love. After quite a few hours, we headed off to the Altes Museum, where we made it through the Greek exhibit before Ian's sleepless night made him ready to go -- before the Roman and Etruscan floor, which shows you just how tired he is!

We decided to brave the cold (1 degree with hurricane force winds) and walk to the Reichstag and Tiergarten. About halfway along, it started to rain hard, and my "raincoat" decided it wasn't waterproof. Just as I said, "I'm tired of this! Make it stop, Ian!" it started to hail and it hurt! Therefore we saw the Holocaust and Roma Memorials under suitably austere conditions, but were denied entrance to the Reichstag dome, as we forgot to make an appointment. We had a nice dinner, and an evening back in our cell should put everything right.

We later discovered that we were in the middle of a storm called “Niklas”, which is the worst storm to hit Berlin and Germany in years.  Even the rail service was cancelled today after the Munchen Bahnhof (Munich Train station) had some windows blown out.

March 30: Museum Day in Berlin

On a cold and rainy day in Berlin, we only made it to two museums – but what museums they were! We first visited the Pergamon Museum, which had amazing artefacts from Miletus and Priene and Magnesia, all places we visited in Turkey. We also saw the famous Ishtar Gate of Babylon, and many other things that brought back memories of other trips. Although the weather is not what we had hoped for, we both agree that this museum alone would be worth the trip to Germany. It is astounding to see so many actual buildings inside a museum!

After a brief cup of coffee to get off our feet, we went to the Neuse Museum, where we were blown away by the head of Nefertiti, which is one of the most famous statues in the world. Normally, when I see something very famous, there is a little part of me that is disappointed, but this amazing statue is even more spectacular than I could have imagined. One is not permitted to photograph this statue, so I include the picture from their own website.

Ian finds that his 30 year old German Language studies are returning, slowly, and erratically. 

This evening the sunshine fooled us into thinking that it might be nicer out, so we headed out to see the Brandenburg and the Reichstag. There was a demonstration going on close to the Reichstag so we started walking toward our hotel, and walked right into the middle of the demonstration!

Nefertiti is one of the few artefacts one is not allowed to photograph in the Berlin Museums, so I include this picture from the Neues Museum Website.

March 29: London to Berlin

It's Sunday.  It was raining hard when we left London, and it is raining even harder here in Berlin.  We got up at 7 this morning, packed and walked back to Tower Hill station.  We took the tube back out of town, anticipating our next destination.  It was remarkably problem free.  We arrived at TXL after a relatively quick, but very bumpy 100 minute flight.  No problems at Customs, luggage arrived, and we walked straight to the Tourist Services desk as planned.

The trip to our hotel was easy - one bus and about 20 minutes. We talked about heading straight to one of the museums after we picked up our museum pass at the airport, but when we got to the hotel we crashed.  Well, my foot is still bothering me, so really it was me (Ian).  The gout is gone, but the foot is bruised and blistered from walking on it while it is swollen.  (Margaret:  Yeah, I was so disappointed to have time to look at pictures and rest, after four hours of sleep last night.  No sacrifice too great.  Until Ian started snoring that is!)

After a rest we went for dinner and had German food.  Ian had Beef Rouladen and said it was the same as mine.  I had "Sour beef", pickled cabbage and potato dumplings.   Now we are resting up for tomorrow!

March 28: Alanna and London!

Today's effort is a joint one, typed on the tablet whie waiting for our play to begin (and at intermission for Ian).  We met up with our niece Alanna, saw Westminster Abbey, took the river boat to Greenwich, and saw Wicked at the Apollo Theatre.  I can't believe we fit it all into one (exhausting!) day.



Alanna and Ian at Greenwich, the camera pointed toward the Thames River.  The Royal Military College is in the background.

March 27: Tired but happy

We have arrived in London!

 

It is such a pleasant shock to walk out of Westminster Tube Station and realize that you are really truly in the heart of London.  The late afternoon sun made everything even more special!

Getting there better not be half the fun . . .

Victoria to Seattle to London!  Quite the day!

Here is Ian enjoying some first class lie down time!

Preparing for our next trip

We're finally in the count down for our next.  This time we are flying to London to spend a day with our niece who moved there 10 months ago.  From London we fly to Berlin for 3 days, and then we take the train to Bamberg.  From Bamberg we take the train over the Alps to Verona.

In Italy we will be going from Verona, to Ravenna, to Arezzo, to Chiusure, near Asciano and Monte Oliveto Maggiore.  We will end up in Florence for 3 days before flying back to London and another visit with our niece.

Then I head home after being away for 3 weeks, while my wife meets up with her sister to carry on in England for another 2 weeks.

We can't wait.