3 days in Berlin
Trip Start
Jun 12, 2007
1
2
11
Trip End
Ongoing
Berlin, Germany
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Done all the usual touristy stuff - Reichstag, Tiergarten, Catherdral and Wall museums. Got to admit, I didnīt anticipate how difficult it would be doing this alone - particularly given my propensity to get all worked up by human rights etc - reading some of the stories about how people tried to escape the GDR side of Berlin was sobering to say the least - would have been nice to have someone there to humour me. However my hostel was very friendly. Hanged out with some guys from South America doing a month tour of Europe. They cooked me up some good pasta and sauce saving me a bit of cash and giving me a bit of company. Also got interviewed by a German tourist agency lady asking my impressions on Berlin (Subway Excellent, people friendly, clean city blah blah blah) - the interview turned in to a long conversation about what life was like living in the GDR. Unexpectedly she was submissive to the merits of communism - when the wall came down her husband died and finding a job as single mother was difficult.... so I reckon her views were biased somewhat.
Spent last night hanging out with a German bloke. He lives in the equivalent East End of Berlin. Unlike the London counterpart, this side of town is made up of working and middle class families and trendies alike. Laid back atmosphere, shops, pubs, clubs, restaurants seem to be open 24hours. The trendy mummy and daddy subsidised fashionistas of Bethanl Green, Shoreditch etc could learn a few things. Had a whirlwind cultural experience of watching "Jeepers Creepers 2" on DVD with the German guy. He says Germans find the American accent funny - i pointed out to him most Europeans speak with an Amercian accent when talking English. Apparently my "german" accent sounds Russian. This is will be a good thing I hope for my arrival in Moscow at 8pm tomorrow.
enough Rambling. I have a 30 something hour train to catch.
Comments
You're Alive!
You know when you said 'I was not going to write anything about Berlin'? Well my advice to you is to trust your instincts in future, my brother; you make the place sound one notch down from Scunthorpe in the 'World's Most Fun Locations' list. Yes, such a list exists. Don't ask the German Tourist Agency lady about it though, as they won't have been approached by the list compilers in the last 60 years.
That was really decent of the South American dudes to cook you up one of their most famous native South American dishes, pasta & sauce. Did you remember to get the recipe to bring back here? I love learning about new cultures. Glad to hear that the Subway in Germany is good. They've opened up a new Subway in Wimbledon recently too - there's this guy outside of Centre Court with a sign pointing to the Subway saying 'Chicken Teryaki Meal Deal for £3.99' which I think is good value in anyone's book.
I'm a bit annoyed you didn't go into more detail about 'Jeepers Creepers 2'. I personally thought it was good for a sequel and it would have been nice if you could have done your bit for the movie industry by giving it more exposure. Missed opportunity, really. Shame.
I'm fairly certain you'll see a substantial rise in your web traffic if you continue to keep us all informed of future visits to Wall Museums; masonry is exactly the kind of thing that'll whet anyone's travelling appetite!
I love you and miss you, my brother. Sometimes I cry, I'm not ashamed to admit. Keep up the updates!
Blogging
An there was I thinking that no one else
of the maytrees' clanwen tin for blogging.
What about a photo? or two?
Blogging
An there was I thinking that no one else
of the maytrees' clan went in for blogging.
What about a photo? or two?
London Life.
First of all I can't believe that you left with out seeing me! I hope you have a great and safe trip Hugh!
Reminsicing about Gap Week
Hi Hugh
This letter from today's FT might amuse:
'Dear Junior, Nice to know that you are back from your second gap year travels. The photos of Sydney and New York looked fantastic, although we are worried to see that you haven't kicked your binge drinking habit. It would be nice to think that one day we might visit these places, rather than gazing at photos attached to the occasional e-mail asking for another few quid to keep you partying.
Your mum and I were reminiscing about the 'gap week' we had between leaving school at 16 and starting work. It seems strange to think that only 6 per cent of us then went into higher education, unlike 43 per cent of today's school leavers.
Those were the days - two weeks' holiday a year and no excuse for not having a job. That brings me to your sister. Afraid she is still one of the 1.3m Neets (not in employment, education or training) generation. I can't understand how she finds it so hard to get a job when none of those lovely young Pole and Czech youngsters appear to have any problems. One bit of good news, she should be starting her drug rehabilitation classes in the next few weeks.
I hoped your degree in media and origami would have given you a little more academic rigour. But no, from the mistakes in your letter it looks like you will be attending one of these remedial classes that employers are providing for their new graduates. Five minutes using Google would have avoided these silly mistakes.
Only 44 per cent of health spending in the US is funded by the government compared with 72 per cent in countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Where did you get that nonsense about them having to subsidise drugs for seniors?
Less of the sniping about my 'early retirement package'. How little you know about corporate speak. This is a polite term for redundancy. Don't forget that our dear Mr Blair has created an extra 900,000 jobs in the public sector, all with nice fat final salary pensions. I know you don't necessarily want to be an 'outreach worker' or a 'co-ordinator's assistant's assistant' but there are still plenty of final salary pensionable jobs about if you want one.
Your biggest gripe is about the cost of housing. There you have a point. The affordability of housing today is around the same level as it was back in 1989. You were only four so you will not remember what happened next - the property crash. Be patient. What goes up can come down, and normally does!
Don't be so gloomy. I am sure if you lost some weight, stopped smoking and didn't drink so much, the world would look a lot better.
I had better get back to writing the umpteenth job application. Not much fun trying to get re-employed when you are 50-plus...'
I hope all is going well. Keep in touch.
Love Dad