Berlin and Hamburg

A splendid train station awaited us in Berlin - spectacular complex architecture accentuated its ease of use and we were soon checked into Pegasus hostel, one of the cleanest and nicest hostels to date (The free internet, US Open on tv and excellent lattes helped boost its ratings). We had a quick nap waiting for the rain to pass then headed out in search of Kaiser Kuchen for supper - as if we hadn't had enough food in Landsburg. We underestimated the eating potential of the Germans once more and had to take half of our dumplings and mushrooms/goulash meals home with us...the salad was sent back for the next customer. It was with full tummies that we scurried home to get out of the cold and dark.

The next morning, our free walking tour with guide 'Gary' was more than worth the 20 buck tip we handed over after 4 hours or fascinating history. We started at the famous Brandenburg gate with a cup of tea from Starbucks and headed past the Reichstag, the Holocaust memorial with the different sizes of tombstone like blocks and Hitlers bunker where he and Eva Braun committed suicide, to the Berlin Wall (very overrated), the Topology of Terror exhibition and to Checkpoint Charlie of Cold War fame. A lunch of soup was in order to keep the chill away before we headed over to Museum island past the square of enlightenment and through the Babel square where 20 thousand books were burnt by the Nazi dictatorship.

We found Berlin a great deal different to Bavaria with their traditional dress of Levi jeans and their very friendly manner towards foreigners. Leftovers were had for supper before a gruelling game of chess and bed.

A relaxed start to the day meant that we had time to pick up a brunch at the supermarket across the road before checking out. Trains left on a regular basis and we soon arrived in Hamburg with blue skies - falsy indicating warmer weather. We quickly dropped our bags off at the hostel and headed back into town for a boat tour on the Elbe river. Prices were too high to be worth it so instead we wondered around the lake, through the gardens and towards the port. Dinner fish and chips was on the menu and it was late when we made our way out of the chilly wind back home. Another late start and a cup of tea gulped down and we were off on our final train trip to Hannover where we caught our delayed flight out to Newcastle and our new homeland.

What an amazing month with so many memories, queues, irritations and experiences...but its time to find a more permanent abode as the itchy feet are longing for solid ground and the barefeet need new shoes.