Surprise trip to Berlin

I have 3 (boring)days of peace without Paprika; burning the candle at only one end. In a last minute decision, The Kiwi was using a few bank holidays(Hemelvaart) to have a long weekend in Berlin.... On Tuesday I decided that I had cleared my way through enough work, that I would join him by getting a train to Berlin late on the Wednesday, then returning on Sunday...

It's back to train travel, and I get the time to sit down with the laptop and update the blog, do some presentations for the coming conference season, and see what I can see to do in the Berlin Lonely Planet:



When the German ICE trains are quiet and running on time it's a great way to travel, my only complaint is the droning voice that tells you in three languages all the different stops that the train will make all the possible connections from each of those stops... it becomes a continuous drone in the background and I'm forced to stick on a little bit of Wolfmother to drown it out:



They're going to be supporting Pearl Jam during my summer adventures. I'm looking forward to seeing them live, they are black sabbath, Jethro Tull, led zep and the who rolled into one with a little bit of white stripes.... is there enough interesting added value? Who knows... I'll let you know when I've seen them live.

A quick text message to The Kiwi tells me he's not coming to Berlin. It was his idea in the first place, but when he arrives at the airport to be greeted by the dual distraction of a 2 hour delay, and a phone call beckoning him to the Gollem, the plans of exploring a new city get flushed:



I trundle along, and in no time(via a change in Hannover), I'm alighting in Berlin to be greeted by the smiley face of Paprika... Last weekend I showed her Amsterdam. This weekend she's showing me Berlin.

It's 11 O'Clock at night and it feels great to be traveling again... there's immediately a real vibe to the city... that kind of "stuck in the 80's" German thing... the fashion has it's own particular vibe and the the city is just wakening up and coming alive as I arrive.... it's very welcoming...for a socialite like myself anyway:



From here, we go straight to Paprika's flat........ I'm shattered and we decide that some food and bottle of red would be a good way to catch up(on 3 days), before I'm let loose on Berlin.