Germany
AquaDom & SEA LIFE Berlin

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    • Day 33

      Berlin

      March 31, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

      Why am I always so comfortable in a big modern bad ass city? As good as Marbella and the Spanish Sun Coast was Berlin is another dimension.
      From the moment I stepped outside the hotel onto Wittenberg Platz I felt at home. Totally comfortable as I walked to Die Creme for früshstück this morning. No longer walking the pretty sun brightened streets of Marbella. Or smelling the ocean breeze. Instead traffic, graffiti, folks rushing, sirens howling. But damn I was home. Finishing my bowl of granola with fresh berries and coffee I exited the small cafe to get my city pass I had purchase on line. This was going to be a day for a little shopping, learning the subway system and walking.
      I headed toward Potsdamer Platz 1.3 miles away to get a proper Berlin public transport pass. Offices close. Open Monday-Wednesday or weekends. Well that walk healthy still took time and pissed me off. So I kept walking almost in circles until fatigue urged me to rest. When my legs were about to give up finding me in a jail cell for sleeping on a cold wet park bench a Hop On Hop Off bus turned the corner headed towards me. It stopped. I got on.
      Not a word of English did the driver speak. I showed him the Visit Berlin pass but in English he couldn’t understand it. In German I had to buy the tour bus pass at the Tor. “Ok” I said. He let me on. No jail tonite.
      Sitting in the upper deck toggling through an exhaustive list of languages I found the English narration. Up and down streets the bus went. Here’s the Opera House, then museum xyz, a decaying Berlin Wall picked clean by human woodpeckers and a remnant of a bomb out WWII building. Past Check Point Charlie into the government quarter where we were forced to stop to allow a cavalcade of police cars, blue lights on, motorcycle escorts and dark Mercedes Benzes. King Charles was here yesterday but had already departed for Hamburg. This definitely was a important politician. It reminded me of the night in DC went we were surprised by Trumps parade of black vehicles on route to the White House. It was probably a late night Taco Bell run. We did “salute” as the Beast passed us.
      Anyway the bus made to the Tor and I jumped off with a quick Vielen dank.
      The subway station that would get me back was nearby by.
      I went down the stairs to the ticket kiosk. Location instructions were difficult to interpret and my phone was of little use. So I went looking for help. And then serendipity.
      There was an older man we’ll probably my ages at a seat waiting for the train. He was wearing a baseball cap and from a distance I recognized it as the Cuban flag it was embroidered on the side and Cuba above the bill.
      Incredulous I stopped and in Spanish I said “¿Tu eres Cubano?” He smiled and replied “Si.” Instantaneously, as brothers from some distant land there was an bond.
      I continued asking if he knew the system and where I wanted to go. As he began explaining his train approached. I said thanks indicating I understood in Spanish of course and shook his hand.
      I continue the short distance to the escalator that would take me to the other side of the tracks. As I walked across, I looked down and saw him still on the platform his train gone. He had not boarded and was waving at me to come back. Weird. I made a u-turn and headed back down.
      He was very apologetic feeling he had not given me clear instructions. Since he wasn’t working today he could take the next train home.
      We talked and I learned how to get back to the hotel. Then a little bit of chit chat asking him if he lives in Berlin etc. Yes he told me for the last 30 years.
      I began to probe further but again the next train approached. Yeah German schedules.
      I stopped the questions and asked if I could take a selfie of us. Immediately he said No, no pictures please. Ok I respect that. Many people are camera shy. But this was different. Summing it up in my mind I knew it was the long arm of the Cuban government. Stretching all the way from Havana it’s authoritarian reach beyond comprehension.
      I firmly shook his hand again and patted his shoulder.
      How many lives has the regime destroyed? For how many more years will the suffering continue?
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    • Day 72

      Bussing Berlin

      November 14, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

      Hop Off and On #2

      I did a second loop to take in the sights, hopping off at a few more stops before diving into the detail 🤓

      My picture of the Brandenburger Tor was spoilt by the restoration work underway due to a recent climate demonstration 🫣

      https://youtu.be/AhnI6vCV49I?feature=shared
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    • Day 32

      Berlin die Weiterführung

      March 30, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

      The picture is of Mar who came by to say goodby. She and her partner Iciar were terrific hosts very friendly and sweet. Always ready to answer any questions and regularly reaching out to ensure I was enjoying my stay. It’s not often that I meet AirB&B hosts but these ladies took really good care of the apartment and me. Highly recommended.
      When I arrived several weeks ago I wrote a bit about the historic coast wondering about the Roman Empire’s by conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. Now that I am leaving I wonder about the Moors who ruled over southern Spain for 700 years until they were defeated and force back to Africa by the Catholic Kings.
      Those Mediterranean beaches the Romans languidly camped must have been stained by Arab blood.
      The Moors did have a driving culture through architecture, commerce, math, food, art which must have certainly been difficult to leave behind.
      As Catholicism spread across the kingdoms of Spain pushing the Moors further and further off the Andalusian coast it’s important to note that much of their culture was absorbed into Spanish culture thus not lost. Certainly reigning monarchs that came after the Moors were smart to preserve what they had left behind.
      Many Moors did opt to stay and convert to Catholicism and surprisingly were to prove this through inclusion of pork into their diet. I am told it was part of converting to the faith.

      The bratwurst says I’m in Germany; the boots in Northern Europe. No palm trees here.
      Getting here was long. Flights were delayed out of Malaga due to thunderstorms with heavy turbulence slowing our approach into Frankfurt. Missed my connecting flight but with German efficiency I was automatically placed on an 8 pm flight. No human interaction required. iPhone handled all changes.
      It’s been at least 18 years since I was last at Frankfurt Flughafen. The tough and imposing looking military police in their dark olive green, bullet proof vests, machine guns at the ready are seemly absent. Remember Lockerbie? The airport then was constantly under renovation and expansion. Well it’s grown even more as it took me 1.2 miles from my arrival gate to my departure gate. That free weiner dog courtesy of Lufthansa aided my effort.
      One hundred years or more it will be very different. Imagine a a spaceport lifting scientists politicians, business people and the casual tourists up to orbiting cities and beyond.
      Frankfurt to Berlin is a fifty minute flight. Berlin is Germany’s biggest city.
      The flight full. I may be one of the few tourist on board as I have spotted many PowerPoint presentations glowing from laptops. Is PowerPoint still around? Damn those days are long gone and happily forgotten.
      The roar of the engines, the hydraulics audible dance break into the solitude of the quiet darkened cabin. My ears pop and through the windows the city lights appears as we descend in the twilight. Berlin awaits.
      The next few days I will enjoy a hotel room near checkpoint Charlie and Potsdamer Platz. Many historic sites to visit culminating in a tour Monday afternoon of the BMW Motorrad manufacturing plant.
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    • Day 2

      Berlin Dungeon

      July 18, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      Ein Traum!! Haben uns schon dazu entschieden in Hamburg nochmal zu gehen. Mama wars ein bisschen mulmig zu Mute, aber Kilian und mir hat es sehr gut gefallen.

      (Kilian wurde bei der ersten Station direkt rausgepickt und durfte der Foltermagd als Beispiel dienen haha)Read more

    • Day 7

      Sterre’s extra’s

      September 16, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

      Dankjewel Wom om zo’n prachtig verslag te schrijven over vandaag. (Het evenaart mijn tekstjes biiijjjjjjna)

      Ma bon

      Ik wilde ook wel een paar pareltjes delen

      - PAPA IK HEB EEN FOTO MET EEN IJSBEER

      - deze keer geen henna maaaar— mama niet gevreesd, dat behaarde been is ni van mij — een echte tattoo voor Flouchiepouch van zijn totem (en heb ik ontworpen hihi )

      - enigste foto met ons vijf, maar ober kon ABSOLUUT geen foto’s trekken

      - nu zitten we in de luchthaven want omdat we geld willen besparen slapen we hier, goede vibe
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    • Day 4

      Free walking tour Berlin

      November 29, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌨 -3 °C

      חצי יום חופש הוקדש לבילוי האהוב עלי בחו"ל- סיור הליכה חינמי.
      לנקודת המפגש הגעתי ברגל, כשתוך כדי חקרתי עוד קצת את ברלין דרך הרגליים.
      את המדריך Dara האוסטרלי פגשנו באלכסנדר פלאץ ממול בית העיריה שלאור המצב בארץ הפגין הזדהות עם תליית דגל ישראל בין דגלי העיר ברלין לדגל גרמניה.
      לאורך הסיור למדנו על ההיסטוריה של ברלין (בנגיע קטנה, בכל זאת המוןןן היסטוריה) לאורך השנים- דיברנו על משפחת המלוכה, על מלחמת העולם הראשונה ועל הקומוניזם בעיר.
      לאורך כל הטיול השלג יורד, נכנס לעיניים ומתיישב על הראש.
      לקראת הסוף דארא פינק אותנו בהפסקה בבית קפה ואני כמובן הלכתי על יין חם והרבה פחממות מטוגנות (תכלס אכלתי את הסופגניה הראשונה שלי).
      *היה קר, מאוד. היה לי שלג על הראש. ניסיתי כל מיני וריאציות של שיער מול צעיף ובסוף הגעתי למסכנה שחייב hoodie בטמפ' האלה. דארא טגב הביא לי עוד צעיף לקראת הסוף, כי הוא אמר שנראה שמכולם הכי קר לי 😅
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    • Day 97

      Day 97: Academy of Mixology: Whiskey

      March 28 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

      Today is a Sea Day - We are Sailing the Arabian Sea. The sky is blue, the seas are calm. The ship is quieter with so many folks on the India overnight or have left the cruise entirely. The World Cafe isn’t the rush hour traffic that we are used to.

      Today was a catch up on sleep and no noise day for me. Donna attended a workshop and made a tote bag that came out very nice. I spent time organizing photos, emails, and other stuff you do to just get organized. Pretty sure a nap was in there as well. For me it was nice to not attend a lecture or workshop and get organized and centered again.

      We were very happy to continuing our life-long learning in the area of Mixology. This evening’s chapter was “Whiskey” - Rust Nail, Whiskey Sour, and Old Fashion were the assignments for the night.

      Many of our Mixology friends are on over-land adventures or have headed home. We missed you tons, it wasn’t the same. We had to drink your drinks in your honor. As always a fun time was had by all. There are three more sessions before we graduate.

      As always the display they create for the class is beautiful- please watch the short video.
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    • Day 103

      Day 103: Sea Day, Indian Ocean

      April 3 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

      What started out to be a sleep-in, slow, Sea Day - turned into a full day.

      Breakfast - Morning nap - 12:30 Lunch - 2:00 Necklace Craft class - Worked on Find Penguins posts catching up - 6:15 Dinner - 7:30 Academy of Mixology (Today was Brandy: Side Car, Brandy Sour, Black Desire) - Lois Brooks Debut performance in the Star Theater - Then Torshavn to listen to Jinky, Ralph, and the Viking Band. It was fun listening to the music and watching people dance and have a good time.

      Donna enjoyed a new drink - “Black Desire” - She might have enjoyed them a bit much. That is why we are - here to have a fun time.

      As time passed, everyone left the Torshavn with only Donna and I left to enjoy the last four numbers of their set. We haven’t done the late night “wild” scene at Torshavn up until last night - last night we had a private performance as we closed the place down.

      Thank you to Jinky, Ralph, and the band for making the day special.

      #myvikingstory
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    • Day 3

      Berlin Wall & Museum

      December 19, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

      Walking with my beautiful wife in Berlin and off to see the TV tower which was curiously constructed in the East German sector as it represents modern technology and architecture something the GDR was not exactly renowned for. We decided to walk directly to the Berlin Wall though due to the fact it was quite foggy and our view of the city would have been shrouded in fog.
      The traffic light crossings are curious as they represent a link with the past and the old GDR regime. They have become so popular that they are replicating them throughout Berlin hence my photo.

      In this section of the wall some of the wall has been preserved including one of the old watchtowers as well as some new architectural sculpture pieces (steel rods) which represent where the wall once stood. There are many stories of the extraordinary lengths people found in their attempts to live a life of freedom.
      In all some 190 people died trying to cross the wall including through tunnels, jumping from windows and simply making a run for it.
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    • Day 5

      Berlin

      September 10, 2020 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

      Alto est chez le docteur... Et doit être soigné jusqu'à lundi, problème de soupape d'échappement oblige. Pendant ce temps, nous profiterons de la ville de Berlin et d'un bel hôtel, payé par le TCS. Nous visitons deux musées sur la seconde guerre mondiale avant de rejoindre Frank, un ami de Reto, pour le reste de la soirée.

      Alto ist bein Arzt... Er wird repariert bis Montag, er hat ein Abgasventil Problem. In diese Zeit, Vergnügen wir uns in Berlin mit einem Hotel das von der TCS gesponsert wird. Wir besuchten zwei Museen über den 2. Weltkrieg bevor wir Frank trafen, ein Freund von Reto.
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