To the capital!

BERLIN!!!!! BERLIN!!!

The week leading up to the Herbstferien (Autumn holidays) was hectic. Herr F was in Berlin in the depths of the archives, the Bear had his potential analysed and results returned as part of his year 8 programme, the Mouse and I cooked waffles and served luke warm coffee at the Open Door afternoon at her school and the Monkey as usual had a million activities. For the record the fact that the Bear got to have his potential analyse was a miracle, not due to any lack of potential of course but due to parental ineptitude. The poor chap, I took him to the wrong Handwerkskammer building (who knew there were 2) which was followed by some brave repeated question asking by me (my least favourite thing), the fastest 3 km bike ride in history, then then  navigating of the maze of closed doors in a giant building where eventually I stuck my head in the door, apologied for being late and the Bear walked in. To me that is full potential marks regardless of how the day progressed as he hates being late and everyone hates being embarrassed by their mum. For further historical documentation I walked out feeling horrible and hoping the Bear would be ok and then I realised he may not know the way home and I had no idea when it finished. Not one of my stellar parenting moments but survival situations do make you grow. Turns out he did know the way home (the lake helps you navigate) and a few days later I had the pleasure of sitting with him as his results were discussed (strengths, likes, etc) and hearing my Bear interact and speak beautifully about himself. After that and cooking waffles I didn't get to eat we needed a break so as soon as school finished on Friday we jumped on an ICE train to Berlin to meet up with the Herr.

I love the seat reservation and connection timetable print out system of Deutsche Bahn. I know Germans complain about the train system but coming from a country with one north/south train line on the east coast and long waits in between trains due to lower population density and reliance on cars I find DB and the adventure of pulling out of a station the same way you went in and racing for the best connection while still having time to buy a bread roll a thrill...ok, not when I miss the train and it is late in the evening but still mostly it is more fun than not. Basically I just really like not having a car.

Berlin was a blast and I'll let the photos do most of the talking. I have been a few times before. We took the kids up last time we were in Germany but this time was the best so far and makes us keen to head back. I think it was a combination of things. Great weather, much improved language skills, older kids who have ideas of their own about what to do and catching up with friends on 2 occassions where the kids really got on well. Generally we were pretty relaxed and we had a ball with the Herr on the weekend and when he went back to the archives on Monday we hung out having  U and S Bahn adventures and one accidential RE Bahn adventure then met up with him in the evenings to explore a bit more.

The colours in neighbourhood were beautiful and the walk to the S Bahn was always lovely. 

We meet up with friends and went to the Spy Museum. The kids didn't really remember each other but by the end of the evening having been sent to touch the doors of the Bode Museum as a gang so that we could chat they were firm friends and asking when we'd catch up again.

The Spy Museum was fabulous and where we realised our kids had no idea how to use a dial phone. In the above exhibit they had to use the phone and dial 0 to find out the mission. It was hilarious to explain as I assumed they understood concepts like releasing the dial after turning it. Why should they as they have never had a phone like this in the house.

And there were dress ups!!!!!!

and mazes!

and afterwards the best afternoon sitting on the Spree watching the dance class and drinking a quiet drink with mates seldom seen in person but always like you had seen them yesterday...though we were anything but quiet. 

This was a weekend which luckily gave us a lot more than 48 hours or so it seemed. Sunday equaled the Computer Spiel Museum. This was a highlight for the Bear and we all loved it as there was so much to do even though it was relatively small. You could play almost everything but we avoided the Painstation variation of Playstation.

Shh, proceed quietly!  and you will see the Bear in his natural habitat...

Hanging out 1980s style

Pacman East German style = Hase und Fuchs

After being in the fugue induced state of the Computer Game Museum we headed out for some fresh air and took a turn around Treptow Park including the Soviet War Memorial. 

Monday arrived Herr F returned to his natural habitat in the archives and the rest of us took a day trip to Potsdam. It is dirty work but someone has to do it. A bit of a touchy touch screen ticket buying meant I had to replace a ticket when we changed stations. This lucky mistake yielded excellent group ticket buying advice for the coming 3 days and a good chat about the ticket collector's son who was in New Zealand and the chance to see Wannsee and buy a bakery treat. 

After a slight side trip past Potsdam as my dodgy eyesight meant I didn't see that the small line went up and not down meaning the train didn't stop at Sanssouci we made it to Sanssouci via a bus and the scenic route. Luckily bakery treats helped us survive. We lunched on a bench looking at the castle and wandered around the beautiful garden then headed back to the centre in search of ice cream.

I like to window shop, building appreciate and find the best ice cream situation...the kids want instant ice cream gratification. There were moments, that's all I'll say but then they found the method to my madness and these ice cream delights were purchased and enjoyed whilst resting our legs.

         

The week flew by as we did the traditional sight seeing that is the history and today of Berlin. There were many trains and really, navigating and experiencing this amazing city was the adventure.

They didn't remember coming here before but there were things that they suddenly remembered.

Tired legs was one of them but again all can be fixed with ice cream or chocolate.

The 100 bus took us past the main attractions including some nude sunbathers in a not so secluded corner of the Botanic Gardens then an attempt to find a museum that was successful but to late to go in saw us explore another corner of the city and by chance find the Australian Embassy.

The poor Bear did the last couple of days with an ear infection but slow mornings in the apartment were good for everyone after a term of school and we still managed to see and experience lots and think about how it will be when we come back in the future.