Three days in Berlin...

Wednesday 3 November and a-wandering we will go...

Not impressed with the breakfast we had yesterday, we went to the hotel restaurant in the morning and had a better experience with lashings of coffee, fruit, boiled eggs and cold meats. Our feet still hurt from all the walking we did, and in particular the balls of our feet which really stung. I'd worn my walking boots but they'd still hurt me so we will have to re-think future trips and try not to cram too much into our days! I think an apartment would be a good idea - I just have to convince Keith it would be a good investment!

Back in the room, we packed and checked out and left our luggage in their secure room. We bought day tickets again and took the underground to Alexanderplatz to shop at the huge Galeria department store there. After much deliberation I bought Sophie a beautiful scarf, my mum a huge box of chocolates, my dad a bottle of red German wine (hard to buy in the UK) and Mikey some Lego. Laden down with our purchases, our heavy coats (it was sunny and mild) and feeling grouchy and hot, we wandered around not sure what to do and feeling very reluctant to go on another route march. We had planned to take the train to the airport at about 2pm and there wasn't enough time to go far, but we couldn't see the point of wandering around aimlessly. 

I suggested having a look at the Marienkirche, a gorgeous 14th century church which sits in the shadow of the TV Tower. I  went inside and lit a candle as I always do in memory of loved ones who have died and we had a look around, the beautiful architecture and atmosphere spoiled slightly by two men buffing the floor in front of the altar.

Back outside again, we sat on a bench in the sun and then made our way back to the Nikolai Quarter where I bought a bottle of the red Dornfelder in a small wine shop. It had better be good! I suggested finding a bar and sitting outside in the sun but a few places were closed so we headed for a lovely cosy cafe and spent a couple of hours in there with a drink. It was blissfully quiet, each table was adorned with a red rose and a candle and the smell of lunch being cooked was wonderful. We were very relaxed and contented sitting there and I almost forgot that we were on our way home.

As the place filled with lunch time diners, we paid up and left before heading back to the hotel, collecting our luggage and going to the station. This time, as we climbed up the flights of stairs, we had a heavy(ish) suitcase with us and it was hard going!

The journey to the airport was smooth and easy but we fell foul of easyJet again by trying to check in our luggage too early. I thought with bag drop you could put your bags in at any time, but no. This is what happened last time when we had waited over an hour to check in, to be told by a very brusque, rude man that we had to go to the back of the queue and wait all over again! Luckily this time, there was hardly anyone about, and after waiting 40 minutes we were successful. In the meantime we chatted to a very pleasant American man travelling to London to see his girlfriend and who'd been in Germany studying.

All too soon, we were boarding our flight (still with empty seats) and I gazed at the gorgeous sunset that was hidden from the ground by the thick cloud.

We made good time on the way home, distributed presents, changed into our comfy dressing gowns and collapsed in a heap on the sofa, tired but very happy!