Sue and Paul Connolly: Berlin, Bears and Segways.

Looking out of the plane window coming into Berlin I was amazed at all the trees that you could see. Forests everywhere. We landed at Schoenfeld an airport out from the city. No questions asked and passport stamped very quickly. Before flying I had quickly checked how to get from the airport to our hotel by train........mmmmmm. Looking back we should have just paid the 40 euros and caught a taxi. Paul and I would still be talking to each other. The info mentioned by the hotel said that the train fare was around 3 euros each and we would need to make 1 change at the Zoological Garden to go to Wittenbergplatz in the Tiergarten area and then a 5 minute walk to our destination. We followed the directions to the station and passed the ticket machines along the way. We even stopped at one and helped another person try to buy 2 tickets to Berlin for 6 euros. We decided that we would get ours closer to the train on the platform. Bad decision as there were no ticket machines on the platform or anyone at a service to sell you one. I said I would go back and buy them but Paul said he would so off he went. He was away for such a long time that I was imaging that he had been abducted or he had got lost on his way back. The train was already there and waiting when a conductor jumped down to sell tickets. Paul arrived and showed his tickets to the train driver who told him to jump on and the conductor would assist him. Train got underway and eventually I asked Paul what took him so long. Apparently the machine wouldn't take 50 euro notes so he used the travel card and it cost him 40euros. I was astonished that he paid this much. He said he just picked the station name closest to what he thought was ours which was a place called Wittenberg. There were at least six places that all had Wittenberg or something similar to choose from he said. When I told him how much he should have paid he was glad that he didn't select first class tickets as these would have cost 100 euros. We explained this to the conductor who smiled at us. She understood that we wanted to go into the city and showed Paul on a map where his tickets would take him......150kms away to Wittenberg.

We got off at the first station and went into an office and explained the error of Paul's ways and purchased our 1 euro tickets for the second stage of our trip. She was able to direct us to the next office where we could ask for a refund. When stating our case to someone with minimal English you knew straight away she was thinking how dumb we were to buy the wrong tickets in the first place. We were refunded the money less the cost of the first stage of our journey. You knew who she would be discussing at office drinks that afternoon.

Next stage of the journey fairly easy and as we walked out of the station we walked straight into a political rally that was happening. Police everywhere and streets blocked off. Paul took a couple of photos with me thinking that his camera would be confiscated. We checked into the hotel for a short rest before catching a bus into the city. Very easy transport and we are charade masters by now so traveling on a bus easy as.

Paul had in his mind that he wanted to do a Segway tour of the City and for me I was miles away thinking about what Berlin must have been like before the wall came down. We jumped off and headed towards the TV Tower where the tour left from. Toby our tour guide and instructor was very nice and we spent around 30 minutes learning how to ride and operate the Segway. I wasn't as confident as Paul but managed to stay on and it was a fun thing to do and experience. Paul of course being Paul was scooting around everywhere and Toby asked me to speak to Paul about slowing down. I said that was impossible as I wasn't speaking to him.

After all the sights and excitement we grabbed some tea at a small Mexican place called Delores 2 doors up from the Dockers shop. Berlin at this time of night was buzzing and after a short walk we found our bus with an English speaking driver who knew all about us kangaroos.

After a sleep in and breakfast explored the area around our hotel. We stumbled upon the Green Party's live broadcast as it was election day. Everyone was hoping that Angela Merkel would not be returned however we have since heard that she was re-elected. Taxi to the airport for our destination of Mongolia.

Segway tour of the city. Brandenburg Gate

Jewish Memorial

Paul with his 5 euro heart that he cut out from a

Felt cape from a bride to be. The money he paid

was probably funding the hens night out.

This car a 'Trabi' was produced in East Berlin and

was in front of the Presidents hotel where

we stayed. Can you spot Bob Hawk?

                                     This was the Green Party's headquarters on election day.
                                     They were doing a live broadcast answering questions
                                      inside the dome.