Day1:
- Our trip started 18th May 2013. Bags packed and off to the airport at 08.30 am to catch our flight on Royal Brunei . Not an airline we had used before but the tickets were good value. The crews were lovely and we enjoyed the experience - would be happy to do it again. Had 3 stops - Melbourne to Brunei, changed planes then Brunei to Dubai with a transit stop in Dubai. What a massive airport with lots of walking to get to the lounge (terminal C). Very impressive with actual palm trees inside the massive airport complex. After all the walking to find the lounge only really had 20 minutes to go to the loo and walk back. We easily killed off 2 hours. No shopping possible.
Lounge in Melbourne
Landed at Heathrow (terminal 4) and had to find our way to terminal 5 for the BA flight to Berlin. Got off the plane and followed purple signs "All transfer passengers" and ended up at the bus which took us to terminal 5. Plenty of time. Once in Berlin we caught a taxi from the airport and he only spoke German so my rusty German had to do. Had a quick tour by taxi from the Airport past part of the old Berlin wall and the very impressive tower on the town hall... (Taxi driver complemented Maritta on her German which helped her confidence). Found address and got the apartment keys from the local corner store as it is Sunday afternoon. The bond was meant to be on a credit card but both didn't work! Oh well less money to spend on "stuff" as Dale refers to it. Found the apartment on Boxhagener Strasse. The apartment is in Friedrichshain a suburb of Berlin. It is in the old section and very bohemian - all the young people are here as are a large number of dogs (and their owners). A definite fringe culture is alive here.
After shower and quick change of travel clothes. we set off for a walk around the block. Leaving the apartment we found Alan lingering outside the door of the apartment block, Maritta went to rescue Noeline from the corner store. She too was not happy as her credit card also didn't work....
After that we all went for a walk around some of the nearby streets and had an early dinner outside one of the local Pubs, (and an early night.)
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| First evening Local pub |
well done guys.... looks like you are in the swing of things already.... just not too many bevvies before getting behind the wheel!!
ReplyDeleteHi Karyn
DeleteWe are having a ball. Fortunately we are not driving....yet! Dale is a little concerned about driving out of Berlin (on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road) at the end of the week.