Hello all!
I have arrived safe and sound in Berlin. This will be a quick blog entry because Sam and I have just checked into our hostel after about 24 hours of straight travel and I need a shower and some dinner (anbier!).
The flight was smooth and instead of the intended 8 hours, our flight was cut down to 6 hours and 50 minutes. Unfortunately we were delayed because the conveyer belt at the Condor check in was not working so all the luggage had to be brought to the plane by hand.
We landed in Frankfurt only an hour later than was intended. Immediately, we made our way to the train station (oder Frankfurt Bahnhoff) and slowly attempted to use the ticket kiosk...all the text was in German. It wasn't until we arrived in Berlin that we discovered it could be switched to English. My poor, sleep-deprived brain was trying to remember my basic German, but I have to say, I was pretty proud of us. We figured it out (whilst clutching to my purse, terrified I would be harassed by some pick-pocket). Wen made it to the Frankfurt Main Station and then took the train into Berlin.
The German countryside is beautiful, lush and so green right now. It has also been so nice to discover how helpful and polite the German natives are. Every time Sam and I boarded a train, a stranger offered to help us with our cumbersome bags. How nice!
When we arrived in Berlin, it finally hit me that I was in Germany! It look took a flight from Canada and two train rides on German soil for it to finally sink in. From what little I've seen of Berlin, I have seen how beautiful it is. Urban culture, meets European history.
I also give myself points for speaking only in German to the taxi driver who took us from Alexanderplatz Station to our hostel on Swedter Strasse. I don't know if I totally fooled him, but he understood and responded only in German. Feeling a little proud! My German that I studied in University is slowly coming back to me, as I'm surrounded by people speaking it. I love this language and I'm looking forward to seeing how much more I'll be able to speak by the end of my month here. Im challenging myself to speak as much German as I can.
Our hostel is great. Incredibly clean, in East Berlin in the Prenzlauer district. Great facility, free internet and great prices. So glad we found it! Looking forward to exploring the area a bit more and having my first authentic German meal here! AND BIER....did I mention I will be drinking German BIER?!
Tomorrow we have our full day tour with Brian Deedrick, a former stage director of mine and Sam's/Berlin tour guide. How fortunate to have a friend and colleague showing us around this beautiful city. I will have much more to write after tomorrow, I'm sure!
Tchüss!
