Berlin bound!

On this Sunday we are getting an early start to take three trains and two flights to arrive at our finally destination, Berlin, where we will spend six days reliving my last trip there in 1983 and explore what I missed and experience the city in its now unified state.

All went well getting to Lyon airport but our first flight to Frankfurt was delayed almost an hour. That gave us time to have a sit down lunch and watch then planes got by.

In Frankfurt, we had to go through security again and then we enough time to use the WC, buy some gum, and charge phones for a few moments. I was also excited to see one of the few remaining 747-100 that is still being used for commercial flights. Lufthansa has I believe two routes where they still use this iconic plane. Well, iconic to me because I grew up in the 1970s.

We arrived in Berlin and while Amy was waiting for the luggage, I purchased tickets for the train to to take us to Alexandsrplatz near our hotel. When we got down on the platform the police were blocking off part of the platform, which was a problem because I could not validate my ticket. So, I asked the policeman who was very young but trying to look fierce where I could do that. He took the tickets and validated them for me.

It was a fairly long ride but the train was very quiet and comfortable. Our MotelOne was just a few steps from the station it not the prettiest introduction to Berlin for Amy as there was trash and several homeless people. At the front desk, they asked for my name and out of habit, I spelled my last name and then, duh, I said I don’t have to spell it here!

Amy found an Indian place close by where we got “classic cocktails.” I got a curry to help clear out my sinuses as I was still a bit under the weather. We watched some of the Olympics in German and off to bed!