From Munich to Berlin - A Travel Report - Nov-20-to-Nov-22-2009
From Munich to Berlin and Back Here:
(If you don't want to read all the personal stuff, skip to "The Concert")
From Munich to Berlin … or How to Meet the Funniest People on Earth While Living on Planet Mars - A Travel Report Nov-20 to Nov-22-2009
Early in the morning … way too early for me anyway *yawnyawnyawn*… I went to the airport. At least I was right on time. Had to take off my boots at the security barrier. Oh well, of course, I’m smuggling knifes and other pointy things in my boots or maybe some marihuana? Oh why the hell not? … *eye-roll* *chuckles* And if one feels lonely and really needs some kind of intimate touching, I can recommend the Munich airport security. Do they have to touch you anywhere in addition to the beeping metal detector? No! But they do! Creeepy people!!!!
The one hour flight was more or less uneventful until we touched ground again. Maybe it was a rookie pilot because the touchdown was very hard. I heard other passengers gasp around me. And it joggled my bones in the back pretty bad. Dammit guy… ever thought of changing profession, maybe in the back of a plane as a steward?? No???… oh well, the orthopaedists will be happy to hear… but only them.
At the Airport Berlin Tegel I had to ask which bus line I would need to take to “Warschauer Strasse”. It’s TXL to Alexanderplatz and then switching to suburban train, the guy of the BVG (Berlin Transport Service Company) said, smiling at me and saying “The bus is right there, only waiting for you. Hurry up!” I don’t know if it was meant in a sarcastic or a funny way. But the way he smiled at me I voted for the latter and laughed, returning the smile.
I went to the Alexanderplatz with the bus and thought that I would certainly find an O2 shop there. Because silly me: I switched off my phone and forgot my PIN number!!! *headdesk* After trying out the wrong number twice I gave up before the phone would be locked. Since Alexanderplatz is practically the middle of the city, there had to be an O2 shop (there’s always one - O2 is like McDonalds only in the field of telecommuncation) and I was right. The people at the O2 shop were very helpful and told me my PIN. See, never change your PIN or you’ll never be able to ask your mobile telecommunication provider for it. Without my phone I would not have been able to find flowing_fire at the venue. That was my only thought. You know, I am an atheist, but sometimes I catch myself praying to God … my own personal God… of course (… and it’s not Jared Leto … I can hear your thoughts, people!… LOL).
So after that I went to the train station Warschauer Strasse with the suburban train. A pretty fucked up station, if you ask me. Dragged my suitcase up all the stairs to the street (no f*cking elevator there!) and further to my hotel. Well, my hotel room wasn’t ready (they never said on the Internet when one would be able to “check in” so I just assumed it would be around noon, but nope), so I left my suitcase there and went back to the Alexanderplatz again. Walked around a bit and then drove further to the station Hackescher Markt. The Hackesche Höfe is a really nice place for (window) shopping and to grab something to eat. There are many many restaurants for every taste directly at the train station and in and around the Hackesche Höfe, so you won’t ever go hungry from there. Back at the hotel I finally got to my room. #302 it was, mind you!!!! There had to be a 30 in it … of course. LOL
*******
The Concert:
I slept for three or three and a half hours, not a very fitful sleep but enough to keep me going. Being up on my feet since 4.45 in the morning can make you really tired. At 4 in the afternoon I got a message from flowing fire telling me that she was on her way to the venue. That’s when I took a really hot shower *purrrrrs* and made myself ready to go to the venue. When I was at the gates of Astra Kulturhaus, someone offered me a ticket. I asked whether he didn’t want to go anymore or whether he just had one spare ticket. Just a spare ticket, he said and I just thought “yeah right” *eye-roll*. He was probably one of those greedy bastards who wanted to resell tickets at the venue to desperate fans … ugh.
Well, I texted flowing fire that I was there and she called me back. Since my mobile phone ringtone is “Battle of One” (really loud, too), some heads turned to my direction, I had to bite back a grin at that. Flowing fire said she would wave her mobile and whether I could see her. I did, and went to her. Called out her name and she said “Jaaaaaaa.” Next thing I knew I got a full body hug, making me feel at home for the first time since I set foot on Berlin soil. Didn’t even see her face, but got a good feel of her whole body though LOL!!!! (btw, your behind isn’t as big as you made me believe, cheater! *lol* ) ... She introduced me to her friends and in the same breath told me that they were all from East Germany, indicating that I am the only one from the West. So I revealed myself, saying that I was born in East Germany as well, which surprised them. They marvelled at the fact that I didn’t have any accent. You know, as a Bavarian, people expect you to talk with a really strong Bavarian accent, which I don’t have. Living in Bavaria for so long now, I don’t have an accent from my home federal state either. Well, anyway… so it became a meeting of the “Girls from the East” (also including one boy lol). We waited for a long time outside the venue, freezing our arses off. We probably entertained the whole row there, more or less, at least the boys standing right behind us, which were cute but sadly too young. Some girls in the front were screaming now and then. I am not sure if it was because of the band or … pure excitement?! We just thought ‘alright, calm down again. They are just human beings, like you and me’. Well, maybe Jared is an alien from outer space… but that still needs to be proven.
To the defence of Berlin people I have to say that most of them are very relaxed. They stood in line and behaved really good. There was no shoving, no trying to get farther ahead, where people in Munich would have elbowed their way to the front. That’s why we are using iron gates here. *snickers*
When we entered the venue they played Lenny Kravitz!!!!! Of all people!!! And not just one song but a whole bunch of them until the support band started their gig. Flowing_fire asked me if I was in seventh heaven now that they were playing Lenny and I could just nod with a stupid grin on my face. We left our jackets at the wardrobe and went to the merchandise stand. Yes, I did something I wouldn’t normally do. I bought a shirt and the other girls advised me which one looked the coolest. So I bought a white shirt with the black and white tiger and “this is war” at the front. Well I had expected them (30STM) to sell the single K&Q at the venue, but there were only shirts, buttons, hoodies etc. We took a place to the left of the stage (to the right - looking down from the stage), exactly opposite a big Echelon group at the right.
The support band, We Fell To Earth, was amazing. I listened and was fascinated…could stop swaying to the music. Really really goooood kinda electronic chill-out/dance music. They did deserve the huge applause at the end of their gig. Listen in here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IItG7YJDbS0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymYBwLVo7lw
While we were waiting again, Björk was played. Oh well, this can be annoying if you are waiting… Björk is no good music to keep people entertained for the big show. Nonono…
I felt comfortable in the spot where we stood… that is until 30 came on the stage and everyone took at least one giant step forward, leaving me right in the middle of everything. Others would have liked it (being squished) I am sure. But not me. I began to feel sick and hot immediately. If there’s not even a hand’s width between me and another person, between me and all other people around me… I just get into a slight panic, feel uncomfortable, like constantly thinking that they are closing in on me. So I told flowing fire that I need to go farther back. I could see the surprise on her face. Probably thinking ‘what the hell?!’ I regretted it … that I could not stand with them, enjoy the concert with them… but I just could not stay in that spot where I could not even turn without someone pressing against me. I am really sorry for that. As it was, I stood in the back leaned against one of the pillars … with people that were really tall and had probably decided to stand in the back … and one father with a young girl … really, fans of 30STM are very diverse.
There was a guy who was filming during the whole concert. Maybe it was someone from the band because the equipment looked rather professional and I can’t imagine that they would allow that at the venue if it wasn’t allowed by the band. Maybe the material ends up on one DVD or something.
From my new spot I could see much better than before. Saw Tomo, Jared and Tim really well, but not Shannon. He was, of course, sitting down in the back at his drums and, thus, not really in my line of vision. But I could see that he had on rather strange glasses LOL. They played pretty much the same songs as at the other venues. People sang along and Jared was teasing them, talking to them, smiling and laughing. I think, at one song, the Echelon singers threw him off the song and he had to start again, making fun of it. He also said that he knew only one further “stupid line” in German (besides “Danke schön”): “Ich liebe dich” (I love you)… oh well, of course… that would be the first line fangirls would have teached him … *snickers*
When Jared sang “under pressure” and “revenge” I had goose bumps all over my body. Here are links to this part of the concert, please comment to the one who made it. This person did an incredibly good job:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BysmwGCT6JQ (revenge)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2uxMFq4eWI (under pressure)
Hearing those songs on youtube is not the same than hearing them live, however. These songs, this voice. Amazing. Different. Simply good. Acoustic songs are the frosting on the yummy chocolate cake that is 30 Seconds to Mars. When the rather short concert was over, we were more or less ushered outside where the line for the promised signing session had been growing longer and longer in the meantime. Standing in the cold… again … we had to entertain ourselves for a pretty long time. At first nothing moved forward but then it went very quickly. Flowing fire and me (together with one of her friends) were parted at the door to the signing session, which resulted into another full body hug when joined again. LOL. I played a torero with my bought shirt to ease the tension of coming face to face with the band again, at least I made flowing fire’s friend laugh. She went to the table before me and was very nervous, so she didn’t hear Shannon asking her “Pretty cold outside, hmmm?” While she was already standing before Tomo, I said to Shannon “Yes, indeed,” and he adjusted his knitted cap, zipped up his jacket and rubbed his hands, answering “Well, it’s pretty cold inside here as well.” To which I only smiled dumbly. Why do I don’t get out an intelligent word when standing in front of them? *shakes head in absolute desperation* Well, the right answer would have been “I could warm you up pretty quickly” … or something like that. *headdesk* Too bad it only came to me later when I was back at the hotel room. Or maybe it was good that I didn’t come up with that earlier, although I would have liked to see his face at that. It seems I’ll never grow up, will I??? *shakes her head ‘no’* Dammit ... lol
Tomo didn’t say anything, just signed the shirt and Jared looked me in the eyes and said “thank you” like he had said it I am sure a million times before to the million people who came before me. At least I didn’t had to say “hello?” or “hi?!” *pokepoke* to him to get his big blue eyes on me, like the last time in Munich *chuckles*. Oh wait, now I know why he looked at me … I bought a shirt and spent 30 euros, so he probably thinks I am at least worth a small smile. I just returned a polite ‘thank you’ and turned to go. Halfway out of the venue I turned around again and saw flowing fire chatting with Jared and holding up the line behind her. Jared TALKED to AND WINKED at her which resulted in a full fangirl squee of her once we were outside again (like the ones we had been making fun off while standing outside waiting). *chuckles again* But I can understand her excitement, if Jared talks more than just one or two words with you, you know you have done something right. *cuddles flowing fire*
*******
The group parted in front of the venue and I went back to my hotel. Since it was after midnight I would have to go through the night entrance … once I would find it, yeah well. A man with a bulldog asked me whether I belonged to the hotel and if so, I would need to use the other entrance. I said I know that there’s another entrance, but that I am not sure where exactly it is and that I would be glad if he showed me the way, which he did. The dog couldn’t decide whether to growl at me or to hump my leg. He was running to and from me, to the owner and back again. It was a very young dog, brown, beautiful, not trained yet, pulling very hard at the leash. The man told me not to have any fear. I don’t fear the dog as long as he doesn’t bite me, I told the man. Don’t have any negative experiences with dogs, never got bitten. Dogs tend to lay over my feet. At least my ex-boss’ dog and a friend’s dog did that. And the cats of my other friend like to lay over my lap or cuddle in the crook of my arm, too. Which can be a little bit annoying, being under siege by animals, when you need to go someplace else. LOL. The man was very curious as to where I came from, when I told him ‘Munich’ he was surprised. (No idea, why… maybe he expected me to yodel or to wear a Dirndl - traditional clothing - on? I own two but I wouldn’t wear them outside Bavarian soil LOL). He pointed out the night entrance of the hotel to me which were only a couple of steps away around the back of the house and bid me Good Night. I could see the dog standing there, not to be moved, looking after me until I was inside the hotel… lol… poor dog owner. This one still needs a LOT of training … I mean both of them.
I slept the sleep of the dead that night (i.e. relatively good) and the next day I went to the Brandenburger Tor and further on to the Reichstag, Then to the Bundeskanzleramt. Walking a little bit further, I sat down at the Spree there and watched the ferries go by and the joggers running along the promenade. There were two men at the other side of the Spree playing with their dogs. It was all very quiet and peaceful. Lovely. To the main train station it was not very far. So I grabbed some food and water and went back to the Brandenburger Tor. In contrast to the spot at the Spree it was pleasantly lively there. There was a group of boys doing some breakdancing. The best thing about them was their “host/presenter”. The one “getting the masses ready” for the “main event”. He was really funny, getting people into it. Their “breakdancing” however wasn’t that good. Oh well. *s*.
I slowly walked down the street “Unter den Linden” in the direction of the Alexanderplatz. At one big place with big grassland/park, there was a man standing in the middle of a big heart made of mown grass with red roses in his hand, waiting. I heard people say that he was waiting for his girlfriend to propose to her, they all were pretty amused just by looking at and watching him. He must have waited there fore a while. And when I walked on I think I saw the “lucky” girlfriend in question because a woman was lead into the man’s direction by two other women. She had a shawl before her eyes. Don’t know whether the proposal went well, but I hope so for the guy’s sake.
Saw some banners at the Humboldt University. Student’s protest are a topic in Germany right now. Yeah, I know, and they are right about everything they demand.
Opposite the Berlin Dom, a big church, was an artist’s market. Very interesting art/paintings and all kinds of other “art” were sold there. For example artists who put up their work here: http://www.toonpool.com
Sometime later I was back at the Alexanderplatz. I was not in the mood for shopping as my feet and back were killing me, from walking and standing so long the night before. So I returned to the Hotel later that evening. After some dinner I felt like dropping dead, only thoughts being ‘shower’ and ‘bed’. Once my head hit the cushion on the bed I was fast asleep. That’s all due to the fact that my job is killing me right now in addition to me trying to discover Berlin per pedes. Next morning I slept late and after a very hot, very long, really refreshing shower, I went down to get to a very good breakfast buffet. Nutella bread… everyone should try that before dying. Yummy. My favorite thing for breakfast, right after a good cup of black steaming hot coffee.
After that I paid for my room and travelled across the city to Berlin Tegel airport. This time I didn’t have to pull off my boots at security, what a surprise. Thank you, Berlin. Also the pilot touched down really softly in Munich, which almost made me want to clap at that. Obviously, this was a pro!!! Thank God. My back wouldn’t have survived another hard landing. Home, sweet home. It’s good to get away, but it’s even better to be home again.
My visit was way too short… could have stayed longer. Berlin is a very nice city. And I don’t mean the buildings or the streets, but the people who live there. Can’t say this out loud here as people in Munich wouldn’t understand, as they think Munich is the hub of the world, but I could actually imagine living in Berlin. It’s an amazing city. People in Munich can be such snobs. In Berlin they were all very friendly and nice … and relaxed. Even the men look better there (really hope that weren’t all tourists … lol)
There were also some negative things, like the beggars who send their children to beg for money with prepared cards in English and German. That really made me very angry. What the hell are these people thinking? Not acceptable, not acceptable at all.
And the homeless people sleeping on the street, which made me very sad. Everyone who got to the venue by suburban train probably knows which ones I mean.
But overall, Berlin seems to be a very nice city to live in. And I’ll miss flowing_fire. She’s really the funniest sweetest girl ever. A Berlin original. Would like to be around you and your friends a lot more. Hope the opportunity arises again. *huggles*
Greetings to all of your friends.
Sue
(If you don't want to read all the personal stuff, skip to "The Concert")
From Munich to Berlin … or How to Meet the Funniest People on Earth While Living on Planet Mars - A Travel Report Nov-20 to Nov-22-2009
Early in the morning … way too early for me anyway *yawnyawnyawn*… I went to the airport. At least I was right on time. Had to take off my boots at the security barrier. Oh well, of course, I’m smuggling knifes and other pointy things in my boots or maybe some marihuana? Oh why the hell not? … *eye-roll* *chuckles* And if one feels lonely and really needs some kind of intimate touching, I can recommend the Munich airport security. Do they have to touch you anywhere in addition to the beeping metal detector? No! But they do! Creeepy people!!!!
The one hour flight was more or less uneventful until we touched ground again. Maybe it was a rookie pilot because the touchdown was very hard. I heard other passengers gasp around me. And it joggled my bones in the back pretty bad. Dammit guy… ever thought of changing profession, maybe in the back of a plane as a steward?? No???… oh well, the orthopaedists will be happy to hear… but only them.
At the Airport Berlin Tegel I had to ask which bus line I would need to take to “Warschauer Strasse”. It’s TXL to Alexanderplatz and then switching to suburban train, the guy of the BVG (Berlin Transport Service Company) said, smiling at me and saying “The bus is right there, only waiting for you. Hurry up!” I don’t know if it was meant in a sarcastic or a funny way. But the way he smiled at me I voted for the latter and laughed, returning the smile.
I went to the Alexanderplatz with the bus and thought that I would certainly find an O2 shop there. Because silly me: I switched off my phone and forgot my PIN number!!! *headdesk* After trying out the wrong number twice I gave up before the phone would be locked. Since Alexanderplatz is practically the middle of the city, there had to be an O2 shop (there’s always one - O2 is like McDonalds only in the field of telecommuncation) and I was right. The people at the O2 shop were very helpful and told me my PIN. See, never change your PIN or you’ll never be able to ask your mobile telecommunication provider for it. Without my phone I would not have been able to find flowing_fire at the venue. That was my only thought. You know, I am an atheist, but sometimes I catch myself praying to God … my own personal God… of course (… and it’s not Jared Leto … I can hear your thoughts, people!… LOL).
So after that I went to the train station Warschauer Strasse with the suburban train. A pretty fucked up station, if you ask me. Dragged my suitcase up all the stairs to the street (no f*cking elevator there!) and further to my hotel. Well, my hotel room wasn’t ready (they never said on the Internet when one would be able to “check in” so I just assumed it would be around noon, but nope), so I left my suitcase there and went back to the Alexanderplatz again. Walked around a bit and then drove further to the station Hackescher Markt. The Hackesche Höfe is a really nice place for (window) shopping and to grab something to eat. There are many many restaurants for every taste directly at the train station and in and around the Hackesche Höfe, so you won’t ever go hungry from there. Back at the hotel I finally got to my room. #302 it was, mind you!!!! There had to be a 30 in it … of course. LOL
*******
The Concert:
I slept for three or three and a half hours, not a very fitful sleep but enough to keep me going. Being up on my feet since 4.45 in the morning can make you really tired. At 4 in the afternoon I got a message from flowing fire telling me that she was on her way to the venue. That’s when I took a really hot shower *purrrrrs* and made myself ready to go to the venue. When I was at the gates of Astra Kulturhaus, someone offered me a ticket. I asked whether he didn’t want to go anymore or whether he just had one spare ticket. Just a spare ticket, he said and I just thought “yeah right” *eye-roll*. He was probably one of those greedy bastards who wanted to resell tickets at the venue to desperate fans … ugh.
Well, I texted flowing fire that I was there and she called me back. Since my mobile phone ringtone is “Battle of One” (really loud, too), some heads turned to my direction, I had to bite back a grin at that. Flowing fire said she would wave her mobile and whether I could see her. I did, and went to her. Called out her name and she said “Jaaaaaaa.” Next thing I knew I got a full body hug, making me feel at home for the first time since I set foot on Berlin soil. Didn’t even see her face, but got a good feel of her whole body though LOL!!!! (btw, your behind isn’t as big as you made me believe, cheater! *lol* ) ... She introduced me to her friends and in the same breath told me that they were all from East Germany, indicating that I am the only one from the West. So I revealed myself, saying that I was born in East Germany as well, which surprised them. They marvelled at the fact that I didn’t have any accent. You know, as a Bavarian, people expect you to talk with a really strong Bavarian accent, which I don’t have. Living in Bavaria for so long now, I don’t have an accent from my home federal state either. Well, anyway… so it became a meeting of the “Girls from the East” (also including one boy lol). We waited for a long time outside the venue, freezing our arses off. We probably entertained the whole row there, more or less, at least the boys standing right behind us, which were cute but sadly too young. Some girls in the front were screaming now and then. I am not sure if it was because of the band or … pure excitement?! We just thought ‘alright, calm down again. They are just human beings, like you and me’. Well, maybe Jared is an alien from outer space… but that still needs to be proven.
To the defence of Berlin people I have to say that most of them are very relaxed. They stood in line and behaved really good. There was no shoving, no trying to get farther ahead, where people in Munich would have elbowed their way to the front. That’s why we are using iron gates here. *snickers*
When we entered the venue they played Lenny Kravitz!!!!! Of all people!!! And not just one song but a whole bunch of them until the support band started their gig. Flowing_fire asked me if I was in seventh heaven now that they were playing Lenny and I could just nod with a stupid grin on my face. We left our jackets at the wardrobe and went to the merchandise stand. Yes, I did something I wouldn’t normally do. I bought a shirt and the other girls advised me which one looked the coolest. So I bought a white shirt with the black and white tiger and “this is war” at the front. Well I had expected them (30STM) to sell the single K&Q at the venue, but there were only shirts, buttons, hoodies etc. We took a place to the left of the stage (to the right - looking down from the stage), exactly opposite a big Echelon group at the right.
The support band, We Fell To Earth, was amazing. I listened and was fascinated…could stop swaying to the music. Really really goooood kinda electronic chill-out/dance music. They did deserve the huge applause at the end of their gig. Listen in here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IItG7YJDbS0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymYBwLVo7lw
While we were waiting again, Björk was played. Oh well, this can be annoying if you are waiting… Björk is no good music to keep people entertained for the big show. Nonono…
I felt comfortable in the spot where we stood… that is until 30 came on the stage and everyone took at least one giant step forward, leaving me right in the middle of everything. Others would have liked it (being squished) I am sure. But not me. I began to feel sick and hot immediately. If there’s not even a hand’s width between me and another person, between me and all other people around me… I just get into a slight panic, feel uncomfortable, like constantly thinking that they are closing in on me. So I told flowing fire that I need to go farther back. I could see the surprise on her face. Probably thinking ‘what the hell?!’ I regretted it … that I could not stand with them, enjoy the concert with them… but I just could not stay in that spot where I could not even turn without someone pressing against me. I am really sorry for that. As it was, I stood in the back leaned against one of the pillars … with people that were really tall and had probably decided to stand in the back … and one father with a young girl … really, fans of 30STM are very diverse.
There was a guy who was filming during the whole concert. Maybe it was someone from the band because the equipment looked rather professional and I can’t imagine that they would allow that at the venue if it wasn’t allowed by the band. Maybe the material ends up on one DVD or something.
From my new spot I could see much better than before. Saw Tomo, Jared and Tim really well, but not Shannon. He was, of course, sitting down in the back at his drums and, thus, not really in my line of vision. But I could see that he had on rather strange glasses LOL. They played pretty much the same songs as at the other venues. People sang along and Jared was teasing them, talking to them, smiling and laughing. I think, at one song, the Echelon singers threw him off the song and he had to start again, making fun of it. He also said that he knew only one further “stupid line” in German (besides “Danke schön”): “Ich liebe dich” (I love you)… oh well, of course… that would be the first line fangirls would have teached him … *snickers*
When Jared sang “under pressure” and “revenge” I had goose bumps all over my body. Here are links to this part of the concert, please comment to the one who made it. This person did an incredibly good job:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BysmwGCT6JQ (revenge)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2uxMFq4eWI (under pressure)
Hearing those songs on youtube is not the same than hearing them live, however. These songs, this voice. Amazing. Different. Simply good. Acoustic songs are the frosting on the yummy chocolate cake that is 30 Seconds to Mars. When the rather short concert was over, we were more or less ushered outside where the line for the promised signing session had been growing longer and longer in the meantime. Standing in the cold… again … we had to entertain ourselves for a pretty long time. At first nothing moved forward but then it went very quickly. Flowing fire and me (together with one of her friends) were parted at the door to the signing session, which resulted into another full body hug when joined again. LOL. I played a torero with my bought shirt to ease the tension of coming face to face with the band again, at least I made flowing fire’s friend laugh. She went to the table before me and was very nervous, so she didn’t hear Shannon asking her “Pretty cold outside, hmmm?” While she was already standing before Tomo, I said to Shannon “Yes, indeed,” and he adjusted his knitted cap, zipped up his jacket and rubbed his hands, answering “Well, it’s pretty cold inside here as well.” To which I only smiled dumbly. Why do I don’t get out an intelligent word when standing in front of them? *shakes head in absolute desperation* Well, the right answer would have been “I could warm you up pretty quickly” … or something like that. *headdesk* Too bad it only came to me later when I was back at the hotel room. Or maybe it was good that I didn’t come up with that earlier, although I would have liked to see his face at that. It seems I’ll never grow up, will I??? *shakes her head ‘no’* Dammit ... lol
Tomo didn’t say anything, just signed the shirt and Jared looked me in the eyes and said “thank you” like he had said it I am sure a million times before to the million people who came before me. At least I didn’t had to say “hello?” or “hi?!” *pokepoke* to him to get his big blue eyes on me, like the last time in Munich *chuckles*. Oh wait, now I know why he looked at me … I bought a shirt and spent 30 euros, so he probably thinks I am at least worth a small smile. I just returned a polite ‘thank you’ and turned to go. Halfway out of the venue I turned around again and saw flowing fire chatting with Jared and holding up the line behind her. Jared TALKED to AND WINKED at her which resulted in a full fangirl squee of her once we were outside again (like the ones we had been making fun off while standing outside waiting). *chuckles again* But I can understand her excitement, if Jared talks more than just one or two words with you, you know you have done something right. *cuddles flowing fire*
*******
The group parted in front of the venue and I went back to my hotel. Since it was after midnight I would have to go through the night entrance … once I would find it, yeah well. A man with a bulldog asked me whether I belonged to the hotel and if so, I would need to use the other entrance. I said I know that there’s another entrance, but that I am not sure where exactly it is and that I would be glad if he showed me the way, which he did. The dog couldn’t decide whether to growl at me or to hump my leg. He was running to and from me, to the owner and back again. It was a very young dog, brown, beautiful, not trained yet, pulling very hard at the leash. The man told me not to have any fear. I don’t fear the dog as long as he doesn’t bite me, I told the man. Don’t have any negative experiences with dogs, never got bitten. Dogs tend to lay over my feet. At least my ex-boss’ dog and a friend’s dog did that. And the cats of my other friend like to lay over my lap or cuddle in the crook of my arm, too. Which can be a little bit annoying, being under siege by animals, when you need to go someplace else. LOL. The man was very curious as to where I came from, when I told him ‘Munich’ he was surprised. (No idea, why… maybe he expected me to yodel or to wear a Dirndl - traditional clothing - on? I own two but I wouldn’t wear them outside Bavarian soil LOL). He pointed out the night entrance of the hotel to me which were only a couple of steps away around the back of the house and bid me Good Night. I could see the dog standing there, not to be moved, looking after me until I was inside the hotel… lol… poor dog owner. This one still needs a LOT of training … I mean both of them.
I slept the sleep of the dead that night (i.e. relatively good) and the next day I went to the Brandenburger Tor and further on to the Reichstag, Then to the Bundeskanzleramt. Walking a little bit further, I sat down at the Spree there and watched the ferries go by and the joggers running along the promenade. There were two men at the other side of the Spree playing with their dogs. It was all very quiet and peaceful. Lovely. To the main train station it was not very far. So I grabbed some food and water and went back to the Brandenburger Tor. In contrast to the spot at the Spree it was pleasantly lively there. There was a group of boys doing some breakdancing. The best thing about them was their “host/presenter”. The one “getting the masses ready” for the “main event”. He was really funny, getting people into it. Their “breakdancing” however wasn’t that good. Oh well. *s*.
I slowly walked down the street “Unter den Linden” in the direction of the Alexanderplatz. At one big place with big grassland/park, there was a man standing in the middle of a big heart made of mown grass with red roses in his hand, waiting. I heard people say that he was waiting for his girlfriend to propose to her, they all were pretty amused just by looking at and watching him. He must have waited there fore a while. And when I walked on I think I saw the “lucky” girlfriend in question because a woman was lead into the man’s direction by two other women. She had a shawl before her eyes. Don’t know whether the proposal went well, but I hope so for the guy’s sake.
Saw some banners at the Humboldt University. Student’s protest are a topic in Germany right now. Yeah, I know, and they are right about everything they demand.
Opposite the Berlin Dom, a big church, was an artist’s market. Very interesting art/paintings and all kinds of other “art” were sold there. For example artists who put up their work here: http://www.toonpool.com
Sometime later I was back at the Alexanderplatz. I was not in the mood for shopping as my feet and back were killing me, from walking and standing so long the night before. So I returned to the Hotel later that evening. After some dinner I felt like dropping dead, only thoughts being ‘shower’ and ‘bed’. Once my head hit the cushion on the bed I was fast asleep. That’s all due to the fact that my job is killing me right now in addition to me trying to discover Berlin per pedes. Next morning I slept late and after a very hot, very long, really refreshing shower, I went down to get to a very good breakfast buffet. Nutella bread… everyone should try that before dying. Yummy. My favorite thing for breakfast, right after a good cup of black steaming hot coffee.
After that I paid for my room and travelled across the city to Berlin Tegel airport. This time I didn’t have to pull off my boots at security, what a surprise. Thank you, Berlin. Also the pilot touched down really softly in Munich, which almost made me want to clap at that. Obviously, this was a pro!!! Thank God. My back wouldn’t have survived another hard landing. Home, sweet home. It’s good to get away, but it’s even better to be home again.
My visit was way too short… could have stayed longer. Berlin is a very nice city. And I don’t mean the buildings or the streets, but the people who live there. Can’t say this out loud here as people in Munich wouldn’t understand, as they think Munich is the hub of the world, but I could actually imagine living in Berlin. It’s an amazing city. People in Munich can be such snobs. In Berlin they were all very friendly and nice … and relaxed. Even the men look better there (really hope that weren’t all tourists … lol)
There were also some negative things, like the beggars who send their children to beg for money with prepared cards in English and German. That really made me very angry. What the hell are these people thinking? Not acceptable, not acceptable at all.
And the homeless people sleeping on the street, which made me very sad. Everyone who got to the venue by suburban train probably knows which ones I mean.
But overall, Berlin seems to be a very nice city to live in. And I’ll miss flowing_fire. She’s really the funniest sweetest girl ever. A Berlin original. Would like to be around you and your friends a lot more. Hope the opportunity arises again. *huggles*
Greetings to all of your friends.
Sue