The weather was bad. We started off with thunder and persistant rain and it was scheduled to continue all day. For once it had not stopped over breakfast so we decided to head off to the Natural history Museum. when we got there we found out it was a closed day and our journey had been in vain, however the weather had improved dramatically and it had stopped raining by 09:30 hours.
Not to be put off we rode over to the Brandemburg gate and a walk through the Jewish memorial. It is only when you actually walk through the centre of the large concrete blocks that you get a sense of being lost, perhaps that was what the sculpture was looking for but, once again without any signs declaring what it represented there were many people viewing it as a picnic area or playground leaping from block to block.
As the weather had changed for the better we decided to have another bash at finding the Grunewald Turm We were determined not to get lured down to the lakeside this time no matter how many naked women sang their siren songs to us. We knew there was a bus rout straight past it and back to Heerstrasse so we would be taking it easy today not counting the climb to the top of the tower. all went to plan and we easily found the point where the road vered away from the lake. It was quite a walk as most of it was uphill and it was strange to see lots of flashy sports cars dawdling down the hill. Turned out there was a 20km speed limit on this section of road.
We found the tower and blow me down if it had not been given the Brandenburg Gate treatment: surrounded by scaffold and the lower reaches under wraps. It still looked impressive and we had a wander around and had to imagine what the view would have been like. It was quite impressive and we were both more than a little disappointed that we could not make the climb to the top. A short stroll over the road took us to the bus stop and with remarkable German precision it arrived and left to the very minute. makes you wonder why we can never get the timetables right over here. The 218 bus soon got us back to Heerstrasse where we had a quick break for a beer before heading off to Wittenbergplatz on the U2 from Theodor Heuss Platz.
It was in its day a show piece station for Nazi Germany and once again had it’s own shopping area but, on a more traditional style layout. It was like stepping back into the 1930’s. We sat and had a couple of beers and the inevitable currywurst. Well, it’s not that often I get the chance to eat them so I have to pig out while I’m in Germany. From there we moved on to Savignyplatz where we believed the legendary 50 cents shop was. Although, to be honest, neither of us were sure this was the right location and neither of us was that bothered about finding it, we were just enjoying Berlin.
Not surprisingly we did not find the shop and decided it had been very thristy work and so crossed back over to Alexanderplatz for more beer. More live entertainment and people watching while the world went round. You do not notice at the time, there is just a vague feeling that something is different to UK and when you stop to think you realise that it is all good natured and there are no crazy people out to disrupt the fun. I also commented that we had not seen any fat young people. Not that I was on the look out for fat teenagers but, it had been all over the British press again before we left and I guess it had stuck in my mind. Olly agreed that he had not seen any overweight young people, it must be the fact that they are all walking or cycling round the city. Even riding on the S & U bahns involves many trips up and down steps.
Anyway, we had had enough and after a short stop off at a supermarket for some more beer and rice pudding survival rations we went back to Rotdorn to end our 5th day in Berlin. Time was flying past.