We are sitting here enjoying the breakfast at our hotel in Berlin Fredrichshain. We have found that the hotel has free WIFI in the public areas, despite denying this when we asked on check in. Otherwise free WIFI seems to be alien to the german culture!
We are going to Potsdam today for some sightseeing, its just outside Berlin city proper but serviced by the local urban rail trains.

Dresden Day Trip

Today (Tuesday) we had a day trip by train from Berlin to Dresden and return.
This involved getting Dorothy up early, not so hard when jet lag wakes you up early anyway!!!
We travelled on the Vindabona international train, which starts in Hamburg in Germany, travels through Berlina and Dresden and then on to the Czech republic (Prague etc) and on to Austria (Vienna etc)
The train deposited us on time at Dresden main station before lunch. We then caught a tram into the new town and walked across the river into the old town. The river Elbe looks good and we looked forward to a paddle steamer ride on it today.
Alas we were too early, they do not start the season until 9 April!!!!!
Curses.
Anyway we walked around the lovely old buildings in the old town, dodging the few tourist groups and buses (and horse drawn coaches). Most of these building were reconstructed by the GDR in the 1960s and later after being bombed in Feb 1945 by the allies.
We ended the day with a tram ride into the suburbs, quite confusing as we caught a number 10 tram to its terminus where there was an announcement in German which we could not understand. Suddenly the tram converts to a number 6 and continues on along the line! They have not caught onto that trick in Melbounre yet thank goodness.
We now know how important it is to keep a good supply of 50 euro cent coins. Everyone has heard of the phrase " going to spend a penny" Well euro escalation has made that into 50 cents  or 70 cents in the Dresden station!
The train trip back to Berlin was comfortable, so much so that Dorothy caught up on her sleep. Gary was too busy watching all the action out of the window! Dinner was at our favourite pizza place at the main railway station in Berlin. Three pieces of pizza and a drink for under 10 bucks aussie.

Berlin still b.cold

Took a 5 minute walk from our Hotel to the East side Gallery which is along the river bank, a 1km that has been left standing of the Berlin Wall, whiich has some great grafitti art work on it. 

We had a walk around the Tiergarten (central gardens in Berlin), also stumbled across a local library which was next to a small train station, we had a quick look around the library and enjoyed the warmth while studying the map.  Gary went for a train ride on the suburban ring (S bahn).  We are enjoying the train system especially when u only have to wait 5 to  7 minutes between trains and of course they are all heated.  Even though it is cold we have had sunny afternoons, but I'm on the lookout for some earmuffs.

While out and about today we keeped a lookout for a laundromat - no luck so far -

Berlin News

We are enjoying the cool Berlin weather.  Have spent today walking and taking trains to Schloss Charlotte (palace).  After a hot Chocolate and cake in a local cafe we caught the ring train towards our hotel (Gary's short cut) . . . but the train turned into a bus , due to track work, whilst waiting for the bus we encountered what I thought was rain, but it was white stuff, sleet.  So we quickly returned to the train station and caught a different train making our way back to the hotel.  After a rest we have returned to the main railway station (Hauptbanhof) to find an internet kiosk that works eg computer is in english.  Also has all the main takeaway food outlets plus some nice cafes.
OK for the moment tomorrow will be more tourist places to visit with Gary planning the train routes

Wednesday Tennis

We had a home game tonight, with dirizzle throughout the evening, not enough to stop play.  There was a match that went to a tie breaker 1 vs 3. Some games had long rallys, one player went all the way to the fence in an attempt to return our play.  We even had a couple of serves that were aces. - Nice -  The final score was MM 37 games to 15.  The cakes we had for supper were a great hit with everyone Over all well done team

 

Adding photos to blog

Hi am going to try to add a photo to the blog - I may be a bit   - s l o w - 

Pls remember I'm still on my 'L' plates

this looks like my attempt to repack after adding to the suitcase some jumpers

Note to self:
instructions for uploading photos
select photo icon
select upload and choose files
goto camera select photo

green text looks OK for comments on photos

still looks in a mess - I think I'll come back to this tomorrow 

Packing

Spent a day packing - unpacking - repacking - throwing out extra t shirts and adding in a jumper
Berlin is under 10 degrees at present infact even sunny Spain is abit cool.  So I guess an extra light jumper might serve me better than t-shirts  (lots of them on sale at all the tourist traps)

I kept checking that I could close the suitcase lid ( a small important point I think!!)
Oh and I nearly forgot to pack the maps and the guide books
 
Yep the packing just went on and on  Dorothy

Wednesday Tennis

Well we were all ready to go but the rain that was drizzling all day continued into the tennis time (NoT HappY) so the Cap (Capt) called the game off   We did not even toss a ball. . .. . . ..

The only benefit to not playing tennis was I could sit and watch the Movie show   - am hoping for a better Wednesday next week

Dorothy

Note to Granny

Hi Granny,

Have tested the gmail and it works OK

Just select the profile google account and then enter the verification details  - by doing this your comments will be on the blog  - try it 

Dorothy

Planning the Berlin leg

We are thinking about a week in Berlin - maybe  a day trip to Warsaw and Dresden

That means less time in Berlin - hmmm  checking out the cost of train fares and accomodation

Wednesday Tennis

Last night the team played the Angels - we have not played on their courts since 2008 (awhile)

First matches were even as we all settled into our game.  Once the daylight was gone we had to move onto the other courts and by this time the mossies were getting bigger- despite our attempts to swamp them with poisons and deadly gases, the little beggers "kept on keeping on"


   The whole team did very well with return of service and returning the high lobes.  We played our game well and placed the balls in the court (mostly)- very little double faults(well done)

before we play them again perhaps a stragetic committee could be formed to instigate some game plan that would ensure our victory for next time.

game score we lost with our dignity in place

good game from everyone-D