from paris to berlin
“From Paris to Berlin, And every disco I get in. My heart is pumping for love…..” Infernal
This song was our anthem for a long while and now we are here in Berlin. We farewelled Paris by spending a day at Disneyland Paris. For a day, we were able to be big kids, cuddling (and at times almost choking) all our favourite Disney characters. It was one of our highlights of this European adventure so far.
We made it to Germany after a little drama with the staff at the Air France check in counter. We asked to be seated together when we checked in but were told firmly that the flight was ALL booked out and that there was nothing the ground staff could do for us. And that we needed to just wait til we got on board to sort out our seating. Funnily enough when we climbed onboard and settled down, both of us were sitting beside empty seats. What were the chances of that – gee whiz!
Getting past German customs was another rather intriguing encounter. We have been questioned about what was in our luggages many a-times before but not in such an odd manner as we did at Berlin Airport. As we were collecting our luggage off the carousel, we were promptly pulled aside by a stocky, blond German man who was unlikely to be much older than us. The conversation went a little something like this:
Him: (expressionless face) “Hello. Welcome to Germany!”
Us: (all smiles) “Thank you!”
Him: “Where have you come from?”
Us: “Paris”
Him: “Can I see your passports?”
Us: (handing them over).
Him: “You are from Australia.”
Us: “Yes, we have been travelling since July around Europe.”
Him: (in a stern voice) “Do you have anything to declare?”
Us: “Nope!”
Him: (still in a stern voice) “Any drugs?”
Us: “No!”
Him: “Do you have a koala bear in your suitcase?” (clearly a joke but still in his stern voice)
Us: “Uhh…. if there was one, he would be dead now…” (jokingly)
Him: “Okay – you can go.” And still NOT even a smirk from him.
Anyway, Berlin is a city full of surprises. We turn one corner and there is a marathon going, we walk a little further and there are modern buildings, we walk another way and there are historical buildings and the most unusual thing we stumbled come across had to be the nude sunbathing park in the middle of the city while we were looking for the Victory Column. We’re sure this isn’t the reason that everyone seems to love Berlin so much.
wise monkeys abroad 
November 2, 2013 at 6:02 pm
Quite right. There is a little more to Berlin then nudism, yes!
November 2, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Hehehe – it was very unusual seeing a nude park, let alone one in the middle of the city!