Germany

Well we were finally on our way back to Australia – not really looking forward to the 24 hours of flying time and about 36 hours traveling time, but resigned to it.
But things didn’t go as planned. Max had stacked a bicycle in Barcelona the day before. He grazed his arm and got a handlebar punch in the stomach but seemed to be OK, just the aches and pains we would have expected.
The problems started in Frankfurt after the first of our leg of the journey home the next day. We had to wait for about 4 hours in Frankfurt, and the stomach pain didn’t seem to be getting better so we thought we would just take him to the clinic at the airport – fill in a bit of time!!! They did some tests and were not happy with the colour of his urine. Apparently his kidney had been bleeding. They didn’t want him flying on for a few more long flights, so suddenly our plans of being back in Australia in the next 24 hours were put on hold.
Max was OK so long as he didn’t move too much and the wheelchair and airport buggy rides were a novelty. We then had to go to the Frankfurt University Hospital for more tests and an ultra sound. By about midnight when the doctor suggested that he was fit to we had really missed our connecting flight so had to find a hotel for the night. We did meet some very friendly people though at the airport and hospital, and got to have a day looking around in Frankfurt the next afternoon - not Max though – he spent the day not moving on the airport couches.
Doctors, tests, taxis, phone calls to rearrange flights to Australia and in Australia, additional fees, accommodation, and prescriptions – it turned into an expensive little operation but we had to do it.
After finally getting an all clear from 2 doctors we were able to continue our journey 24 hours later, now re-rerouted through Bangkok instead of Singapore.

The longer we spend in Berlin the more I am in awe of the ease with which people swap back and forth between German and English. There might be some French and Spanish too. Kids in school have to learn English for about 9 years and also a second language for 5 years. It puts Australians, and English speakers in general, to shame.

Berlin is still a very political centre with political slogans on walls and demonstrations and although The Wall was removed in 1989, it still apparently exists in many people’s minds. It is hard to pinpoint but there is a difference between East and West Berlin. In my opinion, the East still has more older style, uniform, buildings and old apartments. The East still has trams and traditional traffic lights with very cute little red and green men. The West is newer and more modern with bigger, ‘fresher’ buildings.

The German people have a healthy lifestyle with a lot of bicycles, walking, muesli and lovely grainy dark breads. It is easy to almost get run down by the stream of cyclists on the cycle paths that look deceptively like footpaths. (I think Australia might be the only country in the world that has compulsory helmets.)

We visited a weekend market where you could identify certain Germanic traits. Everything was very attractive, well-made and good quality, with a lot of variety, and an emphasis on nature and health. This was equally true for the food, breads, fruit, clothes or jewellery.

Germany has such a long tradition of music and composers (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms) that we could not leave without going to a concert in Berlin. Also Berlin has several concert halls, three opera houses and lots of theatres all in constant use, so no shortage of things to see. The concert house, like many of the buildings, was rebuilt from the ruins after WWII in about the 1980s, and now although the same on the exterior is more modern inside. We had a great view of the orchestra as they played some Russian and French composers.

From Prague we caught the train to Dresden over the German border. We were not absolutely sure we would be allowed into Germany … it's a long story but the guards were very friendly, hardly looked at out passports and happily stamped them. Phew!

It was pouring rain in Dresden so we decided to just keep traveling and bought tickets to Berlin. Each trip was only just over 2 hours. – it is all very close here compared to Australia. Rob and Andrea met us at the station and it was great to see some familiar faces and have someone local to show us around. After some creative manipulating we all manages to fit into the car along with all the luggage.

It is still cold here but the sun comes out occasionally. We walked around central Berlin (the old East Berlin). Andrea grew up in East Berlin so she has first hand knowledge of what it was like before and after ‘The Wall’, and the views they held about the West – very interesting. We visited Berlin Dom Cathedral, State Opera House, other churches and concert houses. Yummy hot chocolates in a chocolate house with chocolate scultures in it, Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag … bratwurst lunch in the Tier Garden under the linden trees. We went to a dance hall to watch and do tango at night.

Max is happy – he has a piano to play and doesn’t have to tag along with us here. Arno is a few years older and at school during the day, but seems happy to keep Max company in the evenings, show him around or play soccer with friends.