Thursday, 6 May 2010
Berlin, Germany
Woken at the crack of dawn by a strange presence in my room. A 5 year old girl. Who greets me in a very posh English accent, “Good morning, Taurean”. Before jumping on me. This is way too early to be playing.
Quick waltz around Braunschweig visiting old haunts before popping in to my old office to see former colleagues. Now running late for the ICE train to Berlin so race back to the car for a quick zoom across town to the station and quickly deposited at the aptly named ‘Kiss and drop’ layby. What a great name for a drop-off point.
Every station should have a ‘kiss and drop’ point.
Now have two minutes to sprint across the concourse and find the platform. Not easy with a 22kg rucksack. Not for the first time have I had to sprint across this concourse. Although, admittedly it was usually 0559hrs and 30 seconds for the 0600hrs train to Frankfurt. German trains are never late. But. Not today. Train is delayed 15 minutes. Not the German efficiency I know and love.
Torrential rain and freezing cold in Berlin. So not much sightseeing I’m afraid, dear reader.
Check in to the Swissotel (https://www.swissotel.com/hotels/berlin/accommodation/swiss-advantage-room/). Located on Kurfurstendam. Berlin’s Oxford Street.
And close to the Times Bar. An art deco cigar bar.
My guilty travel secret. A Cohiba Siglo VI Cuban cigar.
A fine Cuban cigar.
A Rusty Nail.
A good book.
Solitude.
Life is good.
