Turning and returning to some secret place

Another very busy day.

Up and out, after a rather embarassing incident with the room key.   (we left the room, neither of us had a key.)  The room service lady was outside, but did not see us exiting.  We pleaded with her to open the door and she shook her head vigorously. 

I explained I would show her my passport once we were inside.  And still she shook. 

then we pleaded again, and she quickly opened the door, and allowed Si to reach in a grab the key, and then Slammed the door and told him to open it again.  With the keycard he had just retrieved from the door. 

That seemed to satisfy her and she left us to get on with her job. 

Breakfast done,  We headed out to the Hopon Hop Off again.  We were determined to complete the loop.  But we didn't,  not the first time.  We spotted a typicallyl German cafe, and decided to disembark for Coffee and Apfelkirchen.  

Then we bought German Nail clippers because the internet told me last month that German Clippers were the best.   Well I cut my toenails with them, (not in the shop or in the cafe) and my toes are still in one piece. 

Then we got back on the bus, and took a ride to .... where we got on in the first place. 

On the way, we saw the square where the Nazi's  did the burning of the books, which just made me feel  ill, but then we reached the memorial to the holocaust and the sight of so many concrete blocks, is quite shocking.  Depsite the fact it barely scratches the surface of the 5,000,000 Jews murdered, it's sight is shocking and frightning. 

I watched the other people on the bus, I watched the people walking, sitting on the slabs,  chatting as they sat, reading newspapers as they sat, and thought, are they so used to what it represents, that they just don't care? 

It was a side of Germany that made me uncomfortable, - that and the Liberty statue, much as it is beautiful - it was placed where it was in preparation to be in the centre of the new Capital of the World "Germania"

When you consider this happened relative recently, it's quite terrifying that a country fell behind the belief... oh it's too awful to think it could happen. 

When we reached the start of the tour,  we decided to walk to the River,  I want you to know that it was 27 degrees and we were sweltered.   Our plan was to book the river for tomororw, but when we got there and felt the heat and saw the water, and we opted to go.  The second boat along was cheaper, and the crew were very interesting. 

We also got 25% discount with our travel card. 

It was a lovely trip.  One of the crew took drinks orders and brought them to our table.  It wasn't a big boat,  maybe 30 to 40 people on the boat, we all had  our own tables.  No over crowding which we could see on bigger, and posher boats. 

A short trip in one direction, and then a lovely trip in the opposite direction.   We saw the Museum Island, The main train Station, the Chancellors house, complete with 2 helicopter landing pads, the riverside with all it's deckchairs and bars.  

All the while the sun shining down on us.  

After the boat ride - I could quite happily have stayed on for another hour - we walked back to Alexander Plaza.  

We had a dinner booked at the top of the TV tower. 

We spent a lovely time sitting in the square, people watching. 

Then it was time to go for dinner. 

Heavens. .It was a bit of a shock to my system.    the restaurant is 207 metres high.   As we stepped out of the lift and into the restaurant, i was instantly thrown by the movement of the room 6 feet away from me. 

SI headed to the loo and I sat and tried to balance myself, as the floor beside my moved away from me, and the view outside changed. 

I was feeling quite sea sick by the time he came back and then  it was my turn.   Goodness.   I cannot explain how confused I felt when I came back up and the part of the restaurant  i left from was not where it was when I returned. 

I  concentrated on my dinner, to distract from the woooziness. 

Dinner was lovely  - and the wine.  The view was beautiful and we could see our hotel closer than we thought. 

After dinner, (they were quite strict about time...) we spent some time on the viewing deck whcih was far more comfortable, as it doesn't spin.   The views are amazing  And worth the visit. 

We sat in the square again for a little while and then headed again for the tram. 

A nightcap, and then bed. 

10 hours on the go. 

Exhausted.