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19 May to 13 June 2022
We had booked to fly Emirates – they offered the fastest route to Berlin via Dubai and Munich. Shortly afterwards I was advised that the last leg from Munich to Berlin was cancelled and would we like to go via Frankfurt. A lot more flights each day – it was a good option.
We had booked the flights in November 2021, with lots of insurance in case COVID reared its head and locked us down again. Turned out to be a good move because confidence increased along with the fares. We did well.
Hayden was there to meet us at the airport. He had carefully removed the kiddie seat to give our cases more room. But we travel light and squeezed into his little Citroen without problems.
I was so nervous. Would our little one know us, greet us, accept us, understand our accents. She had met her Spanish family numerous times and was comfortable with them. But what about us?
We were given the warmest of welcomes. Big hugs and cuddles. How can a little one know how important she was to us?
We spent the next few days acquainting ourselves to this new role of grandparents. We had had practice, spending lots of time with A in Australia, once we go past the lockdowns.
We explored every park with a small radius. Bruce was chief pram pusher. We played in the sand, pushed swings, climbed castles, jumped on trampolines, rocked on see saws. and at home there were soft toys – her best friends who went to school, hospital and restaurants, there was drawing, puzzles, books and even painted nails.
There was Kita – the German pre-school which is offered to all children after their first birthday and before they go to school. In this post-COVID world, B went to Kita and Hayden and Andrea stayed home to work.
We used that time to explore more of Berlin. The never ending graffiti, wild flowers and grasses that allow the bugs to feed and provide for birds and small animals. The COVID testing stations – just rock up and get tested. The strawberry stands – best fruit ever.
The rubbish bins with their quaint messages entertained me.
Berlin is rubbish conscious. Most apartment blocks provide bins for separated rubbish, but not bottles. You either return these to the supermarket where you purchased the bottle for a refund on your shopping bill, or you place them in the bins around the city – separated for brown, clear and green glass. Heaven forbid if you get that wrong!
Some things caught our attention – the price of cigarettes (€6.00 to €8.00 a packet), Lettuce €1 – selling for $10-$12 in Australia. On Unter den Linden you can buy 4 currywursts (sausages) and a bottle of Dom Pérignon for €220.00 or a currywurst with a free shot of opium for €3.60.
Bikes are everywhere, and have precedence over pedestrians. Proven by the long wait you have on the bike cycle at the traffic lights. Children, including B, are on balance bikes as soon as they are stable on their legs, and keep up with their parents on the road.
The Ukrainian war had not long started and the solidarity for their near country was evident everywhere. A poignant tribute sat right outside the Russian Embassy. Sadly, Hayden had a lot of Ukrainian’s in his team, so he was constantly monitoring their well being. Some were out of the country, on holidays, at the time of the invasion and at this stage were staying out.
We had found a German restaurant close to Hayden and Andrea’s. We loved going there for our schnitzel and Bratkartoffeln German pan-fried potatoes with onion and bacon. We became regulars.
Hayden and Andrea were off to Granada for their summer break. We took a train ride to S Nikolassee on the west of Berlin. No doubt that German’s love their summer holidays and it was in full swing, on the beautifully sculptured sandy beaches of the Wannsee and the more rustic lake edge of the Schlachtensee.
Our first visit to Berlin was over. We were heading to Portugal to catch up with Evan and Steph. Flight options were limited to late afternoon flight with Ryan Air. What a nightmare – no food services in the terminal, no seats while waiting to board the delayed flight.
We arrived in Porto late at night – of course no food options there either. We went to be tired and hungry.
