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The train pulled into Berlin around 7:20am and we emerged to some pretty miserable weather. It was actually drizzling. We shared two taxis and arrived at our hotel only to be told that we were not able to check in until probably 3pm. We could leave our bags and get breakfast at the hotel which we promptly did.
After breakfast Fran was still not feeling well so she and Charlie went to see what they could for an earlier check in and the rest of us went walking across Berlin to a hostel to wait for our Cold War Tour Of Berlin. No good. The weather outside of Berlin is atrocious and the last tour which went out in this kind of weather got stuck when several trees fell on the road and they had to walk for 4 hours to get back to Berlin. Ok, Plan B.
This simply involved a slow walk around Berlin, trying to avoid the wind as we headed in a vague direction towards the Berlin Wall. Yes, I know, it wouldn’t matter which direction we headed in, we would have come across the wall. We arrived at a section of the wall near an underground rail station and there was a lot of information available for us at the site. Apparently they also blocked the underground stations as there was a section of track which ran into East German territory and there were to be no escapes, except there were. Even by the guards which were supposed to be preventing escapes.
Next was to find lunch and we did well here; a small Italian pizza and pasta shop. All meals;€4 and drinks were €3.50. Very good, very cheap. The afternoon arrival. Back at the hotel our rooms were still not available. When I pointed out that they were letting other people check in she simply commented that they were getting a standard room rather than a single. Fine, change mine to a standard and I’ll pay the extra €5. No problem, done and I got my room.
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Tess ( Ben's mum) I see you went through Poznan to Berlin. Ben's grandad was transported with a whole lot of other prisoners of war through Berlin then Poznan on a cattle train. Pausing for a stop in Poznan a civilian shouted out to them, ( in Polish) Your in Poland now Tommy! (Ben's Grandad could speak German Russian and Polish)