Day 1 in Berlin, The Arrival.

Getting off the plane to brilliant sunshine is nice. When you don't have all 40kgs of your life to cart across the capital, anyway. Typical German efficiency seems to have gone on holiday this summer, so the S-Bahn I was going to catch wasn't running. When I eventually got to the place where I was supposed to pick up the keys to my flat (my housemate was at work), I was late and so there was no answer at the door. The phone number my future flatmate had given me also wouldn't work, with a very stern sounding German lady (aren't they all) telling me that this number is not assigned (she translated for me, thankfully).While my parents panicked that this whole thing was some conspiracy to get €500 from a poor English fool, I got invited into a nearby vegetarian cafe by its owners, and they poured me a beer and gave me some (very nice) (veggie) lasagne. These girls, who had moved to Berlin a year earlier and set up the cafe were friendly, though told me if they had turned up in London and had a similar experience then they would be crying. But I was too happy to be here to care, and sure it would all work out.

A couple of hours later I managed to work out the right area code that made my flatmates' number work. She gave me directions to a gay bar (dragging my life-filled suitcases on the tube a little bit more) called "SilverFuture".Upon arrival, I understandably got a few funny looks as I manhandled my worldly possessions through the door. The barmaid gladly obliged to my request for "ein Grosses bier" and I sat there taking in the view of a good looking German guy (and his bf sadly) and drinking my cares away, until half 10. As well as being rather off-put by German gay fashion, I saw the tallest person I have ever seen, found the most successfully disguised toilets ever, and found that the bar list their prices inside the front cover of Famous Five(Funf Freunde) books. All in all it was an interesting experience!

As Nadi had finished work at last, I went to my new place for the first time. Had a quick tour (I'll blog about the house soon), then Nadi made me some spaghetti. It was nice, and I improved my eating technique after helpful spaghetti-eating tips from Nadi. And Nadi had a beer in the fridge ready for me - wunderbar!

Making my bed didn't take *too* long, and then after a hectic day I crashed out, until rudely awakened by the very hot sun (no curtains yet).

I think it's gonna take a while to get used to being here - but I am looking forward to more adventures!

Tschuss :)