Round 4: Another Ramble

Saturday

Hmmm.. Now, what to do in Berlin with a hangover? But of course. Drink coca cola and watch the A-team dubbed in German..

8203764506_efd6d9744d_c.jpg


Mind you it was a good retro telly, and well in line with our thus far retro weekend. It was one of those episodes where they'd got a guest star in. Ken Norton was in it briefly and it looked like he'd been hitting the buffet.

But alas this is not the way forward.

So, we drag ourselves across the street to watch the Arsenal v Spurs game and partake in a King Ludwig Dunkel, strictly for medicinal purposes as hair of the dawg you must understand.

It sort of works :beer:

We decide on an afternoon walk to blow out the cobwebs. More sights of the city..

Very Berlin, I'd say..

8203767340_2e84b6cfd0_c.jpg


..as is this..

8203769498_7119b5866d_c.jpg


That's art then, is it?

8203765752_4f279e16ee_c.jpg


A few arty types around capturing the landscape..

8202683175_992cc565da_c.jpg


The night is again interesting. We visit a spot called 'White Trash, Fast Food'. There are various bands on ranging from the absolutely terrible to the pretty damned good. It certainly provides interesting start to the evening. We're treated the film 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead' which is playing on the screens the background; I retrieve a piece of glass from the roof of my mouth which has come from the beer glass.. Lucky me things didn't turn out nasty.. :eek
Staropramen Red is the beer of choice this evening. Not German, I'll give you that, but Czech isn't too far away I s'pose.

An interesting bar configuration..

8203770200_30a829000c_c.jpg


We head on to another bar. Again another decent place, just punctuated briefly by the unpleasantness of someone who tries to steal our drinks. It's a poncy White Russian Cocktail amongst a load of beers, so there's no mistake. I don't see anything- the first I see is Nick getting upset with this dick who is pretty drunk. Some unrelated and rude ponce wearing red specs sticks his oar in needlessly, telling us that 'This is the Anarchy that is Berlin'. I get a real chuckle about that.. wow, that’s some anarchy. I decide to hound this bloke for some fun. He looks a lot like Steve Jones from the Pyramid Game in his red glasses, so I continually ask about the Pyramid Game, telling him about the bits I liked, the bits I didn't, asking how come he's not on telly any more, and what is it like being continuity link man for Anglia TV. Eventually he loses it and says 'Look I don't know what zis pyramid is OK' and pisses off in a huff.
As a younger man I used to be able to conjur up a lot of funny waffle after a few drinks and all that has largely gone by the by now, but tonight finds me in a rare form.. :D

I spend the best part of the rest of the evening chatting the charming Stef from Stuttgart and the lovely leggy Erica, a fellow Londoner. I've had far worse nights out, I can tell you ;)

We tip out of the bar which is still going strong at half past five :D

The old and the new-ish.. The glitter ball of the Berliner Funsehterm tower in the mist behind St. Mary's Church..

8203772894_892336b256_c.jpg


My my, that's an arty stumble back to HQ.

Nick for some reason has bought a cheap bottle of Amaretto so we have a couple of them and cola.

Is it 7am already? Whoa kidda..

:beerjug:
 
Sunday

Just a few hours kip last night. But I'm determined to do a little more culture and the novelty of 'Futurama' in German from an uncomfortable apartment sofa is short lived.

The DDR museum is a short walk from the our base so we make our way there. Sad, because it's very busy and I find it just phenomenally dull- and that's a shame because I have a lot of interest in the subject. Not recommended.

8204430375_aef9a35880_c.jpg


Some energy food is required..

8204430667_72e11cec4e_c.jpg


And so it is on to more sights of the city..

8203770776_c73892071b_c.jpg


Berliner Dom..

8204431127_80f12ea4f2_c.jpg


Just rambling..

8204431441_8fcb2b8c09_c.jpg


We wander past the theatre and the roads are blocked with lots of Polizei..

8205522924_88f6f5664b_c.jpg


Ah.. the reason for it looks to pass. Clearly the number plate 1-1 would seem to be important? The third car in the picture has the number plate 0-1. It actually turns out that it belongs to the German President (I didn't actually know Germany had a president.. duh) That said the President seemingly is only a figurehead as it were. I know they have a chancellor of course.. The Merkel car has the number plate 0-2. There you go. And thanks to Wikipedia.

8204431991_394ebdeb60_c.jpg


We're not persuaded to see the Currywurst Museum..

8205523624_74cae666db_c.jpg


Checkpoint Charlie..

8205523970_2ef44dfa2c_c.jpg


..complete with decoration uniformed fella.

8204432907_988a070528_c.jpg


A bit of sticker hunting and tat browsing. Just what I always wanted..

8204433211_76760875dd_c.jpg


Quality Euro tat, this ;)

8204433505_b897738714_c.jpg


What a shame to see dear old Cliff in the reduced bin..? :D

8204433827_0c0da8df3f_c.jpg


The final night is spent in this charming little place..

8205525392_63bae1fcc7_c.jpg


We don't get there until late, but there's plenty of time for an ale. How about a nice crisp, frothy Schneider Weisse? You know it makes sense.

8205526342_a8c81d9589_c.jpg


Due to our extended evenings time has become an abstract concept. Fortunately for us you can still order dinner at 11.30pm. I order a traditional local dish.. Known as breakfast lunch and dinner in one.. A goulash, with sausage and a boiled egg. It's a big hit with me.

8205525734_c48bfa76b9_c.jpg


My dear brother describes me as a 'Goulash removal machine'.

Of course it'd just be plain rude not to have the correct beer to partner this kind of good food, wouldn’t it… so its back to my good pal 'Kostrizer'..

8205526096_1140f3a86c_c.jpg


Berlin most definitely gets the Official 'Ramble Seal of Approval' :thumb2

:beerjug:
 
Goulash , boiled egg and Kostrizer........ would'nt like to clean out your cage:barf
;)
 
Berlin to Colditz

Nick heads off for the airport just before 9am and I pack up.

8207395874_77ae4029dd_c.jpg


The bike sat for four nights right in the heart of the town.. opposite a central train station.. in the red light district.. by an Irish Pub (as mumpa correctly observed.. :thumb ).. and adjacent to a kebab shop... and was left alone.. no problems :) :thumb2
Just can't see that happening in London somehow?

Ready for the off..

8207394950_fc19b21e65_c.jpg


I've got me a new sticker..

8207395394_a5de998a89_c.jpg


And off we go. It's warmer today than it has been. That's welcome- a lovely seven degrees. Perfect.

A short visit to the wall memorial area..

8207411108_8f7b89a2c3_c.jpg


..just an amazing story the past of this city..

8206322429_89d6b79f07_c.jpg


..a very interesting and intriguing sight to see..

8206323693_02bf9259c4_c.jpg


Then a quick coffee courtesy of Einstien's...

8207416632_6a0fa1249b_c.jpg


And it's all systems a go-go :D

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CZqUNEHYZgQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've still got the soundtrack of the city from the partying knocking about in my head.

The route South takes me through Friedrichstrasse on the bike, so I pass by the Checkpoint again..

8206324745_9d44f5d7df_c.jpg


'You are now leaving the Alcoholic Sector' :D

8206326211_dd25187ff0_c.jpg


There's simply an incredible amount of traffic lights in Berlin and it is a fair while of first-gear-second-gear-halt before the pace picks up a bit.

On the outskirts of town I spy a 'Polo' store and head in for a look. Dear Micky of this parish introduced me to the place on a trip back in 2006 and I've always picked up odd bits and bobs here when I'm about. They're sort of a Hein Gericke kind of place; they seem to have more variety and some more unusual stuff that we don't seem to get at home anywhere- and it’s pretty decent value.

8207414782_a71a222584_c.jpg


I end up buying this thing, a 'Storm Boy' balaclava and thermal collar affair. It will save me having to do myself up like a Tuareg when its very cold again.

8206325269_076a973510_c.jpg


I also buy one of those 'Remove before Flight' tags, a most excellent aid for the dyspraxic such as myself. One of those saved me when I dropped my key in to one of the confectionary displays at Tesco Express a few years back. For the life of me, I can't remember where I got that one, so I get another one.

8206326661_52c0b7615b_c.jpg


And then it's fairly insipid enough riding and at a relaxed and sedate pace. It's about eight degrees and misty but thankfully not foggy. The terrain is flat and a bit dull heading South West, and the roads I choose are not particularly challenging. Traffic is rare, so in terms of riding this would probably only generate a score of 3/10.

Stopping on the way somewhere or other..

8206327155_6015b971d5_c.jpg


As I near the end of the ride today the terrain starts to get a more interesting as I zig zag across to the destination.

Ah, there you go.. a Trabi! You don't need to visit the poxy DDR museum for that..

8207421804_ffd8184a50_c.jpg


And finally an arrival. Colditz square.. The castle up there in the background.

8206331615_8204de0785_c.jpg


I negotiate the damp cobbles up to the castle where the hostel is. 'Stay in a hostel' they said. 'You'll meet friendly travelling people' they said.. :blagblah
'OK' says I.

It's just getting dark as I finally make my way in.

8207417956_49c47fe118_c.jpg


I march up through the gates and up the steps to the hostel. It's locked. Hmm. There's no one around. I buzz the door. Eventually there's an answer from the intercom. Do they have accommodation? I ask. 'Erm.. Yes' is the reply, and the door finally is opened.

'Sorry the door was locked' says the cheery host.. 'You will be the only guest so we didn't bother leaving it open' :D So I am guest number 1 out of a possible 161. Still, at least noise won't be a problem I suppose.

The girl says to bring my bike in to the courtyard. Very helpful.

I don't feel like doing much; some relaxing after the strenuous city activities is going to be just the ticket. I opt to yomp down to good old Lidl's which I can see from the view of the third floor of the Hostel.

8207418388_62040ee33c_c.jpg


Sorry, crap pic. I'm suffering with a spot of the Hattie Jacques.

Allow me to introduce the sponsors of this ride report..

8206329871_7706680a3d_c.jpg


Eleven Euros and seventy one cents worth of goodies are procured. And we march back up the hill..

8206330713_db31a3a202_c.jpg


..To where we've got ourselves a picnic at HQ..

8206330319_4d69e25ef5_c.jpg


Magic stuff. Can't beat it.. :thumb
 
Colditz

Get yourself the extended tour of the castle unless you've bin before ,went there last year an it sure opens the imagination to the gutsy pow trying to escape :eek: :thumb2
 
Get yourself the extended tour of the castle unless you've bin before ,went there last year an it sure opens the imagination to the gutsy pow trying to escape :eek: :thumb2

:thumb
 
Colditz to Prague

A very peaceful sleep is had. All the radiators are turned up high and it's toasty, toasty warm.

Good morning. There's the bike down in the courtyard..

8208518517_d5c01beaa1_c.jpg


The hustle and bustle of the breakfast room..

8209607444_686fe03f1e_c.jpg


I've decided to take a guided tour of the Castle, or 'Oflag IV-C' as it was known during WWII. I have heard good things about doing so. I check out of the hostel put the bits on the bike and then head across.

The very charming Annemarie is my guide. I'm the only person engaging in the castle tour (although to be fair there are a few folks milling around).. so am given the very personal service tour. How very civilised. It was terrific little hour and a quarter. Very special. Annemarie was great, engaging and really enthusiastic, a joy to listen to.

8209611582_81c0ee316b_c.jpg


Checking out the accommodation for the important prisoners. Thankfully the beds are a bit better in the hostel these days..

8208523075_60bd1efc1f_c.jpg


The pictures are those taken by the Germans of attempted escapees in their disguises. Here is Airey Neave who failed an escape disguised as a lowly Wermacht soldier.. but eventually made it out disguised as an officer, later to become an MP and part of the Shadow Cabinet. In the background is the French Officer Lt. Bouley who failed dressed as a lady.

8209619586_8280f9dc21_c.jpg


The French Tunnel.. An amazing part of the story :thumb

8208525565_6ba3ab87f7_c.jpg


Archeologists working in the Chapel (also where the French tunnel ran up to and beneath)..

8208527563_0dbeee7ceb_c.jpg


A bit of work going on, which is why the Allied officers are featured behind a skip and an Audi.

8209616462_c913107f7d_c.jpg


Plan drawings of the Colditz glider. When the war ended the built glider was in the roof of one of the buildings ready to go.

8208541839_92524c71cc_c.jpg


The roof it would be launched from, way up top..

8208540499_ef27df5258_c.jpg


..And the meadow, way across the river where it would be planned to land.

8209628884_784e96008f_c.jpg


Checking out the details..

8208531543_0346b30e5c_c.jpg


The tour was truly fascinating; I can't speak highly enough of it. You get a real sense of the place. The whole experience an absolute winner :thumb

So time is knocking on and I'd better get on then. It's just after 1pm when I set off from the Castle.

Annemarie tells me the Trabant in the car park belongs to her :cool:

8209627100_b946f29497_c.jpg


Off we go. Riding is grand straight off the bat. Ups and downs and some good km's done on those glorious and typical narrow German minor roads with no centre markings, just the two kerb lines. If you've been there… you'll know exactly what I mean.

A little time is caught courtesy of a modest run on one of Deutschland's famous fast strips of tarmac..

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e11h73WhqK4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Back to standard roads thereafter to cross into Czech. The hills are rolling and I can see heavier conditions up in the distance. And then I'm hit by fog again. Aargh…! This is heavy stuff. Visibility goes down to fifty feet or so. More than a bit nervy. Don't go too fast of course- but be careful not to go to slowly as to get bashed from behind you. Plus, doesn't matter what pinlock or spray you have, the fog collects on the visor. Rub visor, check in front, check mirror, repeat. Tricky.

The fog lifts a little as we head over the border..

8209623256_a39b0efa18_c.jpg


I stop up there on the left, getting a real sense of Déjà vu.. Ah yes.. It's the border petrol station we filled up at during our Easter 2010 Gastro tour..

Welcome to the Czech Republic..

8208536557_2ab065aa4e_c.jpg


The weather closes in again as we head in towards Prague. Again tricky riding… much concentration needed.. Yada yada yada.'

The fog lifts and I decide to have a play on a few interesting looking roads. Enjoyable stuff. I work my way in and reach Prague. There's some filtering to be done in the last mile or so but the drivers move out of the way. I've taken Bryn's recommendation of the Seven Days hotel. Thanks for that :thumb

The bike sits down in a very small car park but it is below the hotel and safely behind a roller shutter. I don't think I'd be quite as comfortable as leaving it on the street here as I was in Berlin; there's a Tattoo bar across the road.. And I mean tattoo and a bar, Pilsner Urquell etc.. (how they mix those disciplines I don't know and don't want to know), and a shop or two down there's a sex shop and a winner of a jazzmag parlour.

The hotel itself is very nice indeed. A good room, nice bed, big bath enough for moi and an armada of rubber ducks, close to the old town and a safe place for the bike.

I have an evening wander. It's still pretty misty even in the centre of the city..

8209625450_8190c17146_c.jpg


Pretty place by night, the old town..

8209623814_08e2c258bf_c.jpg


.. And we've got to have one of these, naturally ;)

8209624880_b00eae6908_c.jpg


:beerjug:
 
are yo are a savior sir , another decent read whilst she watch's celebrity twats in an overgrown garden:D
 


Back
Top Bottom