Day 106 – Friday 22nd June 2018
Overcast start to the day, set off early on our way back into Germany. The day was windy but the motorways were good, even the Czech one.
As we approached the campsite Doris sent us down the K2029 which was made up largely of bumpy concrete slabs which were bad enough but there were also sections of cobbles. Everything on Nelly shook so much it felt like we were re-entering the earth’s atmosphere.
back on terra firma
The campsite, near Bad Schmiedeberg, is great and out in the middle of nowhere.
the locals know how to enjoy themselves
Cfor likes it here
Bad Schmiedeberg
Bad Schmiedeberg used to be in East Germany and so having escaped the dreadful town planning of the 1960s, 70s & 80s it’s a very nice little place. All the profits from those BMWs, Mercedes, VWs & Audis has been very well spent bringing the old East Germany up to German spec.
After doing Munich and Prague last week we are going to have a well deserved relaxing weekend, watch football and rest before moving closer to Berlin.
Day 107 – Saturday 23rd June 2018
Overcast day, went into town, went for a walk, read a little, watched the Germany game.
think Franz Beckenbauer was the VAR tonight, Sweden were denied a stone cold penalty
Day 108 – Sunday 24th June 2018
Overcast day, took Zippy for a ride around the German countryside, went for a walk, read a little, watched the England game. Think we will get knocked out the first decent team we come up against, our defence is shocking.
the forest went on for miles
the path was littered with these little beauties
Day 109 – Monday 25th June 2018
Overcast day, perfect for travelling to Berlin. We are heading for a campsite just outside the city.
Campingplatz Mahlower See is a cracking little campsite with big grassy pitches and top notch showers.
Cfor was fascinated by some little sparrows but try as he might they wouldn’t stay still for him
Checked out the local area on Zippy and stocked up at the Rewe supermarket
Martian cheese
Day 110 – Tuesday 26th June 2018
Had a bit of a lie-in then caught the train to Berlin. We almost got fined €120 for not validating our tickets but the grumpy nice ticket inspector let us off.
First stop was the Brandenburg gate…
Brandenburg Gate
…which is being used to show the World Cup on a big screen.
boy would I love to be here when the Krauts get knocked out
We couldn’t get in the Reichstag to see the glass dome ‘cause you need a passport or photo driver’s licence.
You can buy postcards with a piece of old painted plaster the Berlin wall in them…
yeah sure
but can you buy fridge magnets with a piece of the Berlin wall…
of course you can!
We set off for Checkpoint Charlie and we came across the Holocaust Memorial
no idea what it’s supposed to represent but it is big!
Earlier we’d come across a memorial for all the gypsies the 3rd Reich had killed between 1933 and 1945.
compared to the Jewish holocaust memorial it doesn’t look like the Germans are too sorry about killing Gypsies does it
On day 110 Julie finally makes an escape bid
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is just a hut in the middle of a road, it’s not even the original hut. The guys in uniforms charge €3 for a photo. They must be making a fortune. They didn’t like it when I asked them to get out of the way.
Checkpoint Charlie photographed we set off for the Berlin TV Tower. We came across the Gendarmarkt which the guide book said was one of the most beautiful piazzas in Europe.
who are the Germans trying to kid? This wouldn’t get in the top 5,000 piazzas in Italy
I have to say though the Berlin TV Tower is very impressive.
Berlin TV Tower
The tower is 368m high. We bought tickets and went to the observation level at 203m. The views were fantastic, we could see all of Berlin and beyond.
if you look really hard you can see the Reichstag
people down below in Alexanderplatz
the Spree making its way through Berlin
I’m not a big one for heights or lifts and I certainly would have gone up this tower if it was called the Rome TV Tower. I may like my Piazzas Italian but I prefer my towers and lifts German.
Day 111 – Wednesday 27th June 2018
Beautiful morning. Had a rough night last night and I’m not too sure how much gas I have in my legs but we’re back off into Berlin today.
The Krauts play South Korea today and the fans were getting in the party mood early.
These 3 German fans caught Julie’s eye; the poor sods didn’t know what lay ahead
We couldn’t get in the Reichstag, no slots available till Friday when we’ll hopefully be in Poland dipping our toes in the Baltic. Julie took some photos…
Reichstag
… and we decided to go on a boat trip up and down the Spree which was a very pleasant and relaxing hour.
the glass dome of the Reichstag from the Spree
By 3pm the crowds were gathering by the Brandenburg gate…
…and some of them had obviously been drinking!
We travelled back to the campsite; the lad in the campsite reception reckons South Korea will tough to beat. I told him that good British expression -‘getting your excuses in early’
The Krauts were knocked out! A second or so after the final whistle there was a very loud bang like a gun going off in the distance.
This is the photo Sky News carried of Julie’s boys at the Brandenburg Gate after the Krauts were dumped out by South Korea.
I expect this lot is going to be going cheap tomorrow
I don’t know what to make of Berlin. It has some great buildings but it has such a terrible history and the streets are littered with so many memorials to murdered innocents. I haven’t found it a fun place. I’m missing the French Riviera. I’m missing Antibes.
the white crosses are for people shot for trying to escape from East Berlin
Day 112 – Thursday 28th June 2018
Off to Poland today. I set off with some trepidation as I wasn’t too sure what condition the roads are going to be in in Poland.
About 40 miles from the Polish border the German motorway we were on suddenly became majorly shit. As we hit it at about 100kph it felt like we were crash landing without an undercarriage we had to slow to 20kpm as the rear view mirror fell off. It only lasted for 2km thank god. No idea why all the rest of the motorway was fine and that little section so bad.
Had to get a toll box at the Polish border, there was a form with it which I had to sign in 6 places. At least they took creditcards unlike the Czechs.
About 40km into Poland we were stopped by border guards, I didn’t have my lights on, they checked our passports and van documents.
it could have been worse, they could have emptied the van in the layby
The polish roads ain’t too bad. We were on a lovely road called the 102 when Doris directed us off it then sent us down some half finished back roads for about 20 minutes then put us back on the 102; typical Doris.
Camping Tramp isn’t what I thought it would be. It has a 4.3 rating on Google. In France & Germany that would be like a 4 star hotel but this is Poland and I guess the Poles have lower expectations. Anyway we are here till my new SIM card arrives.
for a Google rating of 4.3 I expect a lot more than a pine forest with a toilet block and a cafe
But it is right on the coast…
the Baltic
beautiful beaches
Not too sure about going to Finland via Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia. There’s a port near here with ferries to Denmark & Sweden.