Berlin, Germany

I think it is fair to say that I have had more than my share of this stomach bug. Once again, I couldn’t eat breakfast and after walking to the laundry, I decided that I’d be better off at the motel, meaning I missed out on our day tour of Berlin. For a second time in the last three days, my day was spent either asleep or in the bathroom. If this doesn’t approve by the time we’re back in London, I’ll go to the doctors. Let’s hope it’s not that drastic.

Contiki Russia Crew, Olimpiastadion, Berlin, Germany

Warsaw, Poland to Berlin, Germany

Can I survive this leg of the bus trip? Two stops inside Poland on our way to Berlin prove to be no problem. But another delay at the border, which we were once again prevented from being longer, thanks to Dom, and the pains in the stomach start again. Fortunately, we made it to a restroom stop just after getting through the border.

Onwards to Berlin, where our first stop was the Berlin Wall. I expected a lot more than what remained. It is probably not half the size I expected and has no remaining elements which reflect its significance, at first sight.

Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany

Our next stop was at the Brandenburg Gates, which celebrates the Brandenburg family, whose wealth helped establish Berlin as a city.

Brandenburg Gates, Berlin, Germany

We arrived at our motel at 8.30pm, only to find that they had been double booked and no meal had been prepared, as per expected. We went back into town and found a cheap pasta place, which most of the tour ate at.

The long bus trip has tired everyone, and we’re all happy to accept a lift home.

London, England to Hamburg, Germany

We are all ready to go for our Contiki trip. However, when we get to Edgeware Road station, we find that no trains are running east to where we need to go. So out we come to find a way to Russell Square when, later than I expected in London (i.e., 3 days), the rain came bucketing down. Fortunately, we got a cab fairly quickly to arrive at the Royal National Hotel £5.60 later.

After checking in, some money swapping and lunch, we were on the bus to Harwich, where we meet the ferry for our crossing to Hamburg.

The bus boarded the ferry and we left at 4.30pm.

The tour met for drinks in the Columbus Room where cabaret, a band, and drinking games allowed everyone to get to know each other. This looks to be a good crowd, most of whom are back for their second Contiki trip, and have all had a ton more travelling time than myself. I shared a four-bed cabin with Mark, Jamie and Julian and slept really well considering my paranoia of the 20-hour ferry trip, but that shouldn’t be a problem now, considering the amount of time we will spend on the bus.