I got up early and took the trains by
myself for the first time over to my Aunt’s in Charlottenburg. It wasn’t too
bad, though I only had to get on the S-Bahn on the ring route and make sure I
got off at the right stop. Totally managed it! I met my Aunt and Archie, the
dog, on the station and walked back to theirs. It was nice to see her again and
fill her in on everything I’d done so far.
We went back to her flat and hung out,
chatted for a bit over an apple juice. (Did you know they don’t have dilute (or
cordial, whatever you call it) juice over here! They dilute fruit juice,
weeeird), then we decided to go out for lunch. We went to a restaurant nearby
(slipping on the name again). It was Italian food but they did other food too,
and I decided to have a burger. Since I am still too chicken to talk to
Germans, my Aunt ordered for me. She asked for it without salad, and they
obliged. It did, however, have some sort of orangey coloured sauce on the buns
that was a little spicy. It was OK, but next time I need to make sure there’s
no sauce too!
We then went for a little walk around the
area with the dog, then went back to the flat. My Aunt wrote me some phrases in
my little notebook. It’s proved quite useful so far, mainly for the tube map in
the front, I would really recommend having something similar with you getting
around the city. My mum bought me it last time she was in Berlin, so perhaps
you could find one here somewhere. Anyway I’ve been using the notebook for
noting down little phrases or places I’ve been advised to visit, important
numbers etc, and it’s great!
I had arranged to meet S and his
girlfriend, who I’ll call P, for dinner and a drink, so my Aunt helped me get
almost the whole way! I was so grateful. I’m lucky to have family here to help
me out, if I had done a similar trip anywhere else I think it would be a lot
harder, but also force you to be independent and work things out yourself.
I met S on the underground platform and we walked to the Asian restaurant, though it was more like a take
away with tables, it was quite nice really, relaxed. They ordered spring rolls
which I’ve never had before. I don’t think I was won over. They were OK, the
insides were nice, just the outside was strange and rubbery. My boyfriend says it might be
because they were boiled, and that they are nicer fried. Maybe one day I will
try them fried.
Afterwards we went to a bar. It
was nice and relaxed, and more or less just us. I had a vodka (or Wodka) and coke,
and it was five euros. I don’t know yet if that is a lot in Berlin or not, but
it’s about the price of a vodka and coke in an expensive bar in the UK.
Overall I had a really nice evening. P
walked me to Friedrichstr to get the train, giving us time to chat and get to
know each other more. We might be able to meet up some time while I’m here and
visit some galleries together so that could be really fun!
I made my way back to Treptower Park but in
the dark it all looked so different. I came out of one exit and had no clue
where I was. That fluttering panicked feeling started in my chest. I went back
into the station and tried the exit on the other side, and again, it was a
completely unrecognisable street! Keeping calm and trying to think, I walked
back onto the platform and had a look around. There was another set of stairs going
down half way along. I took those and there were two more exits. This time I
found the right one! I recognised it by the building with the flowers.
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