Berlin Day 2 30th May.

Today was to have been the first of two in the museums of Berlin. We again bought a day travel card which meant we could travel from the campsite and use all public transport in Berlin. This includes, not only the trains, but also the buses and trams. The ticket cost us 7 euros each and it seems to bne really good value. After that you then pay for each museum that you want to visit which might mean between 5 and 10 euros. The Berlin Card in one of its several forms looks good on paper but only if you want specific museums, and we did not. Also the day ticket is just that so you do not have to rush around for 2 or 3 days just to get the best from it.

However, I wanted to do an underground visit to a 1940's air raid shelter, a few stops north of the centre and Meryl wants to go to the National Gallery. Therefore, we split up and agree to meet at 1 pm at the German National History Museum near the Brandenburger Tor.

My tour is interesting. It is led by a Dutch lady who does a splendid job and sustains our interest for 90 minutes. As we learn, Berlin is built on sand so it was very hard to construct deep tunnels. Thus, when they constructed the U-bahn and S-bahn railways the tunnels are achieved by cutting trenches, putting in the lines and then putting a roof over the track. Obviously this meant that they were not very deep. The air raid shelter we visited was the consequence of this work, where one line had to pass under another, and so was quite deep, about 17 meters I think. A consequence of this construction were some large spaces that should have been used as offices for the underground railway company. Except that 1929 happened and they did not have the cash to complete that task, so they remained empty until 1940.

When bomb shelters were needed, because Berline got hit by some bombs, some suitable spaces existed…except they would not really protect anyone as the roof was too thin to stop bombs penetrating the spaces, there was no ventilation, or sanitary facilities, and it held only a few people, maybe 300-400. That it survived until now was because it did not get hit by bombs. After 1945, when many of the other shelters were blown up this one remained as the U-bahn ran underneath it.

So the visit went well, I headed back to central Berlin and wandered, not over quickly to the History Museum along Unter den Linden. And arrive a little late but no matter as Meryl is not there either. So I wait:

And wait:

I send a text message but get no reply.

And wait: a school party descends on the entrance and I am surrounded by some quiet and very well behaved young ladies.

Another text message but still no reply.

And wait:

Now a phone call but the operator tells me, in German, that it cannot be connected.

And wait:

At 3:15, after more than 2 hours I decided to go back to the Berlin Hbf; perhaps she is there? So I head back via various means including the trains, an S-bahn. I look around but so sign; wander onto platform 14 where we catch the train to Potsdam. Nothing. It's now 4:15 pm, 6 hours since we parted

What now? I find a bench in front of the steps up to platform 14 and sit, wondering what my next step should be. As I have no book to read, or no music to listen to I am forced to people watch - sadly not that interesting.

A tap on the shoulder and the pale face of Meryl stands beside me.

We had both waited at the German Historical Museum. It had two different entrances!

Ruined day and exhausted we go home for a quiet evening!!