Today the weather has improved significantly and I have plans to take photographs whilst the light is good. I wander around, initially near the hotel, visiting the river and the East Side Gallery. I am hoping to get some pictures of autumnal trees in the sunshine. I head over to the Brandenburg Gate where it is raining. I decide to take the train over to Zoo which is at the other side of town, in what was the British Sector. Here I catch the Helmut Newman gallery; he is known for his ‘controversial’ fetishy fashion pictures and big nudes, but his work is much wider. There is also a special exhibition of paparazzi photos from their heyday. Quite varied but some inspiring shots. Just time to get back to the hotel and pick up my luggage, and on to the airport.
At the departure gate (where I was 1st to arrive, oddly) the efficient German staff actually insist that some people put their hand luggage in the test cages. Only one of several fits. The others are dispatched to the hold. I don’t know whether they had to pay, there didn’t seem to be any facilities to collect payment. The luggage space in the plane is absolutely full. The man next to me has a hand luggage case which won’t fit under the seat in front; there is no overhead space left, so he hides it from the vigilant cabin crew by covering it with his coat. It’s a bit bumpy coming in to land due to high cross-winds but we are on time again.

 

 Today I cross into west berlin to be a tourist. Checkpoint Charlie turns out to be facinating. I much prefer recent history to dusty stuff. I had intended to take a couple of snaps and move on, but find I've spend 3 hours in the museum. Feeling peckish but lacking even the most basic German I opt for a Starbucks where I have some expectation of the menu. This is true of the coffee but they offer an interesting baguette of ham and cheese that has a german touch to it (well I suppose the bread, the cheese and the ham are all German, and offering it warm makes it different to a French cheese and ham baguette anyway). Starbucks is also not packed. Most places in Berlin seem quite spacious. Similar places in London or Paris would just be smaller and thus harder to find a nice table. I noticed the same thing last night, the restaurants I looked at were all spacious; even though they are not in the absolute centre, it is as close as say Notting Hill Gate is to Oxford Circus.

So after lunch I think I had better visit the Photo exhibition which I saw in the easyjet in-flight magazine. Apparently it is a special exhibition for November and only a few meters from Checkpoint Charlie. The artist featured is Richard Avedon who is American. The name does not ring any bells but I recognise some of the pictures, particularly the bee man. It is an inspiring collection of photographs. Unfortunately the book of the show is €49 and while nicely produced, is a little too much to spend. Google him and have a look at some of his stuff. I didn't buy any postcards as I didn't feel they could capture the full tonality of the fullsize Black and White prints, so the web may also fail to give a true impression of their power.

It's dark by I leave the gallery. Just near there is a surviving bit of the Wall. It's less high than I expected. After checking my e-mails and resting a little I head out to dine. I can't see any reason to head further afield than walking distance of the hotel. Tonight (being Friday) the whole area is buzzing with people and cafes and restuarants much busier than last night. My lack of German makes choosing from the menu boards very difficult; I just have no recognition. I just choose on the ambiance. Its a nice place and €17 buys me a garlic cream soup, knuckle of pork with sauerkraut and potatoes, a fruit beer and a pilsner beer. The food is gargantuan, I can barely manage half of the main course.

Having stayed up to watch the American election results on Tuesday night I had intended to get a early night last night (missing out on Royal Treatment Plant at the Windmill). But by the time I've tidied up some pictures and packed a few things it's after midnight by I get to bed. Waking up at 5am to get to Gatwick is a bit of a strain.

I am disappointed to find that since I was last at Gatwick, in August, they have removed the decent places to have breakfast. It's all fast food now. It's part of the looming recession that you can't actually buy what you want anymore. I have found that shops don't have what I want, and if they do have anything I have to queue as there is only one till occupied. Back to the airport - at least one of the fast food establishments is Pret a Manger.

I still don't know how you get to be in boarding group A on Easyjet; i did nothing different to other trips I have made on Easyjet, but this time I have a miraculous A and am whisked on to the flight immediately after the women and children. In this case it is an advantage as we are directly boarding rather than standing on a coach waiting for all the group B people to join us.

Everything is very efficient. My bag arrives in the baggage collection at the same time that I do, amazing ! The weather is much the same as when we left Gatwick, technically low viz.

I take a boat to Murano, which is famous for it's glass factories and find a nice restaurant on the waterfront. I umm and err and in the end decide to go for a full menu as in first and second main courses as well as a starter. The decisive factor is the Carpaccio offered as a main course with rocket and grapefruit; sounds intriguing. Apart from the obvious concern about the size of the bill, I am worried that I won't be able to eat 3 courses. But Carpaccio sounds light and I have plumped for the seafood pasta as the primi. This should be my only meal of the day.

I am just leaving the restaurant as it starts to rain. There aren't many spots to shelter, so I may as well catch a vaporetti to get out of the rain. By I go past the place I had lunch, maybe 10 minutes after paying the bill, the whole terrace has been dismantled and prepared for a storm. The remaining diners have been moved inside.
As I have managed to get a seat at the back (outside) the trip is quite exciting and wet. It is raining cats and dogs  and as the boat changes direction the weather sweeps across the back, or not. Inside it is packed and sweaty, like a gig with no band.

I can't get off at San Marco and get carried on to somewhere on the Dorsadure. Whilst waiting for a boat back the sun comes out and the dark clouds form a dramatic backdrop.

As I ride back to the airport on another boat it starts to rain again. The BBC forecast is beginning to come true. The journey back is smooth as the journey out. I still can't workout how you get an A on your Easyjet boarding pass which entitles you to wizz ahead of us B class passengers. If you know could you comment here or e-mail me with the answer.

I have posted a gallery of pictures from the trip here

I manage to wake up a little earlier, but still not early enough to go out before breakfast. I've been a bit of a failure on the early rising front.
It's still quiet when I go out at 9. I have a look around the Rialto markets which are closed. I remember it's some religious holiday today. I think this may account for a general quietness on the waterbuses. A lot of the tourists arrive from other islands or from the mainland, and some just don't get up I suppose. I photograph some textures. I have to check out at midday, so its back to the hotel around 11 to pack. Whilst I can store my case at the hotel, I am carrying all my camera stuff with me and am largely dressed for the journey home. I am therefore planning to avoid too much walking and spending any time in the sun for which I am overdressed.
In view of my evening flight a proper lunch seems to fit the bill.