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.