Deutschland

R and I did yoga and a core workout in the Tetbury sun before we headed off home. I'm always sad leaving, missing those days in Malawi when we could pop round whenever we wanted. We took a home grown marrow with us and, after BigA had checked the tyres we got home without any issues. Once back it was a day of washing, repacking, watering and delightfully getting A from the bus station for lots of cuddles and a catch up on her placement in Leeds. She loved it and they loved her! The Bs were back and we cooked up a bumper batch of veggie spaghetti Bolognese and had a pleasant evening before I turned in and, for the first time, slept in a room that wasn't by bedroom in my own house. Up with the sun we got ready for our trip to Germany. 

Safely on the Eurostar we were served breakfast. BigA knows how to travel, a fancy breakfast of savoury pastries and some sort of yoghurt, fruit and basil concoction, tea and all in proper porcelain. This was As first Eurostar experience, she's doing another trip on it in September which will not be so fancy. Travelling by nice train is much more pleasant than plane. 

Our first Airbnb was a little garish in design, but suited our purposes. We were met by my cousin and joined Er and D who had already found the best local bar in town, with actual locals in. We ordered the food with a little help in translation from S and Er. BIGas German is also pretty functional and so I've simply stuck with the danke and bitter most of the trip. I had the German version of macaroni cheese and the others went for very salad based dishes. Really tasty and plentiful. The waiter even called D a few names in German which elicited immediate laughs from those who could understand and more when we were told he was "not stupid but not quite clever." 

Well, D didn't laugh. 

S then took us on a walking tour of her favourite bits of the city that we are in, fascinating mix of old, very old and various stages of newish. The city was heavily bombed in the war, and apparently if you did down anywhere you find Roman ruins. It's filled with history when you know where to look. As you wander there are simple metal squares on the ground, the size of a beer mat. Referred to a stumbling stones.These are engraved with the names of Jews who were deported and the date they were killed. Placed outside the place they once lived. I endeavoured not to simply walk past any I saw and quickly found so many it felt even more important to remember. As the evening went on it was lovely to chat and find out about elements of each others lives, some I know well and then information we none of us knew about each other. D and BigA finding out details of their father's life that hadn't caught before. 

Our first full day started with us navigating 5 of us living in a small place, and working out what the various coffee pods would yield. Then off to find a place for late breakfast. It was a little disappointing as much of the menu wasn't available and we discovered that our day plan wouldn't work as the museums were shut. So it turned out to be a day of cathedral and wandering, food and drink, walks and more drinks. We also checked out the underground tram system and got a bus! Not bad at all. 

The next day we ate a hearty breakfast (sadly A has been beset with wasps and this meal was no exception) do we retreated inside only to be followed by one, luckily Unki D is used to rescuing wasps and caught it and promptly took it back outside. 

So our lazy mornings have turned into walks with some purpose and off we went to the Mackk museum, a very interesting arrangement of objects, jewelry and photos of artitrctire. Next a spot of lunch in a great vegan place that was a buffet style, I was feeling very healthy by the end of the meal and off to the next museum where I met with another of my relatives, H. Evening looked at the modern art and found out about each other. She's S daughter. She next took us to a famous shop for the distinct purpose of dressing up for Köln Carnival. A treasure trove of all things dress up, A loved it. She then took us to the best cafe for cake around and then Se met up with us before we took them to a beer place D had looked up that they didn't know about and H is excited to add it to her list of places to go out! A longer wander to a place they recommended for dinner, by now much later than my usual time, holidays do that. This place's specialty was burgers, all sorts and loads of veggie and vegan ones and there was almost too much choice. It also was decorated with trunks of silver birch so we felt a little like sitting in woodland. We said our goodbyes with promises of seeing them both again in London. 

The next day was mainly on the train to Berlin, after another filling and, for me, delicious mix of fruit and granola. Our train was slow compared to most trains and especially when we thought back to the Bullet trains in Japan. 

The next apartment was much more spacious and stylish than the last, and I settled down with my book as the menfolk went to get milk and some snacks. I probably would have been satisfied with that and the glass of wine then but we needed out for a late meal by the river. I tried the beef goulash with mashed potato. Scrumptious and the meat just fell apart. A short walk by the river and taxi back, despite being our least walking day, I was spent.

E has been rising very early each day and had been out to get a range of pastries the next morning, so we all enjoyed getting ready and nibbling away at them. 

 Berlin is bigger than I had anticipated, I don't recall visiting before, like so many cities it's full of curiosity and the mix of familiar brands, sudden glimpses of English and the odd and uncomfortable juxtaposition of wealth and poverty. We'd been surprised by the number of homeless people in Köln. Many parts feel a bit neglected. A, BigA and I set off before the other two for a walk along the river and a rest in a park. 

For lunch we had arranged to meet with one of Es oldest friends, in fact a large impetus for the trip was for them to see eachother again. Er is immensely proud of his sons and it was delightful to see them all interacting. The meal was very high quality and we had a 3 course meal in the shade. We then went to see the palace near by but all of us felt exhausted suddenly, so we rested out of the heat of the day and then a taxi to meet with a relatively new friend of ours who happens to live here. A great evening in a garden bar with love music and fab cheese board to complete the day, or do I thought, once back at the flat we found a new burst of energy and some of us, mainly me danced and sang until the early hours. Delightfully freeing. 

Our last day proper was perhaps one of the least exciting but pleasant enough. We had some lovely food and walked a bit, looked around a vintage car place that appeared to have an endless number of cars to view. We also took a little trip to Aldi. A short train ride to the money one we got comfortable for the sleeper train to Brussels. This morning I awoke and battled my way out of the room and to the toilet. Not the most glamorous part of the trip. I am currently sitting in a cafe in Brussels having successfully navigated a cup of black tea and not green. I have a little more French than German. 

One of the joys of holidays like this are the small, incidental conversations, perhaps little realisations or reminders of what brings joy. It's also brought us bigger tummies with all the food and drink but it's been worth it. 

Lots of love for the end of the month. I will miss this August.