Painting on my schedule the next few days... (plus a post of day 4 trip to Berlin)
I got a little bored today, what to do, what to do? I don't like sitting on the couch with my laptop for hours, or watch TV, allthough I could easily do that. I'm always in need of a little movement during the day, even if it was only for a half hour. But there's not much to do this week, I could go out but that costs money. I was thinking of painting the hallway when I saw the weatherforecast this morning, rain, cold, grey. I thought about it for a little while and decided to get the stuff I needed for painting, I already had some stuff so that was good. I only needed sandpaper, paintingbrushes and ofcource paint.
I figured that I had plenty of time to paint this week, this coming weekend the weather will be better, then I can go out. I sanded the door and window frames today and covered the side of the windows with special tape, Oh my the amount of windows I have, and that's the hallway only. Lots of work with the sanding and tape, but I got it done just before dinner. Tomorrow I will start with painting, then the day after I will paint it lightly again. I like it when it looks nice and tidy, a good thing I guess. So yeah, I will have my movements the coming days, all good.
Almost there, day 4, trip to Berlin...
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| St. Mary Church and the TV Tower became one in this picture, lol. |
This day was our last day in Berlin, wow, how time flies! Today was on our schedule a visit to Potsdam, Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, 24 kilometres (15 miles) southwest of Berlin city centre. I had no clue what to expect actually, but heard good stories about it from some other travelers in our group. I slept good last night, allthough I had a late nap yesterday just before dinner. Gerrit knocked on my door, otherwise I would have slept further and missed dinner. The sunburn from yesterday is still there, so I will have to take it easy today with the sunbeams, another hot and sunny day is on his way. Gerrit offered me some sunscreen today, that was nice.How am I feeling? I'm good but aswell a bit excited to go home actually.
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| In front of our hotel, waiting for everyone to gather around for the trip to Potsdam. |
Though if the bus driver would tell us, 'We will stay another day or two," that would be okay too. Mixed feelings.After my delicious breakfast and grabbing some extra bread and fruit for today's afternoon's lunch (as you do) we took of towards Potsdam. It was 9:30, that's our usually start of every morning. I weared shorts today, just to warm to wear long pants. The weather forecast for spelled rain and thunder in the evening... It was a long ride to Potsdam, after a few roadblocks we finally arrived. The bus driver told us that we took longer then usual, normally it's only a thirty minute drive, this time ninety minutes. I was getting sleepy and tired, I longed for a nice cuppa coffee, no wait! A nice BIG cuppa coffee in a large cup! Potsdam wasn't quit what I expected, when the bus turned into the parking lot I thought, "Do I have to spend my morning here?"
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| Sansssouci Palace from King Friedrich II |
But it was surprisingly okay though, Potsdam is sure not the same as the centre of Berlin, you can compare Potsdam with a touristic fisherman village, nice, comfy and quiet. If you want to escape the loudness and hectic of the city then Potsdam is great! We visited first in Potsdam Sanssouci Park, with the famous Sanssouci Palace from King Friedrich II, later known as Friedrich the Great. Really a nice area, I took several pictures, ofcource. Though I stayed out of the sun, cause it burned that hard on my arms and neck. (Poor me, lol) We stayed for a little hour at the park and returned back to the bus, oh I forgot to tell, Gerrit was with us today, he delivered his rented back in and joined us, just as he planned it. Joy full, funny man, he sang a few songs in the bus, and had jokes and lots of conversations, some loved it some not so, lol.
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| A Dutch street with Dutch houses and decorations in Potsdam. |
The bus drove us to the Potsdam centre, we had two hours to shop, flaunt and to explore. Again, I thought, "What on earth I have to do here in two whole hours?" But it was nice, unexpected nice. The sunburn went okay, and I explored Potsdam centre. I actually had a great time, there was so much to see, though you had to look for it, and that was just the best part. While walking trough the centre I suddenly saw things what catched my eyes, for example a pretty garden, a nice painted building, or a decorated bicycle. Potsdam had aswell a few Dutch streets with Dutch looking houses and decorations. Yeah, I enjoyed myself, I took many pictures, I figured it's my last day here, I'm going loose! Our group is getting closer aswell, lots of talks and jokes, I love it! It was 2:15 when we returned to our hotel, I was exhausted. Specially when Gerrit started to sing German songs, LOL!
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| A bicycle store in Potsdam. |
I was in need of a shower and a nap. The trip back took us sixty minutes, again long. My schedule further today was: shower, nap, dinner and then a walk with Gerrit. Though Gerrit informed me that he didn't wanna go for a walk tonight, he was tired and his feet were bugging him, oh well. I went on my own, it's my last evening in Berlin, one more time enjoying myself in the centre of Berlin. I started packing aswell, easy, cause I hadn't much with me. Putting things ready for tomorrow, passport, keys for my room, etc, etc. The walk was nice, but I walked firm cause there was rain and thunder on it's way. While I walked I had to be careful not to get lost, cause I saw many things what I liked, before you know your on the other end of the city. Berlin is not crowded, though it's busy, not much traffic, though there are many cars and bicycles.
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| The river Am Spree, with the 3 madchen statues. The clouds were getting darker and darker. |
Berlin is wide and spread out, the traffic and tourists doesn't really bother you. It was a nice walk but I really had to return to the hotel, cause it started almost to rain. I was half way and all of a sudden hell break loose, I dived into a restaurant and walked further to the toilets, before the waitresses come to me for ordering. While I walked trough the hotel I suddenly appear in a lobby from a expensive hotel, lol. From there I could look outside trough the entrance, still rain and hail, and thunder aswell. I waited until it got dry. It went a bit dryer and I walked towards the hotel, a fresh cool breeze felt good. After I returned to the hotel, I turned on the TV (Olympics and grabbed my notebook, writing about my day. Tomorrow early up, I setted my cellphone alarm on 6:00 am. Leaving at 8:30 am. I'm gonna miss it!
