Last Sunday evening we arrived in Berlin after 34 hours of airports and airplanes… here’s what I learned:
- Just because you’ve got five tickets and can take five pieces of hand luggage doesn’t mean you should use them all. But, the flip-side of this is that you’ll definitely have your hand luggage at the end of your trip (our check-in luggage didn’t get on the connecting plane with us in London).
- Always let people who happen to be sitting beneath your “Kids entertainment” bag (that you access every few hours) know when you’re going to drop their laptop on their head (or they tend to get a little bit upset),
- The death-stares that seem to be directed at you and your screaming baby during the “night” section of the trip are really a sign of affection - people will
lie through their teethtell you afterwards how wonderfully behaved your kids are. - Don’t stand in a queue for a British Airways connection while a bunch of Finnish retirees monopolise one of the two staff who aren’t currently on their lunch break only to be told after 45 minutes of waiting that you (and your family with 3 kids, 5 hand-luggages and two car seats) can make a run for the gate (over a km away) for your plane which is due to board right now.
- Family support is a wonderful thing.
(Fran’s written more details of our trip.) Right now I’m just enjoying settling into our temporary accommodation in Charlottenburg, Berlin, visiting some of the sights with the kids (M, E and I climbed to the top of the Siegesaeule - the tower in the photo above) and absorbing the vibe of a foreign city!
Wow! And I thought organise yourself to fly that far was hard enough!
You’ve made things sound so easy compared to Fran’s account! Take a big deep breath Nelson family! You made it!
I hear it’s freezing over there, but I’m sure you’re all having a ball! Looking forward to more posts!
Hi Penny! It’s actually quite mild for winter (so I’m told) - I’m hoping it’ll get colder so we can see some snow :)
Right! Friends over there have told me they’re always cold, but then again they’re not from the mountains :)
It’s been freezing here! Down to 9 degrees last night! Great to see your photos- what a gorgeous place!
Did you really get death stares from people? I’m sure the children were very well-behaved, they always are, but then maybe I’m biased! The tower looks very high and thin - I think you’re all really brave. love always, Mum
When little M. is screaming at the top of his lungs and people turn around to look with a “what the bleep is going on back there?” look on their face, everything feels like a death-stare…
Yes, well flights are not the best of situations…but the Berlin scenes look great! You and the kiddies do too! Looks like everyone is enjoying themselves. Thanks for the Flkr pics too. Kids scream cause the airpressure hurts their ears…I used to be one of the people who gave death stares but after learning that, my looks are now filled with empathy and pity for the poor little kiddie. Glad they all made it tho. Look forward to hearing more now I have your web address.-Genie
Glad you’ve made it to your new wonderland in one piece! Now about the death stares, they get passed around the surgery sometimes when there’s a ‘family of many’ clanging toys around the waiting room and there are other patients in that can’t even stand a soft radio sound on!.. and the other lot are just having withdrawals from something or other! Gigi & I had an interesting flight experience in 1980 when, after about 29 hrs in the air, her hand luggage of clothing on a coat hanger slid out of the overhead compartment and landed straight over this guys head (he was in traditional dress too) Talk about the ultimate insult by a WOMAN!! He didn’t even attempt to remove it whilst we were trying not to laugh with many others .. ooops! Then when she lifted if off … IF LOOKS COULD KILL … I’m sure he would have stabbed her if he’d had a knife on him! Happy days and lots of new lovely experiences for you all. Berlin is a fantastic place … I have a small piece of graffittied concrete from the Berlin Wall in amongst my rock collection! PS Louis has survived his first couple of days at high school. Even managed to get the right bus home :-) Ciao Brigi & Louis
hey I saw your comments on my leadership materials (march 2005 but obviously updated recently). many thanks. mark
Hi Michael, Looks like you’re having a great time. A friend of ours has just had a bub and will be moving to Berlin mid year. So very keen to read of berlinerlife. FTR Anthea and I had a little boy Felix on 18th Jan. I had all first term off which was great, will be very interested in reading more of your experiences with the kids. cheers
Hi Rob! Congratulations on the birth of Felix! Glenda was telling us last week (on the phone) how beautiful he is, and how happy you are! Thanks for the encouragement to write more…
Do you know where abouts your friend will be moving to in Berlin? If they’re keen to chat about the move, feel free to give them my skype id (absoludity).