A Quiet Day - No Photos

Today, Friday 12 December, is another quiet day! On our return from Cologne on the 10th, I finally given in to this flu-like condition. Dry cough, runny nose and a bit of temperature. So I decided to stay home yesterday amidst the protest of Marvo accusing me of having wasted his time by staying home.

But I knew very well, tiredness has caught up with him too and I will be very surprise if he won't catch the bug I have right now. Anyway, I know my body very well. I don't get sick easily, in fact I hardly do considering the constant lack of sleep and rest I go through. But I realise I have a long flight ahead and I do not want to be feeling very sick while flying. The thought of having a flu during a very long flight just doesn't sit well with me.

In order to not totally waste the day, I started sorting out my stuffs which literally are all over the place. Half of my toiletries will have to stay, I am sure everything will not fit into my suitcases.

Just before midday, we had something to eat and then got ready to go out by 2pm for the Berlin Wall Museum and after that to meet Marven's girlfriend at Potsdamer Platz. I was told it was a good chance for me to use the U-Bahn (U for Underground, but don't take my word for it coz thats just my own interpretation).

Things didn't go to plan. Marven's g-friend decided to change her mind after we have been all over the place trying to get to our rendesvouz point. I told Marven what I think and suggested we should just drop the little pressy for her girl. He agreed but halfway thru my dear friend was reluctant to take me with him to her girlfriend's place and asked me to wait at the Train Station instead. I made it known to him I wasn't prepared nor happy to be left on my own. I'm not happy when people changes plans without conferring with me first.

Anyway, everything was fine, his girlfriend came and met us instead. We had an hour or so together after Marven made sure I got to do this TUBEbogganing (I coined this word myself) in Berlin. I think it was around Potsdamer Platz. I only wished he forwarned me about lifting my bum as I hit the ground. It was sore for a wee while.

Check it out on this link below: http://www.winterwelt-berlin.de/rodelbahn.html

From here we walked into the Christmas Market. I felt Marven's girlfriend's little girl wanted to go on the carousel so I made sure she went on it. I am a sucker for kids, maybe because I missed out on these as a little child I want every child to have all the chances available for them. She was a natural, her mom told me it was her first time but she really enjoyed it.

A glass of hot drink later, and we said goodbye to them as we parted ways at the train station. Marven and I headed towards the Berlin Cathedral to be in time for the opening of the Bach Classical Christmas Concert.

Spent a few minutes contemplating whether we have enough time to go up the Berlin TV Tower and decided we don't. He pointed out the painting on the wall by the lobby of all the great Towers of the world...and kinda hope my Sky Tower is one of them. The painting does not look 100% like the Sky City so I did not notice it straight away. But I was relieved to see it was there!

From there we maneuvered our way towards the Cathedral. Marvo decided to heed the call of nature by the bushes in front of some church. While Marven was taking photos of another Christmas Market, I decided to wander around. Then I heard some noises and my name being called, turned around and saw Marven's parents and aunt. Marven must have known they were coming here. So we walked around the market and had a chance to eat fresh pineapple covered in chocolate... it was YYuuummmmmm!!! I would never put fresh pineapple and chocolate together, but the marriage between these two is sweet and yummy!

Then it was time to head to the concert. Got there on time and found our seats. I have no formal education in music, in fact I can't even read a note. But in uni, we were told to play Classical music while preparing for exams, it is supposed to help or enhance memory retention.

As the choir started to sing, I found it quite difficult to focus and listen due to my very itchy throat. In my effort to forget about the itchiness of my throat, I closed my eyes trying to focus on something else but my throat. I was in this predicament when gradually and gently I started to feel my body swaying, just a tad sway! Then I remembered my grandfather who was the musically inclined person in the family. When he used to play the violin or accordion or even harp, he use to gently sway or nod his head inline with the rhythm he was playing.

Then I felt the music, the voices that reverberated in the air inside the cathedral and I imagined myself starting to float gently towards the dome carried by the wave or waves of sweet voices!

I was in this state when I realised and felt a nudge from Marvo. I bet he thought I was falling asleep. Being aware of my surroundings again, my throat started to feel itchy once again and this time there was no stopping it. Managed to last for the whole concert only with the help of the candy (we call it lollie) from MArvo's aunt.

Check this link for some images and interior of the Berlin Cathedral:
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/berlin-berliner-dom.htm

After the concert we went to another Christmas Market, the Weihnachtsmarkt in Schloss Charlottenburg. From here we headed home, took the train back to Babelsberg and then hopped on the bus with Marven's parents.

Five minutes later after getting home, we wanted to photograph something (I can't remember now). We realised the camera or camera bag was nowhere. Checked everywhere, still no camera. Then it dawned in me "No Camera" which means...it is forever gone.

To cut this very long story a tad shorter, we took lots of photos which we will never see as the camera is now lost. With it goes my memories of my last 3 days in Potsdam and Berlin.