All things German, August 2015

This song entered my head not long after arriving in Berlin... I'm leaving on a fast train (jet plane) don't know when I'll be back again...
Our friend Robert, visiting his mum in Berlin, so kindly met us at the station at 7.30 am, Trevor raced off to get the bikes from the cargo carriage, Robert offered to watch our panniers so I could go help, we had just unlocked the bikes when the carriage slammed shut and the train departed with us still on it. Ahhh! I banged on the window trying to get Robert's attention but he was looking the other way. We had no idea how far the train was going or how we were going to get back.  I was glad Trevor was not alone with the 2 bikes, that would have been awkward!  We were pretty sure Robert would settle in for the long haul, hard to go anywhere with 8 bags.  Luckily the train did not go too far, a helpful local wrote down the connections back, 2 different train lines, escalators and stairs manouvoured, Trevor bolted to the carriage with the bike symbol on it, I was a bit slow reacting, after he was swamped with people following him on I realised I was not going to make it to that carriage and got in the next one, stressing Trevor to the max when he didn't know whether I was on the train or not. We managed to both get off at the same stop, no mean feat during rush hour... And the only clue I had was a long name starting with M. We then got the next connection and back to the main station where we found Robert, took a few deep breaths, all had a good laugh and then biked about 12 km south to where we were staying for a few days in a lovely little cottage by a lake. Incidentally there was a little plaque in the same street showing that Aubert Einstein lived there many years ago.
We took the bus back into the city in the afternoon to visit the Hungarian embassy as we wanted to find out if we would have any problems leaving Hungary after being in the EU for over 90 days. Turns out yes there would be issues, even though we have 90 day stay agreements with a number of countries those countries we do not that belong in the EU revert us back to a 'Schenegan' visa which allows just a total of 90 days over 180 days so basically they said don't come, we could consider you as overstayers. So we needed to go for plan B which was to leave the EU into a non Schenegan visa country from a country we have a 90 day agreement with. So Italy to Croatia was the only real choice to be hassle free. But that is a few weeks away.
Meanwhile we looked around Berlin, it was amazing to us how many tourist sites were war related. We went to the holocaust museum, check point Charlie, a part of the Berlin wall that is preserved as well as a war museum. Very sobering, seeing the deaths of 6 million Jews documented as well as the divided East/West Germany years.  It is difficult to visit these places and then carry on with a normal day. I find I have to box it up and put it out of my mind to think about at another time. One quote particularly stood out for me, "It did happen so it can happen again"
So very true when thinking about all the violence and wars that have been since 1945 and continue all around us still.
On a brighter note, we are thoroughly enjoying Germany, there are cycle ways everywhere, I think you could travel the whole country without mixing with any cars. I guess I had never really thought about it but I am surprised at how flat the entire country is. Berlin has no high rise buildings, 3 - 5 stories max. And very square buildings, quite different to anywhere else I've been. The bread is divine, best in the world no question. And we have eaten a lot of bread in Europe...
We enjoyed blatting around Berlin trying to keep up with Robert on his new E-bike, ate nice cakes with coffee, wolfed down curried sausages on the street corner, enjoyed a wheat beer, wandered around the different 'Platz' (squares or Plazas) saw some sites and enjoyed a meal out with Robert and his mum. Probably not enough time to see Berlin properly but enough of a taste.
We then headed south through Eastern Germany to Liepzig.
Easy riding south through the lovely village of Potsdam to a campground at the south end of the lake,  a short day due to an afternoon storm.
80km to Radijke, we finally found a kebab shop open after 65 km. No cold drinks or ice creams for sale here on a Sunday. Very rural, quiet places, the church spires rise up in the distance letting you know there is a village nearby.
Old disussed factories and less populated. Locals tell us wages are still less in the East. 
It bucketed down as we arrived at the campground so took a lovely cabin, bedroom, kitchen, lounge and heater, finally we have found some cooler weather.
Radijke to Bergwitzsee - 83 km nice riding cruising through the countryside to Wittenberg, a gorgeous small city which we looked around, had lunch and took photos. The afternoon rain arrived early, we were really drenched and this time the campground had a stylish container to sleep in, again warm and dry, facilities are very good in Germany.
Bergwitzsee to Liepzig, 79 km, all in the rain through off road forestry type trails, bikes and us totally covered in dirt. No way could we stop at a hotel so we continued right through the city (after numerous instructions from a local) to a campground with tiny cabins.
Liepzig, we cycled the canal into the city and enjoyed a day sightseeing in the drizzle. Gorgeous old but renovated buildings. The forecast was for more rain for the next few days so we took a train, (actually 4) the next morning to Rosenheim south of Munich.
On arrival we could see the Austrian mountains in the distance, such a lovely vista. It was about 6 pm as we cycled out towards the campground on the map to find it was not there... We got instructions from a local to another one quite a long way away, it was drizzling and getting dark and I was keen to head back to a hotel. We stopped to talk to a couple out for a walk with their baby girl and they asked us where we were from. When we said NZ they asked us if we had cycled the rail trail. Turned out they had worked in NZ on the rail trail and in Clyde having visited NZ a few times and they immediately invited us to stay with them. A well travelled couple who enjoy adventure and were keen to repay the great NZ hospitality they had enjoyed.
We had an amazing evening, beautiful pasta meal with salad and then an Austrian dessert to finish, a type of pancake with fruit, as well as the real 'pine cone'  Snapps. (The trees need to be over 60 years old and then just the young pine cones are used, well that's what I understood...)
Not to mention the hot shower and comfy bed and route planning through Austria.
Each day we cycle we are continually amazed at peoples generosity, kindness and friendship. It is these spontaneous occasions that really stay with us.
An enormous breakfast of everything we love, muesli, yoghurt, fruit, toast, egg, marmite! Coffee etc, Then we all rode about 25 km, with the baby being towed in the buggy, through the back roads and out to the river track that led to Austria passing the 'onion top' church  on the way.
Auf Wiedersein Germany, we are so glad we visited. Definitely a place to come back to.