Shedders Berlin Trip

Extracts from a diary about a trip to Berlin 17th-20th April 2023

Monday 17 April 2023 Up at 6am and drove to the airport. Confusion at the car park: I had booked my space from Tuesday 1am and not today. The man on the intercom, Garry, suggested that I take a ticked and explain to the office on Friday and they would add the extra day’s payment then. Silly of me not to have checked. Is this an omen for our trip… At 7am, the gang of twenty quietly greeted one another, as one does so early. The Ryanair Flight at 9:30 was fine and we arrived in Berlin around 12:30 local. Nothing to see as we flew. Except Germany has a lot of Wind machines. We were met by our guide, Tomas, effervescent, heavy set man of about 45 years. Later Niall found out he was born in Missouri USA but spent a long time here in Berlin. Unfortunately, there was an unplanned long walk to the bus that gave some of our stickwalkers difficulty. They were: Niall O’Carroll, our dear leader [don’t call me Führer!], Gerry Hendron, John Merry and the Sheridan’s Brothers Grim. Our guide rendered an excellent talk about the history of Berlin. It’s split up in 1945, etc. and the buildings along the route to our hotel. One of the most significant buildings was The Tempelhof Airport building.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Tempelhof_Airport] A truly vast building where, up to late 1950’s, airplanes parked under the building itself so passengers did not get wet. Jim Doody; Louis Fitzgerald; Gerry Hendron; John Sheridan; Michael Bradley; Eddie Gannon; John Merry; Berchmans Gannon; Tony Collins ; Paddy Quinn; Tommy Sheridan; Joe Hogan; David Ross; Brendan Lynch; Niall O Carroll ; Michael Bowles; Des Crean; Seamus Kenny; Tony Doran and Randal Doherty.

Later, we gathered in the bar [Berliner Beer at €5.50], and sat around and discussed where to eat. We agreed that we would all go to a very old restaurant [built 1902 and undamaged in the war] Called Max und Moritz, and used in the German TV neo-noir series “Babylon Berlin.” One member, the Perpendicular Pronoun, set off to get a reservation, eventually to be told the place could not accommodate such a large number at such short notice. When I returned, a good fistful of the fraternity had already decamped to another restaurant, followed by a second group that rambled off into the night. I realised then that I had been unaware of the vagaries of the OB RFC De-shedders behaviour, i.e. lack of cohesion, especially after a consensus. I was in the third group, who were determined to have at least one German dinner. We taxied to Restaurant Erdinger am Gendarmenmarkt. Everyone was happy with their meal and excellent beer. I went all Austrian: Wiener Schnitzel and Apple Strudel! Later, all groups converged back into the bar and regaled on another about the merits of their dinner. The bar was eventually prevailed upon to stay open for an extra hour. Finally, strugglers carried on in the lounge. There was a well-stocked beer cabinet three meters away. Tuesday 18 April 2023 Gradually we all emerged to breakfast, which was good, and retold our stories of yesterday, softy, slowly. Groups headed off to the Hop-On-Hop-Off tourist bus around the city. Sadly, the weather prohibited the open air bus. Following a walk to Checkpoint Charlie, a very garbled, and I thought tatty, tourist area with a Trabant Car Museum [German sense of humour?], a McDonald’s and Irish Pub, we boarded the sightseeing bus for an hour-long trip around the city. All the famous, but no infamous buildings, were noted. Most stopped off for the Jewish museum close to the Brandenburg Gate, much smaller in real life, [and two minutes from the destroyed Hitler Bunker,] and the Jewish Commemoration Memorial. Some also went to the Museum of Horrors – Topography of Terror. No happy faces afterwards. Some did not go to any of these, just too disturbing. Berlin is a fascinating city: wonderful buildings and wide boulevards and surprisingly, unhurried. Our taxi man was late in arriving on one occasion and we joked with him about Germany punctuality. He laughed, “That’s in Germany – But this is Berlin!” Reassuringly Irish. In the evening, the general assembly met again and later, after a few sherbets, dispersed to their agreed restaurants. My group of seven made a reservation at Ristorante Bocca Felice not too far away. As we would be early, we decided to get a drink on the way. Silly us: unlike Ireland, there were no bars at any street corner. We sat outside on tied up chairs and tables, our Italian hosts seemed to be distrustful of their fellow Berliners, and we were served drinks while we waited for our table. Eventually, we were ushered in by the jolly head waiter Tony and led to our table of seven. He introduced our waiter, Gregor, who assured that “he would look after us, we could trust him!” There was a definite but hidden “Jawohl!” in his statement. But to be fair he was excellent at his job and we had a wonderful evening [fresh white asparagus]. Later he produced a small bottle of Grappa and poured us a glass and we wished him good health. Some walked, and others taxied back to the hotel. Once more, everyone returned to the hotel bar and vital discussions took place…

Wednesday 19 April 2023 After a leisurely breakfast [surprised by the number of early risers] our guide, Tomas picked us up, and coached to Potsdam. The original plan was to visit the Sanssouci Palace, the favourite retreat for Frederick the Great, but all tours were booked out. Instead, we visited Frederick’s other Palace nearby – “The New Chambers,” used for receptions of Foreign dignitaries. This, again, was a wonderful, guided trip [earphones] although the stairs proved difficult for some. Facing this Palace was the servant’s quarters, which were almost a big as the palace itself.

We had lunch in Potsdam Movenpick Historische Muhle [below]. A pleasant restaurant similar to the “Fern House” in Avoca Restaurant in Kilmacanogue, Wicklow. As we sat down, the head waiter was advised that there were three vegetarians in our group, which led to confusion. It was just a ruse – one member lusted for his longed for tomato soup. Everyone eat meat for the main course. A very enjoyable lunch Note: Useless information: Potsdam has a Rugby club a minute away from our lunch restaurant. It is the lower end of the second tier of the Rugby-Bundesliga league. On our way back Tomas showed us more sites of interest, like the back of Sanssouci Palace, and a famous Windmill… Rest and recuperation. Later in the bar, groups set out into the night to feed. Four of us agreed to go back to Bocca Felice, as I told them it was great fun last night. I was met again, with outstretched hands, Tony, the head waiter, and ushered into a table near the door. He returned with a welcoming glass of Prosecco, and introduced our waiter for the evening, a diminutive Italian with a three-day beard called Franco, who produced two heavy bottles of wine and told us this was his recommendation for the night, his favourites. We inquired the price: €70 euros a bottle, which we quickly declined, which he took with apparent umbrage. We ordered the wine I had the previous night – 28-30 Euro a bottle. The meal was OK, except Paddy Quinn ordered his prawn risotto with the shells removed. His dish arrived with the prawns still in the shell, which aggravated Paddy and Franco quickly withdrew and returned with speed with the correct dish. After our meal our little waiter came with Grappa in a long bottle, half the size of himself, and proceeded to your us each a small glass. We thanked him graciously. We returned to the Marriot Bar and met our companions and discussed our experiences. Then regaled about former days of rugby glory, all the usual stuff. And one by one we all drifted to bed. Note: In my room I glanced at the bill and discovered that not only were the Grappa but also the Prosecco added to our bill. I, like many another, thought we had received the gesture of thanking us for eating in their restaurant! Lesson learned. Thursday 20 April 2023 Following breakfast, we taxied to join the cruise boat on the River Spree that runs through Berlin. Sadly, the rain droves us to the lower deck. We set off along the river westwards and passed the back of some fine buildings, including the Reichstag [rebuilt] with the enormous dome created by the English Architect Norman Foster. We reversed and went East, again more interesting structures. The Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island and the famous Radio Tower Berliner Fernsehturm. We broke up, and some went visiting local coffee and beer shops for lunch. Tired, I returned to the hotel and later wandered the streets in the cool air. Meet up in the bar. We had agreed that our farewell dinner [Ah! Consensus!] was to be in the French restaurant, “Entrecote”. There had been great reports about it earlier. Nineteen Shedders trooped off and a wonderful time, without incident. I had a prior engagement to meet my grand nice and her fiancée who live in Berlin. As luck would have it, we met at Max und Moritz. A very Berliner eating house. After my meal, I decided that I had had enough Germain cuisine. Yes, there were excellent reasons for Italian, French, Chinese restaurants in Berlin. Friday 21 April 2023 Leisurely start as we lugged out 10 kilo bags to reception. Our bus to the airport was not due until 4 pm. Some dozed in the reception lounge while others wandered out. Six of us had a relaxing sandwich and coffee sitting outside a small deli. It was dry and warm. Sandwich and coffee was €5:50! The bus picked us and took us to the airport. Given the problem of the stick walkers when we arrived, they took a taxi to avoid any long walks. When we met up with them later, they still had problems. There were left at Terminal One and had to walk all the way to Terminal Two. Hung around the departure area and after a 30 minute delay we boarded our Ryanair flight home. Uneventful flight. No one bought Ryanair lotto tickets. Fully decamped, we bade farewell, and many agreed to meet up for the Belvo game tomorrow afternoon. In the car, at the exit barrier, I reported my problem ticked. A young lady told me not to worry and keep the problem ticked as a souvenir. As Billy Shakespeare says: “All well, that end’s well.” For me, Berlin was a wonderful trip with an excellent gang of sprightly individuals who sought a joke at every opportunity. No one can visit the city of Berlin properly in five days. Like Paris and Rome, it takes a lifetime. So, plenty of time left.

Thanks Guys