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[Berlin diary] Going home
Packed stuff into rucksack (the yet unused compartments in the photo bit are great for CDs) and my suitcase, made sure I hadn't forgotten anything, relaxed a bit and chatted for a while before going on another tram/S-Bahn trek. ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lsur put me on the right train and stayed on for a stop, we said good-bye. Watched a pro photographer (I assume he was considering the equipment he was carrying, including a graphite Manfrotto monopod) reading (women's) magazines. First I thought he was looking at ads and similar photos for inspiration but I think he was actually a paparazzo as he flicked through the mags until he found random celeb photos and then checked the photo credits.
I then realised that someone had left their shopping (two jars of sliced garlic, a cucumber, a corn cob, two onions) on the seat to my left. They were of no use to me on the flight so I left them where they were.
Got to Schönefeld, went through the first security check and found that there were no seats in the check-in lounge and the Ryanair one would only open 45 mins later. So I went back out, found a seat and read a bit. Checked in and went through the tightest security control ever. Despite the thing not beeping, I was still padded down with the hand sweeper, had to open my belt and whatnot. The lady at the conveyor belt then wanted to see my camera gear and was amazed at the amount of CDs I had with me.
No problems, though, so I got through eventually. Found a seat and watched people a bit, including a young couple whose language I couldn't figure out. They looked (Northern) European but didn't sound like anything I've heard before. I didn't ask them but I assume they were from somewhere in the Baltic states.
Then I remembered I could buy a music and photography mag or two, picked up a Sonic Seducer with CD (superb selection!) but they didn't have any photography mags.
Eventually the gate was called and I marched over. Another passport control and again at the gate and another 40 minutes of waiting and we finally were on the plane. On time, too.
Flight was reasonably quiet but I couldn't get comfortable. I wonder how taller/bigger people than I cope with Ryanair seats...
It was a long walk from the gate to the terminal but at least that meant I got to the luggage carousel just when the bags started to appear. Mine came up pretty quickly so I grabbed it and made my way to the coach station. As luck wanted it, I had missed the coach by 10 minutes and had to wait for another 50 minutes. At least there were free seats in the waiting lounge. Got on the bus, got off, grabbed taxi, crawled inside and collapsed.
Managed a weak "I'm back" LJ post and download the photos but that was it.
Still shattered this morning.
All in all, it was a tiring but fantastic short break. I like Berlin and if there was an opportunity to go there for a job, I'd grab it immediately.
lsur put me on the right train and stayed on for a stop, we said good-bye. Watched a pro photographer (I assume he was considering the equipment he was carrying, including a graphite Manfrotto monopod) reading (women's) magazines. First I thought he was looking at ads and similar photos for inspiration but I think he was actually a paparazzo as he flicked through the mags until he found random celeb photos and then checked the photo credits.I then realised that someone had left their shopping (two jars of sliced garlic, a cucumber, a corn cob, two onions) on the seat to my left. They were of no use to me on the flight so I left them where they were.
Got to Schönefeld, went through the first security check and found that there were no seats in the check-in lounge and the Ryanair one would only open 45 mins later. So I went back out, found a seat and read a bit. Checked in and went through the tightest security control ever. Despite the thing not beeping, I was still padded down with the hand sweeper, had to open my belt and whatnot. The lady at the conveyor belt then wanted to see my camera gear and was amazed at the amount of CDs I had with me.
No problems, though, so I got through eventually. Found a seat and watched people a bit, including a young couple whose language I couldn't figure out. They looked (Northern) European but didn't sound like anything I've heard before. I didn't ask them but I assume they were from somewhere in the Baltic states.
Then I remembered I could buy a music and photography mag or two, picked up a Sonic Seducer with CD (superb selection!) but they didn't have any photography mags.
Eventually the gate was called and I marched over. Another passport control and again at the gate and another 40 minutes of waiting and we finally were on the plane. On time, too.
Flight was reasonably quiet but I couldn't get comfortable. I wonder how taller/bigger people than I cope with Ryanair seats...
It was a long walk from the gate to the terminal but at least that meant I got to the luggage carousel just when the bags started to appear. Mine came up pretty quickly so I grabbed it and made my way to the coach station. As luck wanted it, I had missed the coach by 10 minutes and had to wait for another 50 minutes. At least there were free seats in the waiting lounge. Got on the bus, got off, grabbed taxi, crawled inside and collapsed.
Managed a weak "I'm back" LJ post and download the photos but that was it.
Still shattered this morning.
All in all, it was a tiring but fantastic short break. I like Berlin and if there was an opportunity to go there for a job, I'd grab it immediately.