Obligatory Misadventure...and motorcycles.

So it finally happened-- my Obligatory Misadventure with Public Transport in [this particular] Foreign Country. The weirdest part is, it was identical to another Obligatory Misadventure with Public Transport in a Foreign Country that occurred while I was in the Netherlands in July 2005.

Today again I wandered all over Berlin, feeling just as free as some sort of free thing that feels free feels. I took a lot of subway trips (because you only have to pay for a ticket if they catch you) and I'd managed just fine for a whole week in Berlin--I'm sure you'll not be surprised to hear that Germany is ever so organized and straight-forward. So goes the public transport. It also helps that I can read the language (though I'm afraid my ability to speak it has withered and died, much to my chagrin and that of my various waitresses and waiters).

Late this afternoon I was running to catch a train to see a Frida Kahlo exhibit, and was examining my map intently when the train started rolling through various stations, so that as soon as I got to Potsdamer Platz I could hop off and make a bee-line for the museum. An announcement came over the p.c. at the station one before mine, and everyone exited the train... except me.

You'd think that would have set off a little alarm in my brain or something. At least I was aware enough this time to have several thoughts while the doors started closing and the train pulled away from the station. They went something like this:

"Hmm, everyone got off the train. That's curious."

"Hmm, it's just like that time in the Netherlands when I didn't listen to the announcement saying the train terminated at that station. Interesting, isn't that?"

"Waaait a second...oh crap. Aaaarg! I can't believe I did the SAME THING. AGAIN. This is going to be fascinating."

When this happened to me in the Netherlands-- I didn't exit a train and ended up parked in the middle of a train yard all by my lonesome-- I was able to jimmy open a door and climb down the side of the train, run across several tracks and exit onto a nearby street (but not without getting mocked soundly by a group of engineers having a smoke near the tracks). THIS time I was in a subway. Like, you know, under the ground and stuff. WAY under the ground. Eventually the train stopped, and immediately claustrophobia set in-- the car was surrounded on both sides by dank stone walls and a faint, eerie blue light. Not such an easy escape for me this time.

However, before I could well and truly start to panic, the driver came through my car, and without even a laugh or a smile (but with much understanding and kindness... or perhaps it was pity?) told me (in English. Of course he knew. One look at me standing there motionless with a dumb-struck deer-in-headlights gaping stare on my face in the middle of that car, all by myself, and he knew I was an American). Anyway, he just said "I'll drive it back to the station." And continued walking to the other end of the train.

So he took the entire train back to the station, let me off, smiled at me knowingly, and drove the train back down the tunnel whence it came. Like I said: this is one efficient country. Even a screw-up like me can't get into too much trouble.

After all that I didn't get to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit-- but I think I like better what I happened to do in the end. I walked back to the river and central station, where I'd been just yesterday at sunset. This time, I stopped to have an ice-cold herbal lemonade by the river and watch the sun set with a dozen or so other Berliners. I sat there in the marvelous heat, soaking in the sun and watching baby ducks avoid the tour boats, and listening to Verdi's Requiem on my iPod. It was really lovely. The perfect end to two days rambling in Berlin.

I've added a few more pictures to my Berlin album from today, so go to the link on this morning's post to see them all. I've also created a new album on my facebook page with pictures of motorcycles I have seen here in Berlin. Ciao ciao!

Die Bilder

That means pictures. Virgil (that's my camera) and I took a 4-hour walk yesterday, and here's what we saw. Note the incredible architecture, oftentimes juxtaposed old and new. This is in fact due to the Allies' prodigious bombing of Berlin in WWII.
I'm also compiling an album of just motorcycle pictures from around the city-- so many fantastic machines. Forthcoming...

I will spend one more afternoon out and about in Berlin, and then I come on home! As always, here's a taste from yesterdays' ramblings:


Der Reichstag. It reads "For the German People"


Brandenburg Gate, complete with Red Cross band playing--what else--Beatles songs



In front of the Berlin Konzerthaus (Concert hall)






p.s. Grandpa-- you were in Berlin once upon a time, yes? Just for a visit (you were stationed in Frankfurt, maybe?) I'd be interested to hear what the city was like only a few years after the war, as opposed to almost half a century...