And there was I in Berlin roaming on the streets. I never expected to be so tired...for this was not much of a relaxation trip in any case, I was on a mission; missionGRE. Work and practice in the night with the sweet friends around, more of a moral support id says but then again, I know it helped a lot. In the present state of chaos that ruled inside me, this seemed like a nice way to get away from the regularity of life. Get off to Berlin, enjoy a day off campus (yet again) and move on to greater things in life. If not anything, this sure was a retreat for the wandering mind, a rest I’d say.
As I was sitting in this Indian restaurant, a novel thought and this idea to write my thoughts down came up. Quite strange as id say considering I normally don’t make a diary nor am I a writer for the verbal brain. But this time things were different.
This morning didn’t quite have a beginning. It started when I started packing (if that’s what you call putting together my stationary, netbook and random exam admission tickets). It was not now that I realized that I don’t particularly know much about the test center nor am I sure why I don’t have a printed admission ticket in sight. A fanatic search resulted in the shelves of my now lonely room. And yea I figured the mystery in the end. There was no admission ticket; it was a computer based exam! J
Schoenebeck train station, yea that one where I always have my last minutes running, just to make sure I don’t miss the train. And today I couldn’t quite afford to, it was the first and only chance to make it to the train for Berlin (via Hamburg that is). And there I go through the corridors of the friend’s apartment, just to get that silent smile and the soft wishes for the leaving moment.
I leave. Yes I run for the last minutes to the train station, but I make it quite well in time. In fact the train and I arrived quite with each other’s company. Quite an unpleasant sight but still a relief nonetheless...!
A Rollo (Turkish dish) at the Bremen station and there I go for Hamburg. I didn’t quite realize until later in the train, how sleepy I was. And yes all the plans to then study or even goof around on the netbook faded as I fell for the might of my sleep. But well this was not one of those days when Germany lived up to this punctuality. The train decided to delay my plans to reach Hamburg and quite effortlessly arrived late by 20 minutes. Whoa !! But my train to Berlin was in 15 minutes. What now! I wished and prayed (or maybe not) that the train to Berlin also gets delayed.
Seems like Germans do understand these train transit issues and realized my plight. The train to Berlin was still there when I came. While I tried to figure if it was my train at all, I still decided to get onboard nevertheless. The train started!! Oopsie !
But wait it was the right train. Phew ! Yes, it was the train I was meant to be on. And yes the train waited patiently as I came all the way from Bremen late as ever (not my fault this time). I studied a bit, snacked the rest bit and soon found myself sleeping again. This old lady joined me in my small cabin (yea it was the european fancy train with small cabins inside, it was the EuroCity trains). As she stared in amazement, I slept and slept nice. Woke up once in a while to find her as still as ever. Sometimes I wonder what makes them so still; the lack of energy to move or the lack of interest to bother.
Nonetheless, ofcourse this train happens to be late too. Why do I care, I am after all on my way to Berlin. But wait, the train goes further, all the way up to Wein (Vienna). Well but doesn’t that mean I have to ensure I get off at Berlin or ill be hmmm screwed ! YUPS. And so I realized and slept.
850 AM and I wake up. A small peek through the hardly open eyes and I notice it’s past the time I was to be at Berlin. WHATTTTTT !! No ways. Well well look around, panic a bit, stay calm to not freak out the lady (she was still just as old and just as still). The train stops, station: Berlin Spandau . I look in the schedule and guess what, Berlin Hbf (main station which I am to go to) is next. What a sigh of relief.
I get off at the next stop happy and coldJ. As I put on my gazillion winter accessories I realize how smart it was of me to bring all this along. Berlin was just as cold as I expected it to be. The hauptbahnhof was quite fancy though. Multistoried, made of glass and trains came at multiple levels; above your head and below you.
I still had quite some time so I decided to follow up with Berlin a bit. I go outside on the cold but silent walk. A peaceful one and quite an entertainment I must admit. I walk and soon enough find me at the gates of the Bundestag, the seat of German Parliament. And to my best interest that this trip has been so far, the entrance was open to non registered guests too, and that too for free. Of course I go inside.
Amazing the building was I may admit, glass panels overlooking the entire parliament and its proceedings. A walk through the dramatic and majestic German history was just the highlight of the visit inside. Oh did I forget to mention that we were all strip searched on our way inside.. well..:)
On my way out, I realize that the line I waited in for about 20 minute and cursed the authorities was now about 2 hours long. WOW. Really, I got it easy for what it was : One of the most popular tourist spots in Berlin. Hehehe a happy feel in the chilling air made its way down to the heart. It was nice.
And well on the way back now, I find this place, Bolliwood as they call it (yes with an i). Indian food for cheap prices, well just amazing I may say.
All that could now go well is the GRE. Looking forward to it I may say.. or am I ??
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