We started the day early, headed for the train station and a high speed train headed to Berlin. The Cologne train station was certainly an efficient and well laid out place. We bought some sandwiches in a shop, then found our platform and climbed onto carriage #24.

Amtrak could learn a thing or two from the ICE train…we maxed out at about 250 km per hour with a nearly perfectly smooth ride. The thing that was the same as trains everywhere? We arrived in Berlin 30 minutes late. Ah well, it was a good experience.

On arrival our group met our local tour guide for a brief trip around. We saw the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag (parliament building), and the outside of a number of museums. The inside of those museums will need to wait for another trip, but they sound interesting. Like a lot of European countries many of the museums contain artifacts collected (swiped) from other countries.

Our hotel for our stay was stylish, having been fitted from a building that was Siemens headquarters in the early part of the 20th century. We could certainly get used to duvet covers; very comfortable. After getting checked in we set off again, making one stop on our way to dinner. Outside the Berlin Philharmonic’s concert hall was a monument to those with mental health problems who had been murdered by the Nazis. It was very moving.

Dinner was a group event. The food was good, the beer glasses looked like you’d expect, and the group got very happy. There was a gentleman playing a keyboard, and eventually he started playing tunes meant to get you singing. There wasn’t much space for dancing, but yet it happened anyway. Fun was had by all, until it was time to say goodnight. We’ll have a full day in Berlin tomorrow…