Strandbad Weissensee

Today spring has finally properly SPRUNG! It was our first proper sunny and warm day since we got here.

'Lets go out!' I said to Mama and Papa.

'I'm a step ahead of you Barn' Said Papa, 'We're going to the beach!'

'You're shitting me' I said. 'There's no bloody beach here in Berlin'.

'There sure is, and inland beach, and its only a tram ride away!' retorted my smart ass Papa.

'Well, let's go then people!'

So we hopped off down the road to our nearby Tram M13. All of us outside for the first time without our winter jackets - yea, even me!

The tram took only about 20 minutes and we went through our normal Berlin and to the district of Weissensee. The tram had stopped outside of a park and we walked through it to see it was dominated by a lake.

People were outside, drawn by the first real sun of the year. It was so nice.

We walked around to the 'beach' area. This is a fenced off area and you need to walk through some 'cabiney' type structure to come out on the other side to the beach.

The beach wasn't super crowded but it was busy.

I wasn't allowed on the sand area so we had to stay on the terrace at the top.

This was a good spot for people watching. It was obviously too cold for people to go in the water. A few children tried to go in but as soon as they touched the water they quickly ran away.

We watched as a mother and her son played some beach football by themselves, people laying on picnic rugs and mostly everyone rather overdressed for what we would consider 'beach wear'.

Mama and Papa got a beer as we watched the day go by. I took shade under the table.

It was so nice to be outside and enjoy the great weather for a change.

I liked this place and would like to come back...maybe with a bowl of water next time though.

As we left Mama and Papa said they would come back with their friends. They didn't mention if I was invited too?

Village Kladow

I have been going everywhere lately. I don't know what Mama and Papa are doing to me but I am getting tired out!

I've been going on daily excursions and even to that XXL restaurant they went to. I didn't get any of the food though so just went to sleep on the floor.

Today I said to them 'Look, if you are taking me out again today, let's do something different!'

'Like what?' They said.

'Well, with these month card thingies you have, they entitle us to ride on the ferries too. It's great weather today so let's try that!' I said.

So with that we went on our way, out of our way, to Wannsee. This was quite a journey.

First we walked to our local U-Barney, Weberwiese and took the train to Alexanderplatz.

At Alexanderplatz we switched to the S-Bahn.

And after a long ride of about 40 minutes we ended up at Wannsee. This is the limit of our monthly card things - being the A-B zone. Any further we end up on the C zone. 

At Wannssee station it was just a short walk to the Große Wannsee Lake.

There was already a long line for the ferry. It only goes once an hour and I hoped we would get on the first time. I think everyone had the same idea to be outdoors in the nice weather.

We only waited about 5 minutes and then the ferry came and we could all board. This was my first time on a ferry...I was pretty excited!

There was no mucking about and once everyone was on board we set off. We sat out in the open air and admired the Strandbad Wannsee (a man made beach), apparently the largest inland 'lido' in Europe. Papa said they would have to come back to that beach when it is warmer, but probably without me. Aww.

The ferry ride was about 20 minutes. Too quick! I loved it. We came in to land at the other side - the village of Kladow.

We got off the boat. I admired the nice laid back atmosphere, while Mama and Papa admired the two lakeside biergartens. Again, they said they would have to come back here, but probably not with me because the might 'get on it'. Not sure what that meant other than I would be left at home next time. :(

We left the ferry dock and biergartens and walked into the main street of Kladow. It is a nice little place, but being Sunday almost everything was shut. The main street was not very busy but we had a nice walk up and down its quiet stretch. Such a different feeling from our Berlin city hustle and bustle, yet it still is Berlin.

There wasn't much else to do so we jumped on the bus to Spandau. 

After the excitement of the ferry and the Kladow walk, this bus trip gave me a chance to nap.

The bus ride took us through the town of Gatow and then into Spandau. It only took about 20 minutes We got off at Rathaus Spandau. 

Mama and Papa have already been here twice before but this was my first time. Spandau has a wonderful old town area and we went through a short walk through here. Sunday = closed = not much point hanging around.

We walked to the nearby shopping centre thinking we could have a look around. It was open, dogs are allowed so we went inside. Only the fast food chains were open and nothing else. Boo!

We went to the Spandau S-Bahn station instead and picked up some pastries from 'Back Werk' for the train ride home.

We hopped on the S-Bahn to head on home - eating our pastry things. They were slow in feeding me so I reminded them that I was there with a few barks. They fed me.

 And then Mama said I should learn some manners and then started to stare at me for a bit.

This train ride was also about 40 minutes to our local S-bahn station. Then a short walk home for us and a well deserved nap for me - Ich bin Hunde müde!

What a day.

The Watch

We have been going for walks a lot recently. By walking, we've actually been taking a lot of trains, buses and trams. Mama and Papa renewed their month card which gives them unlimited public transport, and that also includes me in the ticket!

Papa calls it 'riding the trains' when we don't know where we are going yet go out anyway.

On our 'riding the trains' day we went here and there and nowhere. We ended up at a place called the 'Gendarmenmarkt' - often called the most beautiful square in Berlin, and one of best in Europe. That's what 'they' reckon. To me there is like three buildings and that's it. Not much else other than a big open space with bugger all for me to pee on.

Papa had his camera out and was running from one side of the square to the other...like a tourist dickhead.

Mama and I couldn't give two shits so we stayed put in the middle. Mama was watching a bunch of people peddling some stupid beer wagon.

I, on the other hand, kept a solitary watch out for Papa as he scaled the highest steps in the square.

In case of danger I would help him.

Can you spot me?

Maybe a bit closer?

Closer still?

Spot me yet? If not:

Ta Da!!

I look so loyal don't I...just don't tell Papa that I was actually sending him 'evils' as it was so fucking cold and I wanted to go home.

Package for me!

We all had a go at getting up early today at 8:30am. It didn't suit any of us and I led the migration back to bed not long after our morning coffee.

At the crack of 11am our buzzer thing went and Mama answered. It was the postman. She got dressed and went downstairs to get whatever it was. A few things have come this way so I wasn't too fussed.

When Mama came back in she says 'Barney, it's your thingy!'

What's a thingy? I thought.

She opened it up in front of me and then I saw my thingy - it was my new snow suit thingy. 

The present from Auntie Toni!! They had sent it back because it was so over sized the first time (read the story here). Now it had arrived - would it be the right size? 

'Put it on, Put it on me!' I shouted. I was hopped up on excitement. After all, we had gone for a walk yesterday and I got dirty AGAIN.

So they put it on me.  First things first. It fits pretty good. Everyone was relieved.

However, they didn't put me in front of a mirror and this is my first time in a full body suit thingy. I felt a bit weird. How did I look?

I felt a bit fucking stupid to be honest. 'Put my hood on' I said, maybe that will make me look cool and from 'the street'.

They put it on, I bowed my head to look cool and whispered 'Do I look really cool?'

They didn't say anything. I heard a bit of a giggle. I looked up at them.

'Stop laughing, do I look fucking cool or not?' I demanded - in a very uncool way.

'Umm, well yea I guess so. You look great Barney. It will be good for you, you know, in the snow and that.'

They didn't sound convinced. 'Show me what I look like in this suit!' I demanded again.

They stood me up in front of the mirror.

I was flustered and I didn't feel too cool now. I was loosing my patience and the suit was getting quite hot. Before taking it off though I took a stroll around the lounge room for a test walk and my back foot came out of the back leg thing.

Papa said the leg thing wasn't a problem - we just didn't have the it zipped on properly. He also said if I really found it awkward those back legs can be zipped off. Good.

It wasn't raining today and I was still really tired from our early start so we didn't get to test it out in a real life scenario. I am really happy with it - whether I look cool or not, I am tired of getting dirty. I am sure the other dogs will be jealous of me.

Thanks Auntie Toni.

Piss off vandals!

A few weeks ago Mama and Papa had taken me to the East Side Gallery. This is the longest remaining stretch of the original Berlin Wall - about 1.3 kilometres long. We had checked it out and I liked it as a place to reflect on what was, and what now is. Plus there is lots of interesting murals all along the wall so that's cool too. Apparently it is the second most popular tourist attraction in Berlin, after the Brandenburg Gate.

This Friday just gone Papa told me that developers had received permission to remove a stretch of this wall. Bloody hell, there are already a couple of gaps in the wall, why do they need to make another one. Papa said its for a couple of reasons, one to give access to and re-build a bridge over the river that was destroyed in World War II and the other reason is that a luxury apartment block is also going there.

I though this was all bullshit so I said 'Papa, take me down there now please!'. So on Friday we went and there were only a couple of protesters and quite a few spectators.

Only a small section of the wall was taken out thanks to the protesters making too much disruption for the workers to continue. I went up to have a closer look and realised that for today our work was done so we left. Puppy power!

Yesterday Papa said 'Barney, there is going to be a big protest down at the wall on Sunday, do you think we should go?'. Fuck yea I said, lets send a message to those bastards that they can't destroy this cultural monument.

The irony isn't lost on me that 20 plus years ago people were protesting to pull the wall down and today we want to protest to keep it up.

The protest was at 2pm, so we left the house to get down there. We were running a bit late so we caught the bus to get there a bit quicker.

Once down at the wall, the fuzz was out in force and the roads were blocked.

 I took a moment away from the demonstration to stand between the wall, at the crux of the former east and west division. This is what we are protesting about, preserving the ability to appreciate the wall and its oppression in situ!

We then joined the crowd of thousands and I made my way to the section in question. Phew, the bastards haven't managed to get any more of it out...yet.

I stood there guarding it for a bit but then realised there was no need. No way they would be able to get to it today. That made me feel happy as I sat smugly next to the police officers that were guarding the section.

The main demonstration was in front of the damaged bit of the wall. Thousand of people as I said. We joined the crowd.

There was a bit of a stage and someone shouting about the wall (Die Berliner Mauer) and that it should be preserved. I asked Papa to lift me up and shouted back 'Yea, keep the wall, Piss off you vandals!'. People around me cheered. 

I like this feeling of activism, people don't mind me swearing here as everyone is hopped up on enthusiasm. Although when I called some guy an asshole for standing on my foot later on they didn't seem very pleased.

I hung around for a bit looking at the crowd and revelling in the power of the people and proud that my doggy voice also had a say.

By now I had my chance to be heard. We could go now.

 I had saved the wall for another day. Not on my watch dickheads.