Are we up to second-guessing ourselves over the decision to drive from one end of Germany to the other, just to spend two nights in Berlin? Seems like a reasonable reaction to a long and hard-on-the-seat slog, made even longer by a good deal of autobahn reconstruction, especially around Stuttgart. We found ourselves driving faster as the day wore on, maxing out at 160 km/hour – about 95 mph – but the Audis, BMWs, Mercedes, VWs and other makes kept passing us like we were standing still, rain or no rain. And there was rain almost all day long.
But the rain added a touch to our entry into Berlin that made it feel right; as least, the mood was what Doug remembered from the 60s when he was stationed here – somber, wet, cold. We entered the city from the southwest, leaving the autobahn to take small roads and streets through the suburbs, such as Potsdam, and eventually into Zehlendorf, a district in the former American Sector where US military units were headquartered. Dead-reckoning actually brought us to the corner of Clay Allee and Argentinische Alle, a main intersection near the headquarters buildings (including a couple where Doug worked), the U.S. personnel’s apartment buildings and the PX, which has been leveled. After about 8 hours on the road, we didn’t dawdle to take pictures but will do so before leaving Berlin.
We eventually found Hotel Kempinski through more dead-reckoning; a map would have helped immensely. After living in such tight quarters for three weeks, we opted for a small suite to spread out, and this one’s to our liking. Tomorrow, with more rain predicted, we’ll head to Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate and other must-see spots that make Berlin a special city.
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