DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

greeny27rs wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 12:58 pm I think I may caught a glimpse of you Neil.
I am on way back from Essen!
Nick

Nick,

Are you still interested in the NOS speakers?
Please let me know something

Thanks

Interesting walking tour of Berlin. 3.5 hours long but with a break. The tourism in the city walks a tight rope between remembering the past and not creating momentums for far right.

The last photo is a case in point. It's a car park now but underneath it is the bunker Hitler died in. No signs.

The first photo is of Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

https://g.co/kgs/oX5JuQn

It doesnt have a sign and leaves you to decide what it means. The stones (gravels) on the outside are lower. As you walk into the centre they tower over you. The lines through the stones are straight. It's like entering a secret city where you don't know what awaits you around each corner.



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Did you go to the Museum at Check Point Charlie? The ingenuity and bravery of those who made attempts to get across the wall is amazing.
I grew up in Berlin, before and after the wall came down, the Olympic Stadium was our playground in the English Sector, and its car park used to be used for auto sprints and rally's.

Nine One One wrote:Did you go to the Museum at Check Point Charlie? The ingenuity and bravery of those who made attempts to get across the wall is amazing.
I grew up in Berlin, before and after the wall came down, the Olympic Stadium was our playground in the English Sector, and its car park used to be used for auto sprints and rally's.

We didn't go into the museum but correct that because our hotel is only 10/15 walk.

I would be interested to hear from you what it means to be a Berliner? Seems like unlike the rest of Germany. There seems to be no judgement about how people choose to live their lives here?

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2 days ago we had a very sober morning. I wasn't really prepared for the experience. As we left , Sachsenhausen concentration camp, a tour guide was telling his party this wasn't an extermination camp! Which was my impression before going. Unfortunately, it didn't prepare me for the barracks where they experimented on children in. Then the extermination pit.


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After 6 hours. 24.5c temperature and 44.5 on the road we have arrived in Poland. Quite tired. Car running well

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A final thought on Berlin before I write about Lodz Poland. I think it's a unique place. In 1961 the Russians built the war to stop the East Berliners escaping but they trapped the West Berliners in too.

Travel through East Germany from West Berlin to West Germany was restricted. Only in 1971 was a visa introduced for West to visit East but still very hard to get.

I guess this created a special cut off climate in West Berlin. Maybe this contributes to the free thinking ideas of the city?

https://globalhistorydialogues.org/proj ... -pre-1989/

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On our way to Poland we took a 90 min diversion to the Devils Bridge. In the right light Its reflection creates a perfect circle. I'm not sure it was worth the extra 90mins. We walked about 20 mins to get there but unfortunately missed the horse carriage.

Then some beautiful B roads to the border. Saxony is a stunning area. Once we crossed the border there were numerous shops selling tat and for first 5 miles all the petrol stations had prices in Euros first then Zolty

Every, every strangely at 1pm on Easter Sunday 20 something year old girls seating on country roads on plastic chairs?

@911hillclimber Graham we got over 38mpg for some of our journey!!



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Poland!
Great place to go, far from the tourist trail?

We just had an excellent private walking tour in Lodz (pronounced Wodz). Even our guide asked us why we chose Lodz. My Polish colleagues recommended it and Warsaw was a bit too far.

When Ana described Lodz as the Manchester of Poland i knew we were in safe hands. I guess because we are pre season and not in a tourist city no group tours were available. A private tour is a bit more expensive but our experience when mixed with older guides is they are often as interesting as the city.

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I stupidly asked Ana if they had rationing in Poland after the war. She told me they had rationing until the 80s. A bicycle was almost a luxury item.

This is in complete contrast to Lodz today. On the main street is The Grand Hotel with RRs, Porsches, G Wagons, etc parked in front. Then they like to run up the road reving and back firing

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I wore the anniversary t shirt today. The weather has been amazing. You can see I'm turning English red.


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Great tshirt neil

Last night in Lodz and on the Cherry Brandy. Closest I've come to pulling for many years.

A very smooth and easy 2.5 hours to our next destination. Back down the highway we have driven up.

Urban Poland is the most like living in urban UK that we have experienced. Just paid about £8.75 for Salomon and egg in bread

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We had a fantastic time in Wroclaw. Wonderful apartment and a great city. Flights from the UK. Put it on your list if you haven't been already. I think it's becoming Europe's technical hub. Lots of companies sourcing IT expertise from here (including mine).

Lots of money in the city. Judging from the apartments that have been built and the cars being driven.

We took the opportunity to have the holiday pool tournament and the club had a lot of silver. Unsurprisingly, no one asked if we were available as ringers for their next match!

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