Fifteen Members and friends made the journey to Berlin. Historically it has not been an easy place to visit. In former times the Russians built a wall around the Eastern sector to keep NCPS members out. When the Wall was finally demolished (all but a small section, which will no doubt feature in future NCPS competitions) new impediments had to be found. So it was that when news got out that NCPS were using Riviera Travel to infiltrate the City, Jet2.com refused to fly us there and the travel company had to slip us onto an EasyJet flight, bussing us from Manchester Airport to Liverpool Airport. Since tickets are not issued and with EasyJet chaos reigns supreme (particularly on return journeys!) there was little chance of them preventing our final departure. The Bullock’s coach driver was a little perturbed to find only 21 of his supposedly 40+ passengers turning up, but at 8.45am he set off for the 45 minute journey to the John Lennon airstrip. There we met Roy Anglesey, the Riviera Travel Rep, who was to smooth away any other problems and help to make the trip a great success. A coach awaited to transfer us from Schonefeld airport to the Berlin Excelsior Hotel, a comfortable billet in a good position for our explorations. Many of us had equipped ourselves with maps and the 10 or 25 top sights to see in Berlin., but Roy produced another set of city maps for us to use. Our Hotel was a few hundred yards from the Zoo, the U-Bahn (underground) and S-Bahn (surface) stations, and the terminus of the convenient No. 100 bus. The district was a student district with cheap eating places close by. In particular the Photo-Bruhne restaurant was only 50 yards away and provided such good reasonably priced food that we used it for our group evening meals on the first and third evenings.

So what were these top sights to visit? Roy suggested we should visit the Reichstag at Dusk. Norman Foster was awarded the commission to restore the building, and designed a glass dome with spiral walkway to the top, from which great views of Berlin are possible. It is close to the Brandenburg gate, another must for visitors. The Tiergarten is a huge green park in the middle of Berlin, close to the Zoo, and housing the landmark Victory Column. Roy took us on a stroll, on the first afternoon, to the ruined church (Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche) housing the cross of nails given by the people of Coventry. Beyond the Brandenburg gate stretches the famous street Unter den Linden, and if one keeps going in the same direction the TV tower over 1000 feet high comes into view. From the top of this tower the whole of Berlin can be seen. Roy suggested we should take a boat trip on the River Spree, Many of these trips start close to the Tower, and most of us took the trip up the river Spree, past the Railway station and back. The Main Railway station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof) boasts trains on three separate levels, and being close to the river is also worthy of a visit. A morning’s coach tour on the second day took in Checkpoint Charlie and the many Museums, and included the bit of Wall still standing. We had the option of returning by coach or staying near the Reichstag, after our coffee break. On the Thursday morning a coach tour to Potsdam via the Berlin Lakes, allowed us to appreciate the large size of the Berlin city state. We walked over the bridge which demarked West Berlin and East Germany, and travelled on to the Sanssouci Park containing Royal Palaces. We had a brief tour around the Schloss Sanssouci before exploring some of the extensive grounds.

In the afternoon, whilst some members [Colin & Monica, Dave, Roger and Tony and Dorothy] visited the Holocaust Museum, Russian Memorial (with the two Tanks No. 200 and 300), and lunched at the KDW store (Top floor restaurant with good views), John, Milly and Bill decided to visit the Botanic gardens out of town. This involved a U-Bahn journey to Rathaus Steglitz, before transferring to the S-Bahn for a three-stop journey to the Bot Garten station.

Having decided to walk back to the U-Bahn station a passing taxi looked inviting enough to persuade us to try this mode of transport. The clock read 16 Euros as we reached the Hotel.

So did John lose another camera on this outing? No! Bill refused to look after John’s camera; and told him so. But John couldn’t hear. Apparently whilst drying himself after a visit to the Gents at the restaurant near the Reichstag his hearing aid came adrift and was lost – probably into the waste paper bin. Strangely, John didn’t miss it until we were a mile away! We returned, and searched all the Rubbish Bins in the Gents, to no avail.

During the visit to the Botanical Garden, Milly asked Bill to hold the bag containing her handbag (including Passport), This he did, until he had to put it down to take a photograph, and move along a bit to take another. It was half an hour later, at the other side of the Park, that Milly asked for her bag back. What Bag? Oh dear! John and Bill retraced steps to the Park entrance – and there it was still sitting forlornly on a white park bench.

In the three days we all packed in a lot; the weather was great (no coats needed) and there was plenty to see. Those present pronounced it another successful trip. Colin Pickles was thanked again in the usual way (a bottle of white wine) before we left. Roy Anglesey, our Riviera Rep was presented with a joint NCPS tip for his sterling work, and our group photograph (see above!) was taken.

We boarded the coach back to the Airport. Here, the fun started. A scrum the size of a small football pitch developed as lines to the various checking in desks merged into one mass. Roy investigated and told us that

EasyJet’s computers appeared to have failed them.. Eventually the Liverpool sign came up on a new check-in desk and in the rush those originally at the back were now at the front of the new queue. Colin, Monica and Dave Akers were the only sensible ones; they went for a coffee whilst it was all sorted out. Who remained in the scrum? I observed Tony and Dorothy Redford, Alan and Val Wild, Frank Hutchinson and Margery, Joyce Streets and Hugh, John Ranson, Roger Dye, Milly and Bill Chadband. Unlike First Choice airways, EasyJet leave sufficient legroom for tall men to be comfortable. We had a smooth 2hr flight back; said goodbye to Rep Roy; and boarded the Bullock’s coach for our return to the Radisson SAS at Manchester Airport, and our taxis home.

So ended another memorable and satisfying NCPS trip abroad.

Bill Chadband