Today was our first full day in Berlin, Germany. Since we Francesconi's tend to stick to what we know/what is most pleasing to all five members of the family (an extreme rarity) we embarked on yet another city bike tour. After filling up on fresh baked danishes from a bakery down the street, yogurt, and fruit, we left our apartment to take the conveniently close subway to the heart of Berlin, where the tour was to begin. As per usual, there was a significant debate on which tickets to purchase (aka the most famous Francesconi struggle to find the not only the most practical but also the cheapest option. Please note: this often doesn't exist). Choosing to buy the day pass tickets, we boarded the train and proceeded onward.... Or at least we tried to do so.
Once we arrived at our destination, it proved to be much more difficult than we had originally planned to find the group meeting spot. Mom with her iPhone challengedness insisted one way but, after a few minutes of walking, decided she truly "did not know where the blue dot was going" (the iPhone classes by Madelyn & Charlie are still a work in progress). Finally, we found the group by making a few phone calls. Background information: Mom had read that the company offered FREE SUNSCREEN (#momsdreamcometrue #actuallyanyfreestuffisherdreamcometrue #theseareapproximatelyhowlongherhashtagsareoninstagram #instagramisalsoaworkinprogress) and insisted that we find and make use of the free sunscreen privileges before listening to the safety and intro instructions by our guide. Not sure the priorities are straight there.
Anyways, we ended up with a tour guide who was originally from Australia, moved to Canada for most of her life, then "visited Berlin for a week (in 2007), fell in love with it, and has been living here ever since." Kate was everything you wanted in a tour guide, funny, upbeat, incredibly intelligent, and very personable. We then embarked on our sightseeing journey through Berlin, passing by the most fascinating landmarks in this "poor but sexy city" (that truly is not only the best city slogan ever, but also the most accurate). As we cycled, we saw the TV Tower, Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate, a section of the Berlin Wall (and a spot where you could stand between both former east and former West Berlin), Hitler's Bunker, a watchtower from when the Berlin Wall was in use, the Luftwaffee Ministry, the Victory Column, the Soviet War Memorial, the Reichstag, Museum Island, Bebelplatz, Topography of Terror, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a nude park (that was eye opening... or eye closing rather), and finally a small beer garden grill for lunch (pretty sure the drinking age is 16 here but still no luck with the parents).
On the final stretch home, we rode on a very busy street (for those B-Gamers out there, think biking on an El-Camino-On-Steriods-esk street) and just as a giant tour bus starts to change lanes, Brilliant Ben (as we often refer to him) decides to cut in front of the bus. Mom, Dad, Charlie and I all watch as the small head (also a loving nickname) disappears. Thankfully, the bus driver took pity on the skinner (there are a lot of loving nicknames. We recognize some of these are not so loving..) And halted to let Ben safely race to the sidewalk. Of course, the event could not be concluded without a lecture from Dad about "the reason why we wear helmets."
Despite the usual bumps in the road, Fat Tire Bikes helped us to have a very smooth and extremely fun first day in Berlin. Now, it is time for a (non-alcoholic) cheers before another trip on the train since, well, we did buy the day pass, and we can't let our money go to waste...
XOXO,
Madelyn
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