Long day in Berlin

The day started late as we were tired from Monday's travel. There was a strike on the suburban S trains, so we took a long tram ride in to Alexanderplatz, and walked over to the 1970s East German TV tower, the tallest building in Berlin by far. It was a fast lift ride to the observation level where we spent ages walking the 360° circle, looking at notes on the buildings in each direction. It was a good view, slightly misty, but rather hot and too much to take in. 

We then had a coffee, ate our own sandwiches (how British) and got on the hop-on hop-off tourist bus that we had pre-booked. It took us around all the big sights including the parliament, zoo, Tiergarten etc until we hopped off at the iconic department store KaDeWe. 

Astonishing displays of luxury goods. Food halls bigger and better than Harrods! We had a coffee and cheesecake at huge expense and watched the cream of German society flounce around. 

Then back on the bus, and off again to visit the Spy museum, a fascinating collection of stories and exhibits such as an SOE suitcase radio, Enigma machine and Nazi cyanide capsules. Unfortunately coachloads of loud youth arrived and we ran out of time. Off we went by tram to the area near the Opera House, and a pub where Nic got a black beer and meatballs while Lesley had veal and fried potatoes. I know. Terrible diet. Fortified, we trooped over to the Opera House to rejoin the cream of society for a Tchaikovsky Opera called The Queen of Spades, or Pique Dame. We were in a large 'box' with a brilliant view. It was sung in Russian (!) with German and English surtitles. The music and sets were really good and it was a great way to see how the other half of Germany lives. 

It finished at 2300 and we then took until 0015 to get home via tram and underground (which is often overground)! All because of the damn strike. It was a day crammed with impressions and tastes of this amazing, enormous capital city with all its terrible history.