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We arrived in airport Tegel with 20 minutes delay, in 17:00. We configured our watches in advance: time in Germany differs from one in Moscow and Volgograd (two hours later). After getting out from airplane and two minutes trip on airport bus we entered german land! There were two queues: European citizens stood at first and others did in second one. Officer asked us to show return ticket and several questions about aim of the trip and stamped our passports.

We got luggage and checked it, after that in good mood we went to look for a bus station. It was difficult for the first time, because we were at the ground floor, but public transport was at the first. We asked a passer-by and he answered, that we have to use escalator, rise up and walk about 100 metres. Ira started conversation in german and after that I continued in english, finally we understood our new buddy!

A bus we needed (number 128) was staying near entrance of airport, I asked driver if can buy a ticket. He showed us the way to the left and we found a BVG automat (Berlin transport company). But it didn’t work and one person said us: “Kaput! Automat kaput!”. We came back to the bus, the driver asked:

- Do you need this bus exactly?

- Yes, - I answered.

- Come in.

We could buy a ticket in the bus, but we travelled for free! I asked driver how much money should we pay, but just have waved his hand and added something in german (I didn’t understand), and after that reported about bus station Kurt-Schumacher-Platz. Here it is true german hospitality!

Having thanked the driver, we have left and started searching Mullerstrasse. The hotel was situated in 2 metro stations distance from bus station, so we decided to pass this way by walk. Finally we found Mullerstrasse and 20 minutes after reached hotel, walking in Berlin is very pleasant activity. I will talk about german roads and city transport specific a bit later.

The door was closed and we bypassed around the building with bewilderment. Actually, there were bell-buttons at the wall, but we didn’t find them in first time. We asked for help a man who sat near the house and drank beer. We explained, that we were tourists and didn’t know how to enter the building. He jumped quickly, opened the door with a key and show us where the lift is. After he said a joke, that we have to pay him 2 €. At fifth floor there was a woman – hotel employee. She knew, that we arrived and gave us keys and password for WI-FI internat access.

Hotel-pension Rehberge has about 30 rooms by my calculations. It is situated on the last floor of usual block of flats. That is why we were meeting people, who live in this block of flats very often, they were very pleasant. Hotel is situated near U-bahn station Rehberge, in 2 minutes walk, so we hadn’t problems with transport.

We had economy class double suit, it was room with two beds, one case for jackets, two bedside tables, TV-set and refrigerator. Shower room was opposite to our room, but was only in our disposal. For econom class it was good!

We were a bit upset with low level WI-FI signal. So we used Internet at breakfast (in dinner room signal was OK) or took a table, moved it to corridor and sat there. We hadn’t a lot of time to use our laptop, usually we copied photos from camera to it and talked to relatives and friends through the Skype and ICQ.

Having had a light lunch of sandwiches, which travelled in luggage from Moscow to Berlin, we went for a walk. Hotel was at Mullerstrasse, it took about 15-20 minutes by U-bahn to get center of Berlin. But this evening we decided just to have a walk and saw near places. Ira bought an ice-cream, she really missed this delicacy. Two balls in a small horn costed 1.4 €, try to compare it with price for this portion in our city Volzhsky, in “Volgamoll” trade center – 130 rubles (3.2 €).

We reached a park – people walked here, somebody sat on the grass or played with their animals – atmosphere of calm and pacification had place almost everywhere. There were good weather: when we arrived at the airport, it was +25 C. Next days weather was not so good, moreover two days it was rainy and very cold, temperature didn’t rise up more than +15 C. We got back in dark and visited one of Berlin’s supermarkets – Reichelt, where exchanged 100 €, have spent 5 €. Prices were very acceptable, also we were very satisfied with goods. Have discussed next day plans we fell down at the beds – there were so much events last day!

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