The end of Matman and Robin:

After a Saturday that saw the 4 Aussies regroup for round 2, al biet more subdued, it was eventually a sad goodbye to half the team, namely Mel and Anne. As such it was up to Robin and I to fly the flag which we managed to do with pride. The following day it was time for the Matman and Robin show to close the curtain as we each continued on our own individual itineraries. After what ended up being a four week journey, having initially planned just for 2, it was strange to say goodbye. Both used to solo travel, acquaintances and colleagues at best before meeting in Paris it seemed an odd mix at the start. However, having survived 4 solid weeks of sharing dorms, meals and travel it truly was saying goodbye to a great mate when she left. It may be that the Matman and Robin show gets an encore in Paris in November but we will all have to stay tuned for that one.



It was with weary legs and liver that I got onto the train bound for Berlin. Made more arduous because of my missing iPod™ (it has to be somewhere) I arrived back in Berlin in true fashion which meant that I had not organised accommodation. Undeterred, I headed back to the hostel that Robin and I had stayed in previously and thankfully managed to convince them to give me lodging for the next 3 days.
After an early night it was off to finish Berlin. A glorious day of sunshine, a backpack of fruit and water and I was set for a patient day of photography at the Wall. Patience was clearly the most important aspect of my day as I waited for an hour for the right light and, more importantly, the right subject. Eventually, I got my shot of feet symbolically crossing over the wall and ventured off to the Pergamon museum. Located within the Pergamon museum were faithful reconstructions of ancient Byzantine and Babylonian structures. For the next few hours I wandered through the massive structures trying to gain an appreciation of their grandeur. Reconstructed from ruins donated to the German Kaiser, the impressive altars and façades towered inside the building built especially to accommodate them.
Finally, I made it down to the Eastside Gallery. The gallery is the longest remaining section of the Wall and was been preserved because of graffiti covering both sides of it. On the old Western side, artists painted with hopes of peace and re-unification. The Eastern side was darker and resembled more traditional graffiti. Nestled between the Eastern side and the river were a number of bars catering for the “beaches” placed there. People reclined in deck chairs or on beach towels as they soaked up the sunshine as if the sanded area really was a beach!!
After my second venture to Berlin, it was very easy to see and feel the attraction of the big city. With the seeds already planted from the previous visit, the crops had certainly begun to flourish on this one.