Day 38 - Berlin rest day....Phil Saturday 28th August

Waking up late, heads still spinning from the massive historical information intake from last night, we head down for a fairly decent breakfast in the hostel. We decide some art may help to calm things a little, and after a quick coffee stop, and a little more Checkpoint Charlie sidewalk info, we hit the Berlinische Gallerie...after enjoying the variety of film, photography, architecture, along with a few paintings, we head to Alexanderplatz thinking we may find a little more life in the centre square...as per usual, we find ourselves quickly fed up with the throng of tourists and frustrated by their aimless wandering.... a quick stop for some new brake pads, as we've worn ours to nothing, we are slowed by a torrential shower (we should learn that this is a standard weather pattern and stop being surprised) and take shelter in another delightful asian restaurant...
For the first time on our trip we take public transport, and delight in being on a train!! We have also found that Germany seems to be moving to a new, non mastercard/visa system, and have been caught out on numerous occasions short of cash...slow learners.... we are learning though and make our way to the Neue National Gallerie with cash in hand, where we enjoy a coffee and cake before I head back to the hostel while the girls take in just a little more art....
In a slightly frustarting turn of events, we had to check out of our room this morning, and so return to a new 6bed dorm, with a massive roller suitcase sitting in between the bunks.... there appears to be no sign of life in the room and we set about making ourselves at home...the mobile beauty salon is in full operation - hair styling, waxing, tweezers and creams are spread about the room... no saying what the reaction might be if our mystery room-mate suddenly reappeared!!! We try a few local beers as we get ready, and then Hazel procures a small bottle of what we interpret to be 'cabbage' liqueur.... it tasted like jagermeister, and lasted two sips!! Needless to say, by this point we were quite the giggly trio, and headed out in our dresses, to a recommended locale in the east. It was to be a day of double asian, as we enjoyed yet another tasty stirfry - confirming our notion that we're onto a good thing with the oriental food! Another beer later, and we head for the club for dancing... feeling a little sleepy, we stop at a nearby 'Einstein's' cafe for a 'wakeup coffee'. It's been transformed at this late hour, in a SoHo type district, into a coffee-cocktail club, complete with DJ. We order our coffees, the girls wrap-up in the requisite fleece blankets, and begin to critique the music, as Hazel continues to develop her plans to dominate the London club scene on completion of our tour. Ali's latte machiatto arrives to much laughter - it appears that someone has decided it's past bedtime and has instead brought her a huge glass of warm milk!!! It seems the coffee won't be enough tonight and there is a mutual decision to enjoy our train ride home and hit the hay.... Imagine our surprise, when we return to our hotel room, Hazel cautiously peeking around the door to find a young man asleep in one of the bunks!! Trying to stifle the laughter, we change into suitable sleeping attire and fall into bed, still shaking with the giggles.....