B

aby Its Cold Outside

 

Feb 2 - March 24, 2005





German Flag




s2r0214-010d.jpg
Abstract Art, near Ibero-Americano Center

Before we came to Berlin we asked how cold it would be. We were told cold. But we thought "sometimes", not "always" But, baby, it was cold outside.

Fortuately for us, "bei uns", inside, it was tasty warm. The radiator heat worked and worked. We paddled around in bare feet and t-shirts. But, baby, it was cold outside.

From the day of our arrival to almost the day of our departure it snowed almost every afternoon. Not a heavy Chicago snow, nor even a middling New Jersey snow, more a light Darlington snow. But in Darlington it snows a few times a winter. In our Berlin it snowed almost every afternoon. And we went out. Out into the temperature that, if we were lucky, reached 4 C (40F) and more likely was 0C (32F).

Gerry in his usual winter outfit
Gerry in his usual winter outfit
An icy-cold Reichstag Dome
An icy-cold Reichstag Dome

We wore every last bit of clothing that we owned. About six layers each: long johns, then t-shirt, then shirt, then polyester fleece vest, then light rain coat. And then hat and gloves. That was Gerry. Jan, a colder sort of fauna, required more. Fortunately she had brought it with her

Their cold bodies lie in a cold cemetery
Their cold bodies lie in a cold cemetery
The wind blast left us breathless
The wind blast left us breathless

Not everyday was as cold as the photographs indicate. But plenty of times that we were cold are not shown in these photographs. Our tour of the Spandau Castle was cut short because of cold. Our tour of San Souci and the Neue Palais had us concentrate more on our cold ears than on the wonderful park. Our dinner outing to a "hot spot" was anything but. Visiting the outdoor Topography of Terror museum was a terror to our hands, fingers, and ears.




November 13, 2005