Seen at the Galeria department store, Alexanderplatz, Berlin.
Taken near Hackescher Markt
Carried onto one plane in Kirkenes; carried off another plane in Berlin. Note to self - don't fly into Berlin until the new Berlin Brandenburg airport is completed or Berlin Tegel gets upgraded with more air bridges, whichever comes first. Arriving by train into the gleaming Berlin Hauptbahnhof is infinitely superior.
Our apartment at the Circus Apartments (apartment Müller) is so hip, it hurts. But the staff are friendly and helpful, the windows open and we have a full kitchen. Dinner tonight (chicken, broccoli and potatoes) came courtesy of a shopping trip to the local Kaiser's supermarket. We are on a quiet street in a central part of Berlin that used to be part of East Berlin, and our apartment overlooks other apartments.
Tova has already seen a nude dude on a neighbouring apartment balcony.
We arrived in Kirkenes this morning by Hurtigruten, and having made a late decision to travel all the way to Kirkenes, we were unfortunately only able to get cheap(ish) seats on SAS's evening flight to Oslo.
Kirkenes is pretty small and the predicted maximum temperature today was 0C. With snow. As a result we took our chances, and asked the taxi to take us to the top-ranked Kirkenes hotel on TripAdvisor, to see if we could get a room for the day. Which we could, and very comfortable it was too, complete with view of the harbour.
The town's sole maxi-taxi picked us up to take us to the airport on the road to Murmansk past snow and frozen lakes and signs warning of reindeer and military restrictions. Kirkenes is only a few kilometres from the border with Russia and Finland. A visit to Russia needs a visa, plus non-heterosexual types are none too popular in Putin's homeland. Also the taxi fares are unbelievably expensive.
Anyway, we are waiting in Kirkenes airport for our flight to Oslo. It's a bit like the old Adelaide domestic airport, except without the charm and amenities. And only four gates. But very serious security. Possibly because the army has a base nearby? (There are very young Norwegian army dudes waiting for flights.)
Not sure how we will get on the plane as there are no air bridges, but I'm sure all will become clear in the fullness of time.
In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem... if no one else can help... and if you can find them... maybe you can hire... The A-Team.
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Currently docked in Honningsvåg, Norway's northernmost city, and only 1300 miles (or so) from the North Pole. A little while before docking, we had the privilege to see a pod of 20 or more orcas off the starboard side of the ship. It was worth extending our trip just for that!