Split bananas

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Carl has been spotted here tonight. 

But where is Leslie?

Jetty boating in Magdeburg

In the Art Hotel bar? or....

... in the Art Hotel lobby?....

...or in the BonApart restaurant across the road whet the lemon was elegantly packed in a neat little net bag. 

Magdeburg-Prague return, 22-24 May

Have left Lellebelle in Magdeburg to travel by train to Prague to celebrate Paulinas birthday.

Train from Madgaburg to Prague takes about 4 hours. Three American pensioners and a youngish Argentian our travel companions. American were sitting in our reserved seats but refused to move because their reserved seats were on a carriage that had not left Budapest. The Argentiinian lived in Patagonia. Much to my delight, having always wanted to travel to Patagonia after readin Bruce Chatwins " In Patagiona"

Prague, what a pleasure. Cannot get enough of the beautiful buildings. Such a pleasure just walking around. Could  take hundreds of photos but here are the hotspots where Carl was spotted.

The Astronomical clock, Prague Orloj. Made up of 3 components, the astronomical dial, the walk of the apostles and  the calendar dial. The oldest part of the clock dates back to 1410.

The old town square, eating traditional Prague ham ( just 

Iike julskinka, Christmas ham) and sausage, just to soak up the beer. 

Later in the evening we had more pig pork and pig calf? cooked in beer in a traditional  Czech restaurant. More beer to go with beer cooked pork. 

Charles (or Carl) on Charles bridge, Karluv Most. Construction of the bridge started 1357 under King Charles the fourth and was completed at the beginning of the 15 the century.

Amother view of the bridge.

Que?.... Anyone knows how this works?

I, Carl, think he has an invisible pole in his buttocks or the guy on the ground has a magnetic north head and the floating guy has same pole in his buttocks

An ordinary street In Prague. Spot Carl.

And we met up with cousin Mats and Else at the Hotel Paris......

.... en route to the salsa party. Here we have birthday girl Paulina having exhausted husband Magnus in a wild salsa

Prague style mojita, a bucket with straws shared with Magnus and Else. How do I  know, at 2 am, which is my straw?

Berlin-Potsdam-Kirchmöser-Magdeburg, 20-22 May

Blogg written at N52,13094 E011,63722,The nearest MacDonalds. Info only for Dan

Lucky ducks. 

An ordinary house on Wannsee. 

An ordinary house in Potsdam. 

Nja this is the summer palace of Fredrik II (Fredrik den store eller Alte Fritz).  Sanssouvi a truly beautiful building and park. Built 1745. 

Potsdam is also the place of the Potsdam conference where Attlee, Truman and Little Josef met to confirm the decisions from the Jalta conference. 

Russian style house in in the Alexandrowka part pf Potsdam. Built as a friendly gesture when the Tsar died. 

Spargel again. This time at home. Arrived at idyllic Kirchmöser. After one lock and 4 hours in the boat. 

Kirchmöser. Spot Carl. 

Hallo Elbe! after 3 locks (one very angry lock master; VERSTEHEN SIE NiCHTS....bla bla bla)

Full speed on Elbe under the Mittelllandskanal. Akvedukt enormous. 

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Now in Magdeburg, Zollebe Marina, beautiful calm arm of the Elbe, which otherwise has a current of about 6 km/h

Idyllic spot but too far to bathroom,situated in a Volvo Penta service barrack.

Staying in Magdeburg only because we need to LB in a safe place while we take a break and visit the surroundings. Magdeburg has pleasantly surprised us....

OMG are we in Barcelona??

No this die Grüne Zitadelle designed by an artist Hundertwasser, built in 2003. We were shown a pic of the previous building. A real Honni apartment block. (Honni being the dictator of the DDR)

The golden balls on top are visible from miles away.

A long distance selfie at the 11th century kloster für die Frauen.

Took Leslie on 7 km detour to view the Tausendjahr building. Very suspect. We cannot figure out what it is there for.  We will ask someone. Spot Carl. Took the spoor wagon back to city centre without paying. In fact it is quite possible to travel on city bus and train without paying because nobody checks tickets, even in Berlin.

Berlin, Spandau, 18 may

The Zitadell in Spandau had an unexpected side to it. Besides the buildings from 11th century there were statues from the victory parade. Read above. 

Spot Carl amongst the heroes. 

Where's Carl?

Berlin, Wannsee 17 May

Leaving the city after a night on the town, Scandic hotel! Met thousands of Dorthmund supporters on their way to Olympic stadium for match against Bayern Munchen. Met the BM supportets  on the U-bahn . Berlin taken over with yellow and red. BM won.

S-bahn to Wannsee. An area with rich berliners amongst them many Jewish business and cultural dignitaries. This artist, Max Lieberman being one of many who had their homes taken over.

The infamous "Wannsee Conference" took place in this mansion in 1941. 

On the other side of the water is the famous Wannsee Strandbad. 

Otherwise Wannsee is beautiful and well worth a visit.

Berlin 16 May

Siegessäule
Such enormous monument has to be taken sideways. Spot Carl.
It was erected to commemorate the victories in the wars with Denmark 1864, Austria 1866 and  France 1871.

Memorial for the murdered jews of Europe
Covers a vast area of symmetrically shaped concrete blocs of different heights.
Spot Leslie

Walking through the memorial.
Spot Carl

OMG... we have arrived already.
Best döner in Berlin
Spot Carl!

Spot Carl.
Leslie has read the book on the discovery of Curry Wurst by Uve Timm.
Was so fascinated that we had to visit the CurryWurst Museum. Can be recommended, light educational easily accesible interactive information on spices, the use of cardboard plates, (eco or not?) and of coarse the history of CURRYWURST.
Mmmm very tasty. with pommes and mayo!!!

Self powered mobile bar. Oral fuel intake, pedal like mad.

Oranienburg to Berlin, Marina Lanke, Wednesday 14 may

We didn't realize that Oranienburg is the place where KZ Sachsenhausen is situated. Visited the Sachsenhausen Menorial and Museum.  Took many hours to go through the actual site. Was horrific and extremely moving. To lighten up our mood Carl had a haircut and we visited Oranienburg Schloss a present from Fredrik Wilhemlm I of Brandenburg to his wife Lovisa Henrietta av Oranien-Nassau year 1650. 

At last on our way to Berlin which we have been looking forward to for ages. Cannot believe that we are really here. Passed through the lakes surrounding Berlin with beautiful shoreside houses and million dollar boats, like ours, ha ha.

In Marina Lanke inBerlin

Aren't we going to eat soon? I am hungry. 

No let's have another drink!