tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13949249.post-71788245393801413172008-07-07T04:19:00.003+03:002008-07-07T04:37:11.935+03:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_W58rQqIHZU4/SHFvtPcwZoI/AAAAAAAAAro/L3VdA5H_U4I/s1600-h/Berlin+Wall+at+Potsdamer+Platz.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_W58rQqIHZU4/SHFvtPcwZoI/AAAAAAAAAro/L3VdA5H_U4I/s320/Berlin+Wall+at+Potsdamer+Platz.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220076266131056258" border="0" /></a><br />Last week I caught up with a former student of mine who had decided that instead of migrating to Australia, she would return home and start up life again there. Now, Australia's a nice place, but since her home is Berlin, I could totally understand this. Being one of my very favourite cities, I reluctantly let her go ... because at least if she's living there, I have one more place to stay when I next get to Berlin.<br /><br />A <a href="http://www.directline-citybreaks.co.uk/Berlin">Berlin city break</a> is something I just have to daydream about for now. I know the city is still changing, and last time I was there I saw the new Postdamer Platz area and still more building and renovating going on; and I visited the <a href="http://notaballerina.blogspot.com/2005/10/belated-travel-report-berlins-jewish.html">Jewish Museum</a> for the first time, still one of the most memorable museums I've ever been to. I also got to show my mother the massive Brandenburg Gate - she'd seen my photos from reunification night in 1990 and remembered how enthusiastic I was. But there's still a bunch of places in Berlin that I have never got to see.<br /><br />All this reminds me of life in Europe and all those chances to go on <a href="http://www.directline-citybreaks.co.uk/">cheap short breaks</a> that I really, really miss. When I lived in south-west Germany there were so many great places within easy weekend reach - here in Perth, it's a four or five hour flight to anywhere, and a much higher cost. Oh well, at least we have some statistically wonderful average number of sunshine hours here.<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Full disclosure ... this post is sponsored by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.directline-holidays.co.uk/">directline holidays</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05178108297108834609noreply@blogger.com