Berlin

Our bus pulled into Berlin at 9am. Kim (my girlfriend, not sister) decided she couldn't wait an extra 3 days to see me (who can blame her, shes only human ) To be honest I was pretty excited to see her too, as she had been travelling through Russia and the Baltics for the previous month. We met up at the Clubhouse hostel ... I'd recomend it to you party animals out there as they have live gigs and DJ's in the courtyard most nights. If however you want to sleep, that is not an option till 5am when it all winds up.
Couldn't check into a room till after 2pm, so in the shower, and then off into the metropolis that is Berlin. I was here 3 years ago, but could not recognise the place. The old communist buildings in the dysfunctional east are but a memory. Replaced by wide boulovards, funky cafes, silver highrises. Where before I walked along "the wall" near Potsdamerplats contemplating its artworks dedicated to freedom and unity, there is now but and indent in the pavement to show where the wall once ran.
It is refreshing in one sense to visit such a contempory city, ultra modern and super hip, but sad that it is to the detriment of its past. With everything so new and shiny it is practically impossible to imagine the termoil of having families split, undergoing soviet opression, or even the heroic escapes... or sad unsuccessful attempts. However, some of the old icons have withstood the winds of change - the Soviet TV Tower Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie for example. Beside them new icons emerge, like the new German Parlimant with its solar powered domed skylight roof.
It is a wonderful city steeped in history, dynamic and ever changing ... with more cranes in the city than any other place in the world, it's unlikely I'll recognise it in another 3 years.

Next stop Poland !!!

Paris

9th Sept
Caught the last plane out of Dublin and arrived at the Bouvaise airport at about 9:30pm. Even thought the Flight only took an hour getting into Paris took another 2. Lucky we only paid 20 euro for the tickets or else I may have felt ripped off. The Bus to town ironicaly cost only alittle less than the plane ticket.

Got dropped at the bus terminal without being told where we were excatly or where the metro was. After some some terrible attempts at French and encountering some rude Parisians (Although in their defence I may have unknowingly insulted them).We finally stumbled upon the Merto. Home free! We made it to the hostel at 1am and met up with a buddy of mine from London - Rohan.

10th Sept
Although I've been to Paris twice b4, the other two have not. So, we decided the best way to see the sites was to get the hop on hop off bus tour. So paid the outragous 26 euro tour price at Notre Dame Cathederal and headed forth. The last times I was here the church was under scaffolding, so like a cheap hussy doing a slow striptease, I finally got to see it in all it's glory. Unlike a cheap hussy though, it took three attempts in as many years to see it de-robed ...entry ironically is free ;)

Next stop was Moulin Rouge home of the Cann-Cann for those of you who thought it was just the name of a movie and Sacre-Coeur the impressive church atop a hill overlooking the city. This coupled with my virgin trip to the very top of the Tour Eiffel made my third trip to Paris worthwhile. The weather turned it on too

Finished the day with a carton of beer between us ... sooo cheap!!!

11th Sept
Up early to catch the train to Versailles. Our 20 euro ticket got us into all the exhibition halls and gardens. Very few words can describe this Palace... "WOW!!!" is an insult to how incredible it really is. I never thought I would see a palace that rivals Petrohof in St Petersburg but I was wrong, we have a contender!!! The frescos, gardens and overall grandure... I'm lost for words.

That evening we drank with a couple of Irish lasses. It started off cheap with 2 euro bottles of decent vino from the supermarket, to 8 euro pints at a club up the road. When your drunk it's amazing how rich you think you are...

12th Sept
Wickedly hungover and in no state to play tourist. Whiled away the day in a park waiting for our overnight bus to Berlin.