Saturday 12th April at Tegal Airport Berlin onto Templin

We landed in Tegal Airport on time, but 1 hour behind Turkey time. Off the plane straight into immigration,  no long walks involved, then wait for the luggage. Don't know where the Customs was as we finally loaded our luggage onto the trolley and head out. Where to?  Good question.  Not many signs indicating where the hire cars are.  People were helpful, along there, turn right then left, more instructions, down a lift, but first a test. An international AT would my Australia Post travelcard work? Withdrew the maximum euros, €500 and off to the Avis desk.

We had been upgraded as a privaledged member.  Finally down to find the car.  A Golf, electronic car. Right up John's alley, well not initially anyway.  We couldn't even work out how to get the inbuilt GPS into English, nor to turn off the radio.  Couple of dumb Aussies,  asked the staff, and then off we went. Heidi is not as helpful as Karen, (ours at home).  John's preplanned route was not quite the same, cars sped past us, but within a short time we were surrounded by forest, all less than 30 minutes from Berlin.

Narrow roads, heaps of roadworks, signs we couldn't read, and flashing lights telling us that the Tyre pressure was low. We found a service station, not much air required, and I bought lunch. Turkey (no pun intended) and ham baguettes,  cuppachino coffee all for €7.

Along even more narrow streets and then we arrived in Templin, home of John's great grandparents.

We are staying at the Weiser Hoff B&B, so quiet, nothing around, a river  along the edge, houses in the neighborhood.   Beautiful gardens with the pansies and bulbs all starting to flower.  Stephie our host helped with the luggage as we are upstairs.

We unpacked and sorted the washing, as I thought I had searched and found a washed has close by, but not so.  A sleep took priority!   Then to check out the tyre situation in the Golf we set it for summer tyres and no problem.

Into town we went, it is a walled city.  A couple of quick photos of very old houses which surely would have been around in 1850's

 First stop a supermarket.  The prices are so much less than at home even with the conversion. Shampoo that I pay $6 for €2.50, hairspray for €1.75. 1 litre Iced tea €1.75.  They don't open Sundays and for the boys who enjoy a bier, how about 20 bottles for €12.

We didn't really understand our map but decided to find somewhere to eat via the GPS, we decided on the Blue Grotto.  I thought that would be seafood, instead it was pasta and pizza.

I had pizza John had spaghetti bolognaise,  two beers and I ordered a Rising,  in I thought a glass, when it came it was a carafe.   Needless to say I slept well. All this for €18.70.

Back home and a start on my long overdue blog.  It is nice to be able to take things easy after a very busy week.