I had planned to meet my friend at the Berling central train station, but with-out my cell phone, we had no way to connect and missed each other. I recently commented on how easy it is to get around the world with a cell phone, passport and credit card. Quickly, I was finding out how hard it is to travel with-out a cell phone. Fortunately my wallet and passports were not stolen so I could still get a taxi from the station to my hotel. I am also grateful I had my tablet and could write down the hotel address for the cab driver.
Once at the hotel, I started looking for places to purchase a new phone and figure out how I could get it reconnected to my Canadian service provider. That night I ventured out to get something to eat and got turned around, lost for 20 minutes, trying to find my hotel. With the reliance on Gooogle maps, I have lost some of my basic navigation skills.
Long story short, it took three days to get a new phone connected to Bell and re-instate my Google account. I learnt lots and will be much better prepared. The biggest issue was trying to make an international call back to Canada to talk to Bell. There are no pay phones, international calling cards, & the hotel wouldn’t let me use their phone. I am so grateful my friend was able to download a long distance calling app, and we were able to sit together and get my new phone reconnected. I think the only other solution, would have been to go to the British or Canadian embassy.
My time in Berlin was obviously over shadowed by not being able to venture out too much. There are no maps printed of the city or metro, because everyone has a cell phone. There were no written instruction for the hotel wi-fi or other amenities, just a QR code to scan for the info. We have become dependant on our phones.
Regardless, I did get out and enjoy a few days, toured some of the old wall, ate some great Thai food, drank some good coffee & attended an English comedy show. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to take many pictures with-out a phone!
Berlin definately has a feel. It’s not soft and romantic like many other European cities. It feels industrial, political and has sharp edges. Lots of graffiti or street art, but more garbage and it always felt like there was construction going on around you.
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