…or rather ‘My weekend in Berlin’
I must admit, having spent the weekend in Berlin. I didn’t get to see much of it. Having said that, the little I did see didn’t strike me as being particularly German in style. If it weren’t for all the German writing everywhere I reckon I could have been in any modern city. But then again, it was my first time there so what the hell would I know about what constitutes German style.
The computer show was amazing. Something like 26 halls, each with 2 levels. Like you’re going to get around all THAT in two days. I don’t think so! There are so many fabulous gizmos around. My “Find of the show” was the Sonos stand. I’d like to have their home entertainment system set up – but in a real house, not the shoebox we’re in now. Anyway, here is a pic of the Verbatim display.
I didn’t hang out at the stall much, I left that to the sales and marketing people.. My reason for being there was to learn a bit about the European market as far as the products I look after are concerned – and that I did. It was great meeting some of the staff from the German office, and to spend a little time with the folks from my own. One of the sales staff I met has Russia as his territory. So I thought I’d dazzle him with my extensive knowledge of Russian. I think I got as far as “thank-you” and “I farted” and then ran out of ideas. I think he was a little amused.
I got to eat a yummy schnitzel with mushroom sauce, and of course some good German sausage. The thing I found unusual about the whole sausage thing was that the sausage itself was reasonably thin, but a good foot long. Yet, the roll they served it in a roll no bigger than a clenched fist. So imaging holding onto a roll with 5 inches of sausage hanging out at each end. It was all a bit bizarre.
I had a bit of a Spinal Tap moment at the airport coming home. As I went throught the scanner for the pre-boarding security check I somehow set off the alarm even though I had no metal on me. So the German guard-dude pulls me aside and runs his scanner up and down my legs. The scanner made its hilarious scannery noise as it went up and down my legs and I remember thinking to myself “Gee, I don’t remember shoving a foil wrapped cucumber/zucchini down my pants”. People who have seen Spinal Tap will know what I’m talking about. The guard dude asked me something in German. Probably the German equivalent of “Sir, do you have any artificial plates or limbs?”. I had to keep a straight face as I lifted up the legs of my tracksuit pants to reveal …. my legs. … He waved me through… Go figure.
