SAPPHIRE Day 0

I arrived in Berlin a day early so I could catch up with some friends and then meet up with the guys who were in town for the conference for dinner. I had a great lunch with old friends who has a bunch of people round for lunch which was a pleasant way to meet the real people of Berlin. Later that evening we took at drive around the sights and given that is was over 20 years since I was in Berlin last, a few things had changed.

Firstly, and most significantly,  there was no more wall.

This brick line traces the path of the wall and is a ghostly reminder of what once was.

This little knot of tourists was hearing the story of the wall and how approximately 240 or so people where shot in the no mans land between the two walls.

 

Amazingly, there are one or two watchtowers left and this one was just a stones throw from the new Potsdamer Platz that my intrepid guide knew where to find.

The Potsdamer Platz has been massively redeveloped into a new shopping entertainment centre, which is never complete without a pseudo-Australian restaurant.

Yes it really is called the “Corroboree Australian Bar and Restaurant”. I didn’t dare get any closer but if they are worth their name on the door then they probably serve Crocodile, Emu, Kangaroo, Ox, and a variety of other game, but it is probably more likely they will sell you a steak with Fosters.

Later in the evening I met up with my fellow mentors and bloggers and we headed out for some food.

Sitting at the table was Sig Rinde, Robin Carey, Gregor Wolf, Richard Hirsh, Raja, Dennis Howlett, David Terrar and myself. We were later joined by Oliver Kohl, Eddy DeClercq, Michael Krigsman, Thomas Otter and Phil Wainewright.

It is always a pleasure to sit down with these guys and if markets are conversations then these nights are priceless.