Spring School Trip to East Berlin - the date

[torstenbel]

We have talked about it many times in different threads and I think that it is time now to seriously think about organising our field trip to East Berlin. Lets think about the date and duration first. My preference would be a long weekend in April next year. I think we should also use this thread for people to state their intention of wanting to come to the trip and how many people they would be bringing and at the end of maybe December of this year (lets make the 31st December 2005 the deadline), we need to have a list of more or less confirmed attendees so that we can reserve the appropriate number of rooms at a hotel or guesthouse or even book a large private flat or house in Berlin and we also need to have fixed on a date by then, so that people can start booking their flights etc.

After we have decided on the timing of the trip, we should then start another thread to discuss and agree on the various fixed venues to visit during that trip (apart from the local pubs of course...;-)), so that we can book tickets, etc. if necessary.

I herewith announce, that I will definitely be coming and that I would probably bring my wife along with me for a long weekend in Berlin.

I would assume that April will be ok with everyone else as well and so, I have put a little poll with this thread for people to choose the preferred weekend...Cheers, Torsten.

PS: I will also try and keep a running total here in this thread about the people that have confirmed their attendance...ok?

[Rob Brown]

Ive actually been thinking about to a trip to Berlin the last 6 months or so. Been twice, last time in 1997 so would be good to have a scout round again.

I'd probably get an easy jet flight from edinburgh/glasgow.

[torstenbel]

Ive actually been thinking about to a trip to Berlin the last 6 months or so. Been twice, last time in 1997 so would be good to have a scout round again.

I'd probably get an easy jet flight from edinburgh/glasgow.

Hi Rob, great... I'll take you as a 'confirmed' one then...I will be flying EasyJet from Liverpool....Cheers, Torsten.

PS: Of course, our touch down point Schoenefeld Airport could be the first point of interest, as this was the only International Airport in East Germany with many of pics out on the net of the DDR elite receiving friends from around the world and always with a unit from the Wachregiment attending and presenting arms...and also, this is where the main and final training for the NVA parades took place...

[Soviet]

I'm still not registered at the FUB for my Sommersemester 2006, but I guess the semester should start at the begining of April or so. I'm not sure yet. If everything works fine for me, I'll be living there for 4 months from April til July-August.

Hope I won't have any problem registering at the university and so on. Then I'll meet you guys there.

[Mike G.]

Torsten,

April is fine for me also. Of course I will be bringing my wife, or should I say, since she is a true Berliner, that she will be bringing me.

I cannot say yet which week in April, as this is something she (my wife) will have to work out with her Boss. For me there is no problem, and we will be in Berlin most probably, two weeks total. Although I think we were looking to make an intial stop-over in England to see a Collector friend there as well.

[Bone Collector]

I've actually been meaning to travel to Berlin next year as well. I would personally prefer june though.

[Thälmannpionier]

I'll be there

just tell me when...I live 40 Train-minutes away and can come to Berlin everytime.

Regards

[uscob]

Hi folks!
Hope to see you all in my shop!
The Best Weekend is around the 15th because on the last are some of the forum Members on a private Party from a friend, so they can't see you.
just PM me for my details if you're interrested.
BTW: At Schöneber is nearly nothing interresting to see from EG times.
They renovated nearly everything, or knocked it down. (Like the "Cage" I have to use as a Westberliner, to avoid escapes of east germans.)
Cheers
Nico

[Roy Queen]

Unfortuantely, I will not be able to make it. I need to rebuild enough vacation days, and to find a babysitter for my two cats! A Berlin trip is definately in the works for me. In fact, my wife wants to go visit the Black Forest area, and locate areas of interest for her geneological research on some of her German ancestors.

[torstenbel]

Unfortuantely, I will not be able to make it. I need to rebuild enough vacation days, and to find a babysitter for my two cats! A Berlin trip is definately in the works for me. In fact, my wife wants to go visit the Black Forest area, and locate areas of interest for her geneological research on some of her German ancestors.

Hi Roy, that would be a shame if you could not come... maybe, things can still be arranged??...our wives could always team up for some light shopping entertainment or something, while we enjoy ourselves in the Normannenstrasse... Cheers, Torsten.

[AR-11]

April would also be fine for me. Lets find the right weekend for our meeting.

AR-11, Dirk.

[torstenbel]

First Summary of Attendees

Please let me know if I got the details or wishes of anyone wrongly interpreted:

torstenbel (Torsten) - defintely coming, no preferrence for the weekend
ar-11 (Dirk) - definitely coming, preferrence is the first weekend
thaelmannpionier (Andreas) - definitely coming, no preferrence on the weekend
michael-gallagher (Michael) - definitely coming, no preferrence on the weekend
soviet (???) - probably coming, preferrence is the last weekend
rob brown (Rob) - probably coming,
bone collector (???) - maybe coming

That's it so far, as far as I can see. If I have missed anyone or if any others would like to join in, then please let it be known here...if anyone's maybes or probably's or definitely's change, then please also just let it be known...also, I would ask that only those vote on the preferred weekend, that also state their intention to take part in this East Berlin extravaganza

As far as I am concerned, it does not matter if there will be two people or twenty...we will enjoy it regardless...

Cheers, Torsten.

[Thälmannpionier]

..and I will wear my MfS ID-Pin !!

sorry,couldn`t resist

[torstenbel]

..and I will wear my MfS ID-Pin !!

sorry,couldn`t resist

now, there is an idea... brilliant...I will wear one, too and so at least we know who we all are...Cheers, Torsten.

[Ralph P]

Hello all, I have not voted yet in the poll. But I am interested in the April 2006 get together. Once you all set a firm date in April, then I will work out some time off with my work.