Berlin

Berlin

I’m in Berlin for the first time in 48 years, having first visited as an exchange student to Finland during the height of the Cold War. As opposed to the youth hostels we stayed at in 1963, I’m ensconced in a sprawling suite in the superb Ritz-Carlton, where I’m conducting two workshop over the next two days with people from 5 countries.

The Lufthansa lounge in Boston’s Logan Airport is rather desultory. I found a separate door marked “Senator’s Lounge” and asked the manager if it were for first class passengers. He said it was but advised me not to go in since “It’s very small and the food is the same.” (He didn’t say “as good” as the lounge I was in, since it wasn’t very good!)

However, the flight to Frankfurt was superb. There were 8 first class seats and only 6 passengers, and the food and service were extraordinary. It’s tough to sleep when you’re arriving in Germany the equivalent of 11 pm your own time, of course.

They brought ramps and buses out to the plane, and the purser told me, “Take the first class bus only, it will leave for the terminal first!” A first class bus? I asked if they were serving drinks. “No,” he said seriously, “the trip to the terminal is too brief.”

Sure enough, there’s a bus with an electric “first class” sign. The six of us walk on, and a seventh person, from business class, attempts to board. The driver slammed the doors in his face and an official outside clearly admonished him and sent him to another bus. And our vehicle, with room for 50 or more, left with just six of us while the plane was emptying. In over 3 million air miles, I’ve never experienced that.

Finding my Berlin connection (no paperwork, by the way, just a passport for a 30-second check with an courteous immigration agent), I came upon a man stacking newspapers in racks. I asked if I could buy the Wall Street Journal and Herald Tribune. “No,” he said, they are all free for passengers.”

After a nap and massage, I’m headed out for dinner. Photos will appear shortly. One thing very different from the 60s—the huge iPad sign and Apple store across the street!

© Alan Weiss 2011. All rights reserved.