And Outside The Rain Fell...

Watching rain drops trickle across the window screen, on a train running over 250 km/hr, meant they were defying gravity and moving horizontally across the huge, wide windows. Like slivers of mercury in a race, leaving a blazing trail behind which quickly caught up. I just fell more and more in love with rain.

An extremely sleepy ride that got us to Berlin at 4 pm. The weather outside was frigid, with light rain and heavy fog interplaying menacingly.



We had to get out of Berlin soon. Realizing the overnight train to Munich turned out to be extremely expensive, and walking around in the cold, we either looked for accommodation in Berlin, take the train or move elsewhere. Plan C – move to a friends' house at a place 200 kilometres away. Our accommodation for the night now secured (for we surely could not spend the night in the station in this cold), we did what we do best, explore a city on foot. And Berlin took our breaths away with what it had to offer.

Once we had crossed the wonderfully lit Brandenburg Gate, where the East once separated the West, I realized how beautifully lit the city was getting to be. There were lights everywhere, including a sign that said Berlin Festival of Lights. Oh, well, thank you very much. A very Happy Diwali to you too.

We had little time before we had to leave for the night, and we made the most of it by entering this mall that was exclusively for cars. Bentley and mighty Bugati flanked the entrance. To see a Bugati from a distance of 2 metres was absolutely ecstasy. The sleek lines, the colour tones and sheer power this baby packed were enough for us to give it absolute reverence.

Realizing we wouldn't be able to see Berlin this way, we walked along randomly, the 384 metre TV tower staring into the night sky, with lights and the clouds putting on a fabulous show for us in the night.

We got pseudo-lost on our way back, and navigating along the river, we finally saw the DB sign shining across the station. Smiles all around, we treated ourselves to falafels that tasted yum, occupied a cabin in the super luxurious ICE train, relaxing, on the way to Leipzig.

Leipzig. East Germany. Cheap. And small. The best thing about Europe is that most cities (except maybe the supermetros) are entirely walkable. And we do a lot of that.

Dumping our bags at Cobra's house, we were all set to club. I really didn't know what 3 teetotallers would want to do in a club, but Leipzig offered a good crowd, cheap entry and Cobra's company.

And how we loved it! European parties. Phew. Decent music, a nice atmosphere, a great crowd and a tad crowded, it felt good. If only I had the right company, I would have loved to dance!

Finally so exhausted that the three of us were almost falling asleep in the club, we took the walk home, in eerily deserted roads, hitting the sack.