I have seen "на Берлин" (to Berlin) on several cars over the last few days. It is yet another allusion to the victory over the fascists in 1945.
But today I have a different scenario in mind. On Friday I will fly to Berlin to take part in the 21st anniversary journey of the former British Military Train. During the Cold War this train ran every day (except Christmas day) from West Berlin through East Germany to Braunschweig in West Germany (arriving back in Berlin in the evening). Once the train pulled out of Charlottenburg station in West Berlin the doors were chained on the inside to stop anybody boarding the train illegally. Between 1984 and 1986 I worked on the train as a Russian interpreter. (The British government did not recognise the government of East Germany so we dealt with Soviet officers). On both outward and return journeys the train stopped at Marienborn, close to the border between West/East Germany, and the documents of everybody on the train were checked. I was there to interpret in case any problems arose. Often on the way back we would share a beer with our Soviet counterparts. All in the cause of fostering international relations you understand.
But today I have a different scenario in mind. On Friday I will fly to Berlin to take part in the 21st anniversary journey of the former British Military Train. During the Cold War this train ran every day (except Christmas day) from West Berlin through East Germany to Braunschweig in West Germany (arriving back in Berlin in the evening). Once the train pulled out of Charlottenburg station in West Berlin the doors were chained on the inside to stop anybody boarding the train illegally. Between 1984 and 1986 I worked on the train as a Russian interpreter. (The British government did not recognise the government of East Germany so we dealt with Soviet officers). On both outward and return journeys the train stopped at Marienborn, close to the border between West/East Germany, and the documents of everybody on the train were checked. I was there to interpret in case any problems arose. Often on the way back we would share a beer with our Soviet counterparts. All in the cause of fostering international relations you understand.
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