Our adventure to Germany/Greece - 14 September 2018 to 20 September 2018
You won’t believe it. We were going to fly on Friday morning and yet we were still booking our hotel on Wednesday. Haha. Our Itinerary kept on changing until I don’t know where we will be after Berlin. Mykonos? Santorini? Or just Athens? Anyway, I am so thankful to take half day leave on Tuesday to pack luggage if not I think I will go crazy on Thursday night after a busy day at work.
14 September 2018
On Friday, we woke up early at 5am (which is even earlier than my usual wake up time on normal working day). Super daddy, Jianhui cooked porridge for Lexuan and even went NTUC to buy mineral water to put inside our luggage. This is essential to make sure we won’t die of thirst when we reach Berlin since we would be reaching there at 8pm+ which means the shops could be closed by then.
By the time we were done with packing, it was already 6am+. My parents were already here to fetch us to airport. It’s peak hour so we are really thankful for this free ride as it won’t be easy to get a cab at this time for sure.
We reached Terminal 3 about 7.30am which is relatively early for our flight. We wanted to check in earlier to ensure both of us are sitting together with bassinet in front of us. Qatar’s system is kinda weird as it doesn’t allow your to choose seats with bassinet when you book the tickets. Jianhui had to call their office to get seats near bassinet.
After checking in, we had breakfast together at Old Town Coffee. I ordered tea which tasted like those sachet tea. Haha. We went to the gate, ready for boarding. Travelling with a kid makes us very busy as we have to cater time for us to go toilet and to change diapers for her.
The cabin crew were all very friendly and nice to Lexuan. They help to entertain her in a way or so. There is no other baby on board so she is definitely the youngest passenger. They gave her a cloth book and diaper bag which includes diapers, powder, baby wipes and lotion which is very useful for this trip as the dry weather makes her skin very dry. There’s also baby food for her but Lexuan doesn’t take it as she is still on breastmilk and papa 爱心porridge.
I usually don’t take flight meal but I must say Qatar’s flight meals are not bad! I actually can finish 70% of the food which is my best record. Usually I will only eat the bun. The chicken briyani was really not bad! As for Lexuan, we fed her porridge and milk. Throughout the 7hrs+ flight, she slept relatively well and took 2 afternoon naps. I also pumped milk on plane. Haha. I tried my best to pump discreetly hehe.
And I finally got to watch The Avengers: Inifinity War. It was a Long movie and I took a Long time to watch as I have to entertain Lexuan. Time seems to pass by so quickly when you travel with a kid. After touching down Doha, we quickly searched for Burger’s King for our dinner as we only had about 2hrs+ for transit. We had Whooper and Fanta Orange.
Then it’s time to check in again. We poured away the water in water bottle. Then we realised we can actually bring water in. Aiyo. So wasteful and I am so thirsty. Haha
This time round, we were given the middle seats with a guy beside me. Oh man. How am I going to pump milk? Anyway, I pumped milk with a nursing cover. As the plane is quite noisy, I guess the guy didn’t realize I am pumping milk.
Jianhui is the hot water IC as he has been the one getting hot water from cabin crew. Haha.
After 6hrs+ flight, we finally reached Berlin! It’s about 8pm Germany time. Yay! We survived the flight. We waited a while for the luggage. Then off we went to take cab. When it’s our turn, we realised taking cab with a baby in Germany needs car seat. So the airport crew helped us to get a cab with car seat. I didn’t know Germany is so strict about this. It’s quite a short distance to our hotel, Select Berlin The Wall but the trip cost us EUR25. Taking cab in Europe is expensive!
After such a long flight, we were too happy to reach the hotel. It’s a clean and new hotel. It had been a Long day since we were up since 5am Singapore time and it’s already 4am Singapore time (Saturday).
15 September 2018
Lexuan must be feeling jet lag as she woke up at 5am Singapore time for feeding while we woke up about Germany time 5am. Haha.
Jianhui very on. He woke up and started cooking porridge for Lexuan. By the time we are ready, it’s already about 9am. We went out for breakfast and on our way, there were people shooting movie at the Charlie Checkpoint. At first, I thought that this Charlie Checkpoint was set up for the movie but it’s actually the real Charlie Checkpoint which is one of the tourist attraction in Berlin.
And what else to eat for breakfast but McDonald’s. Haha. The McDonald’s here is expensive and it doesn’t come with hash brown. We also ordered blueberry muffin from the cafe.
After breakfast, we took metro to collect race pack. The race pack collection place is an old airport so it’s really huge. It took us a while to walk to the end of the collection point. It’s buzzing with activities and so crowded. Our first time to World Marathon Major’s race pack collection point and it’s amazing to see everybody getting so excited and taking many photos. It’s so kua Zhang until the men’s’ shirt is sold out and you know what? I saw the men buying women’s cutting. Haha.
As we didn’t bring Lexuan’s milk, we rushed back to hotel to feed her. Then we took train to the starting point. This Bradenburg Gate is so familiar as I remember watching Kipchoge racing at this exact place last year. We also had lunch here. We were so tempted to buy beer but we didn’t as Jianhui cannot drink before his race day while I am still breastfeeding.
We walked around before we went back to hotel to rest. When we reached the hotel, Jianhui realised that he did pre book the finisher tee and event tee. So, he got to make a trip down to collect these items while Lexuan and I started in the hotel. Lexuan was very active, exploring the hotel room that I didn’t get to rest too.
Jianhui came back about an hour later and I Guess we were all so tired that we took 2 hours nap. So tired that I was kinda lazy to go out for dinner. Haha. Ultimately, we had pizza and pasta at a nearby pizza shop. Food was normal but edible.
Then it’s time to rest. Our girl is so excited that she kept on waking up throughout the night.
16 September 2018
It’s race day today and I am so excited for Jianhui! Though the race starts at 9.15am, we woke up early to go for breakfast. However, McDonald’s is not opened yet at 7am. It only opens at 8am. Thankfully, the bakery shop beside it is open. We bought bread for breakfast.
To get to the starting point, we went Kohcharlie to take train. Other than changing train from U to S, it is quite easy to go there. We were quite early that we could even take photos. After Jianhui made his way to the starting point, I walked around to explore the place. I came to realize that supporters can enter the race village where we get to see the starting point. It was a Super Long walk to the starting point. Definitely not easy to walk there with Lexuan in baby carrier. I must be damn fit okay. Haha. Along the way, I realise participants can enter from the side also. This will cut a lot of unnecessary walking. Anyway I didn’t make it to the starting point before the first wave start. I can only hear the cheering. Haha. And it’s time to walk back. I kept on encouraging myself it’s a short walk. Then I took a train back.
On my way back to the hotel, I bought McDonald’s burger (for my lunch) and pancakes for Lexuan. Lexuan loves pancakes. I fed her porridge, hard boiled egg yolk and pancakes. She’s a happy girl. In the room, I also constantly checking the Berlin Marathon app to check Jianhui’s progress. He’s going great so far! On target! 👍🏻
Around 1pm, I left the room to welcome Jianhui at the finishing line. I walked around to find the best spot. So ultimately, I stationed myself just after the Brandenburg Gate. Lexuan kept on fidgeting in the baby carrier and it doesn’t help that she doesn’t like to wear cap and kept on taking off her cap.
I must say the app is relatively quite accurate and this helps me to estimate his finishing time. While waiting, I am so excited as there’s a chance that he can run a sub 5 marathon! So excited for him to achieve his PB. True enough, he came in at 4hr56min! Yah! So proud of Jianhui!
Then we walked to the family reunite area to wait for Jianhui. While waiting for him, I fed Lexuan milk.
And so he got his first world marathon major medal! Congratulations to Jianhui! We went back together happily. Now it’s really time to relax and enjoy!
He was really hungry so he ate the cheeseburger I bought. We rested a while before we went out for dinner. We walked to Berlin Mall and to realize that Berlin Mall closes early on Sunday. We were so desperate for food as I was very hungry too. So hungry that it triggered my gastric. Luckily, we saw that the Beer Grill Club at Berlin Mall was opened! A lot of runners and supporters were there having dinner too. Somehow, most of the runners were wearing their medal with their wrist tags. Was telling Jianhui this must be their fashion to wear medal after race. Haha. Anyway, dinner was not too bad but it’s quite expensive at EUR84 though for the small portion.
After dinner, we walked back. Jianhui went to buy ice cream and water.
All in all, it was a tiring but happy day!
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Angeline winks
at |7:52 AM|
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