berlin breakdown #1
No Vespa ride through Europe would be complete without a vehicle manfunction in perfect weather, at a perfect time in a perfect location. After battling German drivers on some nice quick roads with no 'off' or 'side' roads on my way to Potsdam / Berlin the clutch cable decided to give up upon entering a small town. I rolled to a stop in a small parking area and took the scoot apart & tried to replace the cable. The 10 minute job took about 30 (my first time) and I was helped by a nice old German chap who introduced me to his toothless wife and let me use some high octane German soap. I bid him adieu (wrong country but I didnt care), and scootled towards Berlin & the mass of traffic that the city has constantly circling its spread out burbs. I GPS'd my way into confusion circling 1 way streeted high rise housing until I found my Berlin contacts apartment block. Maren seemed a nice host and after a quick hello & how do you do she was off with her man to the movies and I was left with her keys to her apartment which housed the smallest bathroom I have ever seen. It existed, and it shouldnt have, in the space of a tiny green hallway, amazing. I was shocked and gracious. After that there was the usual beer, drunken street exploration, a kebab and sleep, yada yada. Berlin's great!