Day 00: Leaving for Berlin

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Day 00: From Rochester NY to Berlin, Germany

DateJan 2nd - 3rd, 2024
Total All Caminos: 2000 miles

Planes: $ 1300
Total Planes /
Travel Insurance: 		$ 1470
Buses / Trains / Taxis: $ 5
Total Buses / Trains / Taxis: $ 5
Food: $ 5 + $26
Total Food: $ 31

Meaningful Moment

Having Deb walk with me at the airport terminal while I complete my check in and TSA screening.

Random Thought of the Day

Air travel can be challenging.

I had purchased a seat assignment for the Newark to Berlin flight, but that apparently got canceled somehow because I have to see a gate agent when I get to Newark.

According to the agent in Rochester, that typically happens when they change planes or for some reason need to change seating assignments.

I do wonder if the issues with completing the online check-in, and the mismatching names between the passport and the traveler's name, have something to do with this.

Regardless, the gate agent quickly and efficiently reassigned me to see 30B which is better than where I was sitting.

The little hassle over the seating worked on my advantage. I got moved further forward in the plane, and I have more legroom now 🙂

Next stop is Berlin and then I start walking the Leipzig.

On the Road / Notable memories

Before leaving for the airport

Gimli, Cosi and I on a downtown bird watch, just chilling out before final preparations to leave for the airport


Court Street, dam, downtown Rochester



Genesee River looking south from the Court Street bridge


In the air

Breaking through the clouds over Rochester into a blue sky


And coming into Newark with lower Manhattan off the plane's left side

Arrived Germany


Had no problems getting through passport control. I even used my German with the immigrations police, and he was surprised when I said that I was here to hike from Berlin to Leipzig. He even made a motion with his fingers, walking motion with his fingers, to make sure that my German lol was in fact saying I was hiking between the two cities.

Been asking for directions from people, and interacting, e.g. by asking how much the city tram costs, etc.

My next stop is the main train station in Berlin. The Protestant mission / hostel where I'll be sleeping for two nights is nearby.

Itinerary

11:15 a.m. Leave home.
11:30 a.m. Arrive airport.
12:00 p.m. Through TSA checkpoint.
1:40 p.m. Leave Rochester.
2:40 p.m. Arrive Newark airport.
5:50 p.m. Leave Newark.
8:00 a.m. Arrived Berlin
8:45 a.m. Leaving the airport via the rapid transit S9 line to the main train station.




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