3-7.4.2009 – Photos by Vesa, Collage by Ludmila, Leadphoto by Jessie

Dear friends, it’s always difficult to start writing a report but I guess the easiest way is to start from the beginning…

On Friday morning the knusband and I were, of course, awake very early. Who can possibly sleep the night before a K-day?? We left for the Copenhagen Airport far too early but why take any chances – you never know how the trains behave. On the airport everything went surprisingly smoothly and we could concentrate on watching the airplanes take off or land. I find it always so fascinating and seeing a Lufthansa plane made my ‘reisefieber’ reach the top level!

Since we had so much time I even visited a duty free shop and bought a lipstick. I finally found the colour I’ve been looking for a long time….The funny thing was that it had to be packed in a big plastic bag which was sealed properly and I wasn’t allowed to open it until in Berlin. Of course, I understand there are security regulations but a teeny, weeny lipstick….

The flight only took 45 minutes so we landed in Tegel by noon and took a taxi to our hotel. We litterally threw our suitcases in the room and hurried to the zoo. Firsts we had to go to the administration building to get our annual tickets. Wow, we were so proud when we entered the gate showing our brand new treasures!

I will never forget the moment when I met SylviaMicky and Doris who showed me the round, red carpet on the ‘knular circle’ which always is our meeting point. Oh boy, I really felt like a VIK (Very Important Knutian)! There were quite many Knuti fans in front of Knuti’s enclosure – Yeo, Viktor, Annemarie, Monika, Bea, Patricia, Simone, Gudrun, Marion K, Ewy….how wonderful to meet all these beautiful people again! Unfortunately Monika had to leave the same day. Thank you so much for the helicopter!

Knuti was playing in the water with his Aussie dog and gave us the best possible show! I heard he had been playing almost all day. He looked very happy – our Kleenet Kind!

Luckily we were just in time to see the feeding which was made by Marcus Röbke. Knuti got meat, fisch and vegetables but as usual the veggies weren’t so popular. We had to laugh loud when he cought a carot in his mouth but realizing what it was just spit it out waiting for the next dish….Well, after a long ‘hunger marsch’ he was certainly very hungry but as Herr Knuti himself has told us once or twice – a growing bear needs lots of energy!!

 Hello Uncle Marcus – I saw you had something more for me in your bucket.

 Oh yes, now we’re talking….yammy meat!

 Bah, it’s a carot – oh well, some vitamines won’t do me any harm I hope!

 After a hearty lunch I feel very strong and can continue playing with my Aussie dog.

It wasn’t so easy to leave Knuti but since it was very warm we were all thirsty and decided to go to the Waldschenke that was open again – the summer season has begun! After some drinks we went back to Knuti and just watched our beautiful boy in silence. He really is so CUTE, so CUTE! Well, this was nourishment for our eyes but we began to feel that even bear friends need some energy so Bea, Patricia and we started walking towards Joe’s Wirthaus. On our way we met Hartmuth with whom we had a short chat but he promised to be at the zoo tomorrow, too.

Joe’s is a wonderful, cosy place and because it was still very warm we could sit outside – not such a bad thing for us smokers! The Knusband and I ordered ‘Jägerschnitzels’ and you should have seen the size of those schnitzels! King Size is a clear understatement! We had a wonderful evening chatting and laughing together but luckily we remembered to go to bed, too. The next day was going to be a very long day …..

Saturday

Since the hotel rate didn’t include breakfast we went out to look for a place where we could have at least some coffee. We were happily surprised to see that just across the street there was a place that offered ‘Frühstück ab  4 Uhr’! We saved a lot of money having our breakfasts in this place instead of our hotel that  takes 13 euro per person! Pure robbery considering that  even I don’t eat that much early in the morning!

After this good start of the day we went to the zoo and of course, we headed first to Knuti. He was already playing with his toys and once again looked really happy and contented. Of course, whe also had to congratulate our birthday child Patricia. I didn’t sing for her because I really wanted her to have a HAPPY birthday!! We all had a little chat with Herr Knut before going to meet the Big Four.

Tosca and Nancy were sunbathing on the rocks but Lars tried to express some Spring feelings to Katjuscha who wasn’t very interested and she didn’t make any secret about it. Poor Lars – I have a feeling he has become a ‘Toffelhjälte’ – a Swedish expression for a man who isn’t exactly in charge!!

The feeding was again a wonderful show. Nancy made it very clear that she doesn’t want to jump into the water and demanded to have her food served directly in her mouth. Well, finally she had to give up and jump in anyway. Tosca is as beautiful as ever and the resemblance between the mother and the son is very easy to see. 

By now even Ludmila and Uwe had joined us and we were waiting for Alex, too. Gudrun suggested we should make a little tour at the zoo so we went to see the 2 year old baby dromedar. None of us knew whether it was a he or she but he/she certainly was cute. Imagine, standing on her long legs – a bit shaky, but still….

Then it was time to see if little Benita was out and she WAS!! What a beautiful sight it was to see her playing with her keeper in the flower field! We stood there quite a while watching this miracle.

 We visited many other animals, of course, but I’m sure there are so many reports that I don’t have to mention them all. Dear Patricia was running around the zoo all the time so I’m sure she will tell you all about Satu, Kito, Bao Bao and the others. I just want to add that Ko Raya is a beauty! And I must say that I missed Ernst who had leftt the Berlin zoo just a couple of days before we arrived.

 Oh when the Knuints go marching in….I’M HUNGRY….Today Knuti certainly wasn’t disappointed. Gudrun came with lots of yammy things to both Knuti and his bear friends. And Gisela H had brought a deer to the wolves!

 Please, don’t tell Flocke but I prefer Uncle Marcus’  plastic handbag more than her pink creations! But couldn’t you spend a little more time with me…??

 I can catch my food very skilfully nowadays….and I’m very selective about my food! After all – I’m a knourmet!

 Hello there! My tummy tells me there’s place for more food!

Look what Auntie Gudrun brought me – a red jutebag! There are some thingies in it but it can also be used as a hat. Very practical in this heat!

 …and here’s my Aussie Dog again. I’ve had it since last September but this thing really is made for polar bears – I haven’t managed to break it!

Now there are only three wolves left at the zoo. I’m not sure who this is but he certainly is beautiful!

Bernie and the Wolfie

 Just show me your camera and I pose very nicely, too!

More and more Knuti friends were coming to the zoo  and we occupied quite many chairs in Waldschenke. (I will send these photos to Viktor’s album) My very special thanks to Miezehumpfs’ Frauchen, Doris, Jessie and SpreewaldMarion for the lovely book.  

 Once again I was so amazed how easy it is to start talking with everybody. Knuti really has connected people and made them to great friends! I think I’m going to write a book about this incredible phenomen!!  Someday….

After some refreshments it was time to say good night to Knuti and prepare ourselves for an evening at Joe’s. There were more familiar faces – Hupsi, Uschi and Roland B. The Stimmung was on the top level – especially when the wide screen was showing a football game and there were lots of supporters cheering their teams. As a matter of fact they scored at least 5 times so there was very loud cheering all the time. I had no idea who was playing but I cheered along with the others…

Maybe you remember I told myself not to forget to load the camera battery? Can you guess what idiot forgot to do that? Oui, c’est moi!! I accept the nomination to the moron of the year! So no photos from Joe’s. Luckily Viktor was there! Needless to say we all had a marvellous time together. Lots of laughter, lots of jokes! We also raised some money for Knuti and his friends. Gudrun and Manfred, thank you for all your efforts to make our bears happy!

Bea, Patricia, Vesa and I decided to sit outside for a while after the others had left. After all – it was Patricia’s birthday and we had to celebrate! And we didn’t forget Teddybärenmutti either! Thank you Bea and Patricia for you wonderful company! It’s a pity we can’t rule the world because we could make it so perfect…..we certainly have ideas!

Sunday

 Today was time to be sporty so we went to Ku’Damm to see the halfmarathon where Ludmila and her husband were running, too. Let me tell you that I’m mighty impressed!! Unfortunately they were too fast for us so we didn’t get any picture. Suddenly Ludmila was there, gave me a hug and was running again….Luckily somebody saw a familiar fluffy figure sporting….

 
 Collage by Ludmila

This is what I call cheating, hahaa….

 Just look at that cute face….

Uncle Marcus – you should know by now that I’m not interested in those yellow things….

 Thank you Auntie Gudrun and all the Knut friends for bringing so much yammy stuff for me, too!

Monday

This time we actually made a sightseeing tour in a double decker!  I’ve been also a good tourist shopping at Karstadt (a poor man’s version of KaDeWe…besides it was very near our hotel).

In the afternoon it was time for zoo and Knuti again. Today I had a great pleasure of meeting SpreewaldMarion again and make acquaintance with Petra W.  We spent some time in Waldschenke together with Hartmuth, Gisela, SylviaMicky, Doris and Jessie. It was so nice to have some time for a chat this time.

The time went so fast again but I’m glad to tell you that we met a very happy and active Knuti in Bärlin. I also did my duty and told him everything you asked me to tell him and we were all blowing kisses all the time!

Gudrun, Manfred, Doris, Jessie, Spreewaldmarion, Miezehumpf, Simone, Marion K, Christina M, Monika aus Düsseldorf, Monika aus Berlin, BarbaraBerlin, Water, Petra W, Roland B, Hartmuth, SylviaMicky, Gisela, Gisela H, Uschi, Hupsi, Ludmila, Uwe, Viktor, Andrea, Patricia, Bea, Alex, Yeo, Annemarie, Anne, Anke, Ewy (please, forgive me if I forgot someone!) – thank you all for the wonderful time in Berlin!

Now I’m back home again and Miffe has made it very clear to me who’s the VIP in this family. Oh well, nobody’s a propfet in her own country!

Thank you Knuti, thank you Berlin Zoo, thank you all for being you! See you in September!

Mervi & Vesa

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