9.9.2009 – A report from Berlin 3-6 September 2009 by Mervi, Photos and video by Vesa

Where do I begin? I guess from the beginning is the best way…. We started our trip early in the morning by taking the train to Copenhagen Airport. The checking in and the security control proceeded very quickly and the flight was right in time so off to Berlin! When we arrived in Tegel it started raining cats and dogs of size XXXXXXL. After arriving to our hotel at 10 o’clock and after leaving our baggage to the desposite room we discovered that our rain jackets were in one of our suitcases….didn’t even remember in which one. Well, we tried to keep an optimistic mind and started walking towards the zoo. Not a very good idea because we soon noticed there was so much water on the streets our sandals weren’t the right footwear. Such a pity because I had been so determined to break my record in running to the zoo from Ku’Damm! What to do? We marched to the restaurant Marché where we had a cup of coffee and the best salmon (!) baguette on this planet!

Then we went back to our hotel and to our great pleasure our room was ready. After a quick change of clothes and shoes it was finally time to go to the zoo. This time we had valid annual tickets so we could go straight in even though there were no queuws thanks to the rainy weather.

When we came to Knuti’s enclosure a big suprise was waiting for me. Doris Webb had made a sign Platsreservierung für Ms. Mervi! What a proud moment for a humble ‘journalist’!! Believe me – everybody respected that sign and when it was time for Knuti’s feeding we had an excellent spot to shoot photos.

Herr Knuti was having a nap so I just whispered a quick ‘Hello, honey pie’.

The first familiar face I met was Knuti-Judi sitting on the bench outside Knuti’s enclosure. For some reason we remembered our first meeting in December 2007 when we stood in a pouring rain most of the time of our visit. But who cares about the rain when you meet a dear friend! Little by little even other Knuti fans came to see the feeding. Lots of hugs and hellos, of course. Once again I have to tell you how easy it is to start talking with everybody. We never need any ‘opening phrases’ – we just start talking….

Of course we said hello to Knuti’s neighbours as well.

 Hello friends! It’s me – your Knuti – and I’m ready for my dinner!

Oh boy, this feeding was something special! It started in the usual way. Knuti waved with his paws telling he was ready to ‘accept’ the food Sylvia Weckert had brought. He was treated with fruit, potatoes, fish and flesh and everything was as usual until he cought sight of a big salmon Anneliese had brought him. Suddenly he just left everything on his dinner table and ROARED….and I mean he really gave a loud roaring, I’ve never heard him being so loud before. He seems to be saying. ‘I want that salmon and I want it right now, so start acting, woman!’. We were all laughing at his outburst.

Here’s the salmon that Anneliese brought to Knuti. It was really HUGE! Frau Weckert did listen to Knuti and threw it to him. Knuti must have trained her very well by now…..

Thank you! This is what I call good service!

Knuti always eats his dinner on this special table. We were wondering what would happen if Signorina Giovanna wanted to share the table. Of course, the arrival of the three bears from Munich was a topic vividly discussed during these days. When will they arrive? When will Knuti be inroduced to La Ragazzina?

After the feeding we had a little gathering in Waldschenke and had a chance to have a little chat with other Knuti fans. Then we went back to Knuti who was having an afternoon nap. Suddenly the rain had stopped and the sun showed in the sky. Since the weather had been so bad there weren’t so many visitors in the zoo and we all enjoyd the peaceful atmosphere and just admired our sleeping beauty. Knuti-Judi told Christina she could sit there until Monday morning and I told her: You probably will…..

Well, most of the ‘outsiders’ had started their journey very early in the morning – especially Knuti-Judi must have felt the jetlag! – so we left the zoo and went to have a dinner at Joe’s because it’s so near. I know, I’ve been talking a lot of taking the most comfortable shoes with you but my shoes were killing me….or it’s better to say me feet were killing me. I don’t know what I’ve done with my right foot but all the shoes feel uncomfortable. Maybe I’m just so multitalented that I do things without knowing it….

Friday 4 September

After a hearty breakfast at restaurant Marché – which I highly recommend to everybody – we went to the zoo again. SpreewaldMarion and Annemarie were standing by the gate waiting for Luisa and her nephew. Annemarie volonteered to keep watch so Marion and we went in. A very lovely sight met us immediately – KoRaya was out! Of course, we wanted to take a closer look at her. She really is a lovely kid and after a while she and her big sister Shaina Pali went swimming. What a lucky morning! Marion told us this doesn’t happen so often – actually this was the first time she saw it and she visits the zoo quite often!

When we were admiring the swimming young elephants we noticed two familiar figures – Teddybärenmutti and her husband. What a happy reunion! Hugs, hugs, hugs and ‘ oh dear, I can’t believe this is true’ – you know how it is….

We went – naturally – to Knuti and found him napping. There were lots of Knuti fans already and again it was time for hugs, hugs….By now we were getting quite excited – when will Luisa arrive? We went to see Herr BaoBao and he was his usual cute himself.

After some light (!) refreshments in the Waldschenke we went back to Knuti and guess who was there! Yes, Yes, Yes – Luisa!!! I can’t describe the feeling when we were embracing each other. Tears were flowing but they were tears of delirious happiness! I just couldn’t believe it! Finally I met our lovely Luisa! I mustn’t forget her gorgeous nephew Rooney either. I guess most of you have seen photos of him…..do I need to say more???

Knuti had been napping but now he stood up and showed himself  in all his glory. You should have seen Luisa! Her face was all smile, she was jumping of joy …. her greatest dream had finally come true!

Knuti’s feeding was of course, again a real spectacle. The bear really knows how to ‘behave’ by the feeding. I find it always such a pleasure to see the co-operation between Knuti and Frau Weckert. They really are a good team.

After strolling around in the zoo it was time to go to Joe’s for the first Knuti meeting. I just loved the signs on the reserved tables – there was simply written Knuti! Needless to say we all had a time of our lives enjoying the small portions (this is a joke!!!) of food and each other’s company. Lots of laughter and lots of joy!

 Even Knuti-Judi’s little mascot wanted to taste a real Berliner beer!

Saturday 5. September

On Saturday morning Knuti-Judi, Barbara, Webbiene, Teddybärenmutti, Teddybärenvatti, Vesa and I went to Spandau to visit Thomas Dörflein’s grave.

The tree with all the cards, poems, miniature polar bears is still there and to my big surprise I found my card from last December was still there, too. One of our Berliner friends have kept everything neat and tidy so I’d like to say thank you to her for this loving gesture!

We left our flowers on the grave and Knuti-Judi even left flowers from Eva Gregory and Retta. The grave with the marble memorial looks really nice.

Of course, visiting the grave of the beloved zoo keeper was a very emotional moment. We couldn’t help crying and why should we…. It still hurts so much to think he will never come back. Somehow he’ll always be in the Berlin Zoo – many of us felt the same. He is present even if we can’t see him….

 The entre to In den Kisseln

After visiting the grave we took a taxi to the zoo. When we arrived there were journalists wanting to make interwiews with the foreign visitors. I had never thought I would be saying this for a journalist: ‘Sorry, I have no time for interwiews¨. Gudrun had just told me that she had made another delivery with the ‘bollerwagen’ and it would soon be time for the Big Four to get their salmons! Instead I ran to see the big bears – unfortunately Vesa was very thirsty and had gone to the Waldschenke to get a drink and of course, he had the camera with him so I have no photos of that feeding.

I’m sorry to say Lars proved not to be a gentleman. He ‘stole’ Katjuschas (or was it Nancy’s?) salmon! But I can’t help admiring Lars’ way to balance the two salmons – the other one in his mouth, the other one elegantly on his paw…. Anyway – shame on you, Lars!!

Knuti has of course, his share of the ‘bollerwagen’ and says thank you to all contributors. He also says he wouldn’t mind if you keep on raising the money at your meetings. He and the other bears has established a fan club to Gudrun and she really deserves it!

Please, bear in mind – you can keep the lettuce!

Now it was  time again for Joe’s. Needless to say we had a great time!

Sunday 6. September

On Sunday morning the Trojka with two knusbands took a taxi to the Kölnischer Park to see the City Bears Schnute and Maxi. Our timing was perfect because it was about time for their feeding. The nice lady keeper told us that otherwise they mostly spend their time inside the cave.

I’ve never seen a bear peeling an orange so neatly as Schnute did before. What a clever bear!

I’m so glad about this photo of this beautiful, clever dog. He never barked, he just admired (?) the bears just like we did!

We came to the zoo just in time for Knuti’s feeding. I don’t write so much about it because Vesa managed to make a lovely video of it. Turn the sound volume on so maybe you can even hear a real Knuti roar….

My dear friend Doris had another surprise for me:

Thank you, dear Doris! From now on I expect everybody’s addressing me as Mervi, Dr in Advanced Knutology!

In the afternoon we had the great pleasure of meeting Ralph in front of the Big Four’s enclosure. In my opinion he’s a much funnier man than John Cleese – and even that is an understatement!! We agreed to have dinner in Zur Kneipe in Rankestrasse 9 – the place that’s the model for our Knuipe.

Outside of our hotel we saw a pink car – must have been one of Fräulein Flocke’s – and of course, we had to take a picture….

The Berliner bears can be seen all over Berlin and there where a couple of them near our hotel, too. A litte quizz for you: which ones are the bears, which ones are the visitors?

The trojka – not to be mixed up with the trojka in the Knuipe – enjoyed their evening at Zur Kneipe. There was a white piano waiting for Raspi but he didn’t show up ….I could swear though I heard some humming from the cellar….

Finally a little summary: Our bear looks very happy! He has grown a lot but he still has his friendly, innocent look on his face. I’m sure he will always have that beautiful face …. even though Doris wants him to have a shave! What do you think?

We want to thank you all for a wonderful time in Berlin! Auf wiedersehen – aber wir haben noch einen Koffer in Berlin…..

More photos

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