Pictures from Ice Speedskating

After the Dutch Nationals, I was very much looking forward to the next event. The first international meet of the new season, the Olympic season.

On Thursday we left by car to Berlin. It was early morning and rain was pooring down. Off course, on Holland's busy roads, we got stuck in traffic immediatly. We also had to stop near the border at a photoshop for my new lens. I now have a 55-300 mm lens, F 4,0- 5,8

By 6 pm we entered East Berlin and drove along the dark and empty streets of Berlin. We checked into our hotel and went to the nearest subway to enter the city center. We went to the Alexanderplatz and went up the Tower.

We had a great view across the city and could see all the city lights and even the U2 Concert at the Brandenburger Tor. We spent a good hour in the nice comfortable enviroment of the tower. After that, we continued by U-bahn to the Potzdammerplatz to look at some West-Berlin architecture. We spent our time waiting for the Ritz- to check the celebreties, look around the Sony Center where the European Premiere of '2012' would take place and walked around the Christmas market.

At 10 o'clock we found our way back to East Berlin, where we found all shops and foodplaces had closed. We ended up in a great Argentinian restaurant (Rio Negro) where we had some delicious steaks for an absurd low price. We soon decided this would be our restaurant for the upcoming days.

On friday we woke up early for the breakfast and some sightseeing in Berlin. We went again to the Potsdammerplatz to walk from there to the Brandenburger Tor. But this was not as easy as it seemed. Eventough it was only 700 meters, we managed to take 1.5 hours to get to the Brandenburger Gate. We walked at the sidewalk at the West-Berlin side, along the crowd control barrier, for the 20 year Wall festivities. They were busy placing giant Domino's at the place where the Wall used to be, replicating the Wall. As we were walking on the west side, the road was blocked and we thought to take a de-tour and walk around. Unfortunatly, the road ended and also the shortcut throught the park was blocked. At the backside of the Brandenburger Tor, people were building up or breacking down stages, lightmasts and electronic equipement.

Finally we decided to walk back to the Potsdammerplatz, as the people at the other side of the barrier, in East Berlin, were walking freely and managed to get to the Gate. Off course, 20 years ago, it was probably the other way around, people in East- Berlin wanted to go to West-Berlin, seeing them walk freely and doing what they want. But for us, this was such a frustrating and confrontating experience. At this place, 20 years ago, this was the reality and now we experienced the same. For the same reasons, the Wall, we could't go to the other side the way we wanted to.

Off course, we managed and walked freely past the Holocaust memorial and onwards to the Brandenburger Gate. There we spent some time in a coffee place with "Kaffee und Kuchen". We also went to the Reichtag to view the building and enjoy the city view. At this point we went underground and onwards with the S-bahn to the Kurfürstendamm where we also enjoyed the city, the sights and the shops.

In the evening we returned to East- Berlin, because off course, we wanted to see something from the speedskating. It was not very busy at the icerink and we enjoyed a nice evening of skating. It was great to see all the skaters again and try out my new lens! Wow, what a differance with the one I used to have before. And then they say size doesn't matter....

It was great to see Sablikova win again. What a race and what a great athlete. On the stands behind us, the Czech Martina Sablikova fangroup was cheering for her and she and her coach, Petr Novak, thanked them extensively. I always enjoy this kind of open and real joy very much. In the 1.000 meter, Shani Davis won seemingly easy and before I knew it, the first day of the new season had already finished.

We paid a visit to our Argentinian restaurant, where I had Italian wine with Australian Kangaroe steak and went to bed. I was knackered. On Saturday morning, the sun was welcoming us to go outside and at 9 am I was at the icerink. I went to the accreditation office to get my press pass and after some burocratic nonsens, I walked outside again with an official press card which gave the opportunity to go everywhere around the icerink and enter the press tribune.

For me, this was a huge thing. Being a speed skating fan, I can never get close enough and after all those times, paying for the entrane tickets, waiting outside the ice rink to get in and standing in the crowd, it was really nice to be able to walk around freely. And don't get me wrong, I know who I am and I guess this was a once in a life time opportunity and next week, in Heerenveen, I will just be part of the common people again, but for now, this was just extraordinary!

The ladies 500 meter was not won by Jenny Wolf, but Sven Kramer won the 5.000m. It didn't look as easy as other times, but still, he got the job done and won the distance. Surprise of the day was probable te 3rd place for Marianne Timmer in the 1.000 meter. Once the flower ceremony was over, we stayed a little longer to watch the training, which is always fun as there is so much going on at the same time. After a visit at the Argentinian, we went to bed early.

Sunday, the Berlin weather showed herself. Grey, misty and cloudy, bringing a sad tone to our mood. We each went our seperate ways. My dad, into the city center for some more (window) shopping and looking around the trainstation and expensive car dealers and I went to the icerink for the B division. We met up again at 2 pm for the A group, me walking around the icerink, my dad in a seat, in front of the television at the corner. It was fun to watch the races. The emotions of Jenny Wolf once she crossed the finish in her 500 meter race, breaking her own track record and winning again.

Highlight of the weekend and day, was diffenatly the 1.500 meter race of Shani Davis. Sensational and amazing to witness. The power and accelaration is just astonishing!! And what a great winnar he is. Really wonderfull to withness such a great sports moment. After the races, we jumped in the car and stepped on the gas to make it home. At 1 am sunday night we arrived home, tiered but absolutly satisfied with the first weekend of the new skating season. This weekend will be one to remember.