Hola Orela

I was so excited about Orela's visit, but when she finally arrived I felt rather guilty. On the way to collect her from the airport I had a Sliding Doors moment and missed the train. Knowing the next one would get me to the airport a few minutes late I thought, 'Oh, please let her plane be delayed.' Due to a medical emergency the flight was diverted to Manchester airport. Orela arrived four hours late, tired and hungry (luckily, by the time the plane had landed the man suspected of having a heart attack seemed well).

Another reason for my guilty feeling was how everyone else seemed to have trumped me with their welcomes.

During her stay took a boat tour of the city

The slidey thingy (that's official boating jargon) protected us from the rain

We also took a trip to Potsdam, which delighted me by providing sights I hadn't taken in on my previous visit,

Princess Orela. How rude! I was supposed to be the princess and she was my Lady in Waiting. You don't play fair Orela Kingston!

We both loved this statue whose foot is the only part where the bronze is clean and shining.

The China House seemed even more spectacular, I noticed more detail this time round

I loved the people peaking out from behind pillars

We noticed the strange pods on this tree and asked a guard what kind of tree it was.

He explained that is was the American Trumpet Tree, and pulled back some branches to show us the flowers.

Talking Heads

The Moument to fallen Russian soldiers in Treptower Park

On her final night we went to the Sony Centre.

We took her to the Premier of a movie. Well technically we just went to the cinema on the evening that there happened to be the European premier of The Zookeeper, but we did get to see Kevin James (aka The Man From King Of Queens). Orela, as you can see, was shocked and fascinated.

Before the film we enjoyed some traditional German food

And a 'traditional' banana beer.

Cheers Orela! I loved having you over! Come back soon!