Chapter IV: FREEZING COLD AND A CAMEL'S KISS
Summer 1977. I resided there for three years in West Berlin, the "free enclave" surrounded by the communist East Germany, the so-called German Democratic Republic. Guarded by the three major powers Great Britain, France and the United States of America. Leaving this enclave by car or train always meant to pass several checkpoints and countless controls. It did not bother me. Such journeys belonged to my adventurism. I saw it as a kind kind of sport. And I really never got problems ... .
Of course, my grandmother was happy to see me so often. Every time I visited her, she had a surprise in store for me. A baked duck, a new bottle of Russian Vodka or a new long play vinyl record with wonderful classical music - mostly from Russian composers such as Rimsky--Korsakoff, Peter Tschaikowky and amazing East German stars such as Peter Schreier.
The singer, who lives in Dresden and was artistically at home in (East-)Berlin, was one of the most famous artists in his field in East Germany. Ludwig van Beethoven joined our circle too. Even if only in the background and performed by East German or Russian artists.
During the 1970's In the seventies I developed another passion. There were many television show recordings in Berlin. I just attended this chance and tried to look behind the scenes, and they let me. I became a regular guest in one of the most loved TV-shows, the German Hitparade, hosted by the unforgettable Dieter Thomas Heck. Sitting beside famous singers made me even more prominent in my country's home side. That made it easy for me to join Heck's show PYRAMIDE in 1990 in Munich as a successful contestant.
My new car took me anywhere. To my grandmother in East Germany. To my parents, 500 km away, by getting on the transit routes from West-Berlin, via East Germany and entering again West Germany there. Tiring but enjoying it. A commuter between two different kinds of worlds - East and West! My buddy Jürgen was still with me. "When are you planning to fly to Moscow with me?" he asked me. I replied, "Wait buddy, Tunisia in North Africa is still waiting!". My buddy looked at me in disbelief.
My thirst for knowledge to get to know other peoples and cultures made me very lonely at home in Germany. Today I know that all of these trips have brought me more than any history or geography course in high school or college. The ride on a camel and its kiss was one of my greatest adventures in Tunisia/North Africa.
The Russian propeller plane took an eternity to finally take off. My buddy and I got -as always- Seat 1 a and b. We were like that too as the first to raise a glass of water after the takeoff. One should have seen our astonished and wide eyes. Yes, it was the "cleanest water in the world". It was Vodka. At 8 o'clock in the morning... . Caviar followed. Airline of friendship. German Democratic Republic and Soviet Union back then.
Our hotel Russia was right on the Red Square. It was really freezing cold. 1977/1978 was a winter of the century across Europe. I know, I wasn't allowed to leave our hotel so easily. But I did. I was already a risk taker at that time. The underground train took me to the station "Nowokusnezkaja". Radio Moscow lay in front of me. Natalia Tschernowa waited already.
The German language program aired the Classical Request Concert. A program, a show that I had listened to on 'Shortwave' (not FM) for years already. And my "life wish" was granted: Ludwig van Beethoven, Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3 in c-minor, third movement Rondo:Allegro.
On the return flight to East Berlin, "water" was served again.
When I got home, I couldn't believe my eyes when I found a letter from the German foreign Aid Project. But it became true. My trip to Jamaica was up next.
(To be continued!)
