I had always wanted to see the Reichstag. The building that had shaped European history so much. Even though the visit is for free, it is not so easy to arrange the visit.
I was in Berlin for a conference. On Wednesday at 5pm I rushed to the Reichstag, in order to get hold of a ticket. One has to register in a small white container. There were about 30 people in front of me and I thought that this should work out. I had an important phone conference at six, where I had the lead but there was enough time. After 15 minutes, in which only 4 persons had been cleared, I started to have doubts. At half past five 10 people had been cleared and it became obvious that it was very likely not to be managed until 6. At a quarter to six still 10 people were in front of me and I gave up and returned to the hotel in order to do the phone conference calmly. I took up to return the next morning at 8am when the registration opened in order to be the first to register for the visit.
On Thursday I woke at 6am, went jogging, took a shower and wanted to dry my hair. But the hairdryer was not to be found. Ritz Carlton is an excellent hotel with friendly and helpful staff and an incredible high standard. I search all drawers but did not find the hairdryer. A 5-star hotel without hairdryer!? I called the room service and asked where I could find the hairdryer. I received the answer that it is in the bathroom in the right cupboard.
I looked again around in the bathroom and did not see any cupboard. Under the basin was a handle but when I pulled at it, nothing happened. I tried again stronger and suddenly I had a wooden board in my hand and visibility to the back wall. There was no cupboard and no hairdryer. I was annoyed. It was ten past seven and I wanted to leave the hotel at half past seven in order to book my visit to the Reichstag.
I called again the room service and told them that there was no hairdryer in the bathroom and that they should bring one over. 10 minutes passed and nothing happened. I stood there fully dressed with wet hair. I called again and the lady confirmed that the hairdryer was on the way. Two minutes later it knocked at my door. Behind the door was a nice gentleman asking what I needed. I was furious. I suppressed my anger and asked for a hairdryer. He said that it would be there in two minutes. At half past seven I left my room with wet hair and furious. I thought that excellent service looks different. I complained at the reception and went to book my visit to the Reichstag. I was the first one and got the ticket for the time on Friday after the conference. In order to book the ticket the passport was required and the friendly gentleman starred for more than 6 minutes at his monitor. I asked myself whether he has there the data from Interpol or NSA and whether the visitors are checked for their criminal past.
I was back in the hotel in time at half past eight and when I entered my room, one of the large mirrors was open and gave view to the built-in hairdryer. I had to laugh about myself. Oh my god, I am stupid!! I still cannot give the best grade to the hotel. I assume that I am not the only stupid guest. But the hotel also has to satisfy those ones in order to motivate them to return.
The visit to the Reichstag exceeded all my expectations. It is breath-taking, historically exciting, well made and the small coffee with milk tastes perfect in the cafeteria under the glass dome with view on the rapidly changing city. Don’t forget to include it into your programme when you are in Berlin.
Michaela Merz 