Remembering the old times can be always a topic when I, an ex-Czechoslovak, talk to ex-East Germans. It feels like when two old soldiers meet. They both had no choice, both had to serve In the same terrible army, and though they never met before, they have so many common memories. Sometimes even bragging who suffered more 🙂

The impenetrable inner-German border was the main topic today. For many kilometres it was running in the middle of the Elbe alongside my track. People were telling me stories of restricted areas up to 5km wide, obligatory permits for people living inside, forced evacuations of the “unwanted” ones, and the murdered escapers who tried but did not make it to the side of the Elbe. I even passed through a village that used to be completely circled by a fence. The gates there, during communist, times were closed overnight. Without any bragging, I am happy these times are over.

In one village I get a candid recommendation not to go to the local coffee shop, but to cycle 10 km more to a well renowned one. Here I met two 79-year-old motor bikers from Hamburg. Both dressed in perfect black leather, ideally fitting to their powerful Suzukis. They stopped here on their regular Friday trip, today 400 km long. They mentioned they ride together for years. Looking at their helmets I asked if they have also these built-in walkie-talkies to communicate while driving.
One of them pointing to his friend replied.
“Oh no, why should we? I know already all his opinions…”