Lake trip before the others arrived [1] [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Lake trip before the others arrived [2] [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Some of Ron and Dermot's Valkyrie girl friends from the 'Ring' [Photo courtesy of Ron]

'Siegfried' curtain call. Stefan Vinke (Siegfried) and Janice Baird (Brünnhilde) [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Steven as Lord Muck [Photo courtesy of Roy]

Emma and Otto, Ron's Ebab buddies [Photo courtesy of Ron]

First breakfast

On Motzstraße

Carl at the Kaiser Friedrich Gedächtnisskirche

Before the Zoo beer garden lunch

Lunch at Schleusenkrug beer garden, beside the Zoo [1]

Lunch at Schleusenkrug beer garden, beside the Zoo [2]

Lunch at Schleusenkrug beer garden, beside the Zoo [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Photo assignment

Near Alexanderplatz

Chopin remembered on Under den Linden

Gay memorial

Carl reads about the Wall

Carl tries his first (and last) green Weisse

The Staatsoper, with 'Carmen' banner [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Staatsoper interior [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Conductor's view of the 'Carmen' score [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Post-Carmen discussion

Dermot struts his stuff

On the way to Rosenkavalier

After Rosenkavalier

This way to the Gala Dinner [1]

This way to the Gala Dinner [2]

This way to the Gala Dinner [3]

Gala dinner in Wiesenstein restaurant [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Gala Dinner group [Photo courtesy of Roy]

Happy gala diners [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Happy spouse at his first Gala Dinner [Photo courtesy of Roy]

Roy enjoying his first Group trip away [Photo courtesy of Roy]

Another Gala-dining couple [Photo courtesy of Ron]

What did you say, Ron?

Another Gala pair

Jim & Carl's kinky schnapps glasses

Carl at Oberbaumbrücke

Berliners nickname things too. 'Zirkus Karajani' is their name for the Philharmonie. [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Ron went to a free lunchtime concert in the Philharmonie [Photo courtesy of Ron

Waiting for the Missa solemnis

Tuning up for the Missa [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Dwarfed by Lego giraffe at Sony Centre after the Missa solmenis [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Posing in Potsdam

Carl near the Nikolaikirche in Potsdam

Jim tries a Bratwurst

Carl with his Potsdam Bratwurst

In Sanssoucci Park

A rest at Sanssoucci

Under a Sanssoucci collonade

Schubert Café spotted in Potsdam

Bernard and Josquin at Frederick The Great's monument, near the Staatsoper [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Some of the stranded (delayed because  of the unpronouncable volcano in Iceland [Photo courtesy of Roy]

Boat trip at Berlin Cathedral [Photo courtesy of Ron]

Boating in Berlin [Photo courtesy of Roy]

The rubbish chute at the end of our stay

Airport shopping

The Aircoach goes to Dalkey now. Parting at Dublin Airport (boo hoo)