I am a donut!

Schonefeld Airport, Berlin

The train station at Schonefeld Airport

When I think of Berlin, I think of John F Kennedy and his famous ‘ich bin ein Berliner’ speech.

When I think of Berlin, I think of David Bowie’s unforgettable 1977 hit single ‘Heroes’.

Both events are closely associated with the Cold War and the Berlin Wall, which are thankfully a long time in the past.

Schlachtensee is just twenty kilometres south of Berlin City centre and easily reached by a 30-minute trip on the S-Bahn ( line S1). The water itself is an easy couple of minutes’ walk from Schlachtensee station.

Schlachtensee S-Bahn Station

It was Autumn when I visited and, although it wasn’t warm, the sun was shining and the water was flat. My overriding memories of this German lake were the sense of tranquility I experienced in the middle of the lake and the wonderful orange and yellow and brown seasonal colours on the trees all around me.

Stand-up Paddleboarding on Schlachtensee

When it comes to defining moments in the history of Europe, I can’t claim that a gentle Autumn paddle on Schlachtensee is up there with JFK and David Bowie. Not even close. But whenever I think of Berlin, I know I will never forget the beauty, the tranquillity, and the seasonal colours of this lovely lake.

Schlachtensee

Schlachtensee