The accidental tourist
So in the end I never did manage to write a blog after my Cologne event. I was relying on shaky internet access from my phone in the atrium of a German hotel, surrounded by people from the (German) publishing industry. I’m pleased to say the event went really well, as far as I could make out. There were about 300 people there, which is more than I’d usually expect at a book event at home. I read an extract from Eleven in English and an actor read some bits of the German translation (Elf Leben). The whole thing was chaired by a man called Philipp who, amusingly, looked quite a lot like me (photo to follow hopefully). The audience were highly appreciative, laughed at jokes in English and at my attempts to speak to them in lapsed A Level German. They also allowed me to lecture them on Scrabble tactics, a lecture which tried to take into account the different number values of tiles in the German version of the game (just THREE points for Z. Imagine.)
It was really very rewarding for me – less than two years after I’d been ‘sacked’ by my old publisher and Eleven was just a germ of an idea – to sit and listen to someone reading it in another language to a load of people I’d never have expected to meet. We heard today there’s going to be a Czech version – as well as French/Portuguese/Korean and the other ones I’ve mentioned before – so it’s getting more and more likely that wherever you are in the world, you’ll eventually be forced to read this thing. Except if you wait much longer, I will have published something better. I hope.
Today I’m in Berlin and found myself taking a solo ‘city break’. I wandered round for five hours on my own, looking at Checkpoint Charlie and other Cold War remnants, and some other stuff. I didn’t speak to anyone all that time. I thoroughly recommend drifting around a city on your own. (The name of this blog comes from a novel by Anne Tyler about a man who does this, but for different reasons. I would very strongly recommend it.)
Tomorrow I return to the UK and then straight away to Australia. Odd. But good.
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on March 26, 2011
When I went to Bristol last year I did the whole wandering around a city aimlessly on your own thing. It really is a brilliant way to see a place. You’ll be walking for hours and then turn a corner and join up 2 places you thought were miles apart. If you know where you’re going, you end up only seeing the same couple of places again and again.
Posted by Lydia on March 26, 2011
I really wish I had actually been places. I’ve never been abroad, and the only place we ever go on holiday is the Yorkshire Dales and I hate it there. Although I think that has had more to do with my mum’s boyfriends than the place itself.
I like the idea of going off on my own.
Posted by amycool on March 26, 2011
I’m glad to hear you had such a great day and that the turnout was so good. Good luck for adjusting your body clock again!
Posted by Laura on March 26, 2011
To be fair, you probably couldn’t fit 300 people in your home. Or maybe you could, you might have a very big home.
I’ve always fancied going to Berlin.
Glad your trip was so successful!
Posted by Rachael on March 26, 2011
Better than Elf Leben? That is a tough task, I can’t wait!
Posted by Katy on March 26, 2011
Actually if you, or any of the readers, have tips for being able to city explore on your own I’d be very eager to hear them. I always just feel suspicious wandering on my own.
Posted by Carl on March 26, 2011
I was in Berlin at the start of last year. Loved. Full of snow and rich in history. Saw Hertha Berlin play too, completely different atmosphere to a live English game. Due to booking the return flight one day later than my friends by (drunken) mistake, I spent the inal day on my own. Really nice place to wander on your own. Glad you enjoyed it.
Posted by Madeleine on March 26, 2011
Belated, but I read Eleven in about 2 days and absolutely loved it. Great premise, really engaging and sympathetic characters and I didn’t see that ending coming at all. My mum has it now and has taken it to a mine she is auditing in the central Australia to get her through the nights of boredom. I’m betting that will be one of the most remote places it’s ever read!
Hope you enjoyed Berlin and your brief stop home.
Posted by Dan on March 26, 2011
I spent some lovely time in Berlin a few years ago, apart from the fact that I got ill during the trip. I threw up at Checkpoint Charlie which is certainly a story to tell. I realise worse things have happened there of course…
Posted by Ally on March 25, 2011
Sounds like brilliant fun
I’ve always wanted to go to Berlin. Maybe I’ll make it there in a couple of years 
Posted by Misha on March 25, 2011
I love buggering off into a city by yourself, I’ve touristed round London, Cardiff, Hammamet, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Ypres largely on my own. It’s lovely.
Posted by Nuala on March 25, 2011
Went to Berlin when the wall was still up (I was 9). Went on the train. Had to wait ages at the East German border. Hess was still in Spandau. Would love to go back. Have never forgotten Checkpoint Charlie.
Posted by Katy on March 25, 2011
I’ve always fancied Berlin. Im glad the whole thing went well last night, sounds really good, I can only imagine the reward of having your own work read out in a different language.
Im very jealous of the whole wandering around on your own thing. I went to Dublin on Wednesday (I’m sure we all know why) and I wandered for about an hour before heading back to the hotel and just drinking on my own. I kinda feel like I cheated myself out of something and I’ve been kicking myself ever since.
Posted by Anji on March 25, 2011
Sounds like a dream. I quite like exploring and finding my way around places. If I could I’d do it more often.
Glad it went well and hope that the next set of flights go well – enjoy if you can.
Posted by Natalie-Helen on March 25, 2011
I did this in France on holiday a couple of years ago.
Announced to my parents at 9am that I was going to see the Fairy Bridge. And wandered off in flip flops and shorts. Three hours later they still hadn’t heard from me and made the discovery that the Fairy Bridge was at the bottom of a mountainous path. Which advised sturdy shoes with ankle protection because of the adders.
I’d actually taken my flip flops off to climb down bits of it. Was brilliant fun though. And returned last year to find water in the river underneath which I swam in.
Buggering off by yourself is the best way to discover things!
^_^
Posted by Megan on March 25, 2011
I did the same thing in Berlin last summer, but on a bike. I love to travel that way (and generally do). Nearly monastic walking tours. (Not everyday, but most of them.)
I also played Scrabble in English with a German set (ignoring the umlauts on some of the vowels) a couple of years ago (housesitting for a German couple). Scoring was truly bizarre. And, IIRC, some letters weren’t included?
Safe travels!