Setting out from Berlin 1796

Family meeting…

Rene: Berlin has limits, but London… it’s buzzing with ships, trade, and opportunity for an underwriter.
Father: Clearly, nothing we can say will dissuade you. And this… Lloyds, you say, will be your base?
Rene: A coffee shop. It’s where all the shipping news is daily shared. 
Mother: I still worry about highwaymen.
Rene: Berlin to Hamburg by carriage, then sail across the North Sea to London. The sea journey is long but safer.
Sarah: And what if soldiers stop you, getting suspicious of travelers amid all the unrest?
Rene: I have proper papers, explaining my journey as a merchant.
Father: And lodging? London isn’t kind to newcomers without a roof over their heads.
Rene: I’ve heard of cheap rooms near the docks where many sailors and traders stay. It’s humble but close to the action.
Genevieve: It’s brave of you to try. Better a life of risks and chances than one of waiting. I wish I were a man.
Father: Just mind your pockets on the road and your wits in the city.
Rene: I’ll keep my pockets tight and my wits sharper.
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Voice-over
The family wishes Rene well and sister Genevieve hopes that London can change his destiny and perhaps hedge the family fortune in these troubled Napoleonic times.

Munich or Cottbus

Sightseeing or cultural connection…

Frederich: I arrive in Munich in the early morning so I’m thinking I’ll just go straight to Cottbus by train.

Anton: Not stopping in Munich? No beer, pretzels, palaces? Cottbus? I mean, how much is really going on there?

Frederich: Yeah, but Cottbus is the whole point of this trip! My family’s from there, it’s the heart of Sorbian culture, and I want to connect with that part of my identity. Munich is just the gateway.

Anton: Sorbian culture is pretty niche. 

Frederich: The Sorbs have been in that region for centuries, trying to preserve their language, customs, everything. This isn’t just about sightseeing—this is about rediscovering a piece of myself.

Spreewald

Anton: Off the deep end, eh? But still, wouldn’t a couple of days be enough to check out the cultural center, maybe visit some family archives or something?

Frederich: It’s more than a quick museum stop. There’s the Wendish House, old Sorbian neighborhoods, traditional festivals. Plus, I want to talk to locals, maybe even meet distant relatives. It’s about building that connection. I can’t just rush it.

Anton: OK. A roots pilgrimage. But Munich, man. It’s Munich! The history, the energy... You don’t want to cut that short.

Frederich: I know, but I’m not going to Germany for Oktoberfest. I’m going for my ancestry. I’ve spent years disconnected from that part of me, and this is my chance to explore it. Munich is next time.

Anton: Fair enough. I guess Munich will just have to live without you a little longer. Bring me back some gherkins.

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Voice-over

Seems like an easy choice for Frederich. A local area has its own unique allure, often overlooked by those who don’t know it well, like Anton.