Berlin was hot and sticky even by midmorning. I have walked around the centre of the city in the past, and took a decision (as my unlimited train travel is all paid for ahead of time) to pop out to Potsdam, where the river had looked interesting when I passed though on yesterday's little jaunt. Slightly unfortunate, it seems that very many Berliners also had the idea of popping out to Potsdam too and the train was rammed.
My pass/ticket is first class and that let me escape within the train to a high eyrie (the trains are double deck, First class upstairs) but not before some gentleman who I'm sure was being kind informed me that all the seats were taken up there too, and wouldn't budge off the stairs. I *am* still able to stand for a short while, and I got past him and up to the nest where us toffee-nosed folks go - amongst the posh ... some of whom take a look at this scruffy traveller and can't wait for the ticket inspector to come round. Only then to learn he is called "sir" because he has spent a lot more on his ticket than most fellow travellers.
The First Class eyrie exists on many local and regional trains here in Germany. sometimes as small as a single seating bay and even at that size markedly less crowded than the rest of the train. On a normal journey regional journey, I prefer to sit with everyone else - observe, listen, and sometimes chat. Long distance, the first class gives us wider, more comfortable seats and sometimes extra luggage space and the extra was worth us paying for - the price difference on Interrail is not huge. Occasionally there's an extra perk in some countries like a complementary (not really - we paid for it as part of the package) cup of coffee.
Posters on various Interrail groups - newcomers to Interrail - often pose the question "should I spend the extra on a first class pass?". It's an excellent question and one that only they can answer based on their personal review of the evidence people who have gone before them can provide. The above is written to help inform; our own personal choice is based on past experience
Potsdam was a delight of water frontage, historic buildings, walkways, and an example of how to "do" a station approach too. Train back another zoo below the eyrie - with the train manager having trouble getting the doors to close because it was so rammed.
Now - do I post pictures of crowds, or of Potsdam?
Both ...
